Reduction of energy dissipations at thermally distorted pressed contacts

Abstract

The macroscopic constriction that a heat flux experiences in passing between ‘isothermally flat’ stainless steel and copper surfaces, which are pressed together, can be alleviated by the insertion of a copper gauze. The overall joint conductance is usually increased (except with small heat fluxes for which the enhanced micro-constriction, due to the presence of the gauze, exceeds the macro-constriction it alleviates). A design is proposed for an insert that aids energy transfer across distorted contacts which may be exposed to prolonged heat flux and thermal cycling.