Radiators - Aluminum vs. Copper
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 320
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From: Harrisburg PA
Radiators - Aluminum vs. Copper
Redline reports that the thermal conductivity of copper at 384 watt/m (degrees C) is FAR superior to that of aluminum at 155 watt/m.
See table 1:
http://www.redlineoil.com/redlineoil/wwti.htm
Now, we all know that copper is far more dense than aluminum. So, for the same size radiator, the copper radiator will be heavier, which is bad.
So, my question is given the greater capacity for thermal conductivity of copper, why not just use a smaller copper radiator in order to save weight than a larger aluminum one??
[Modified by LTD, 10:30 AM 1/24/2002]
See table 1:
http://www.redlineoil.com/redlineoil/wwti.htm
Now, we all know that copper is far more dense than aluminum. So, for the same size radiator, the copper radiator will be heavier, which is bad.
So, my question is given the greater capacity for thermal conductivity of copper, why not just use a smaller copper radiator in order to save weight than a larger aluminum one??
[Modified by LTD, 10:30 AM 1/24/2002]
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 116
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From: Houston Texas
Re: Radiators - Aluminum vs. Copper (LTD)
I may be wrong here, but I think they have that reversed. Aluminum is a very good heat conductor and i believe it is superior to copper. Going to have to check it out.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 116
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From: Houston Texas
Re: Radiators - Aluminum vs. Copper (thunderbolt47)
Yup I was wrong. But I saw the answer this weekend. While copper is a better conductor, its tubing is not as rigid as aluminum. The aluminum tubes can be made thinner (better heat transfer) and bigger (more area) than copper and therefore give better cooling with some weight savings over the copper tubes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,635
Likes: 2
From: Aloha, Oregon
Re: Radiators - Aluminum vs. Copper (thunderbolt47)
also, copper is very reactive and corrosive compared to aluminum. electrolytes, especially those in caustics, wreak havoc on copper. also, if a copper radiator is not properly grounded, it will corrode very quickly, too.
