Heat Spreader

What Does Heat Spreader Mean?

A heat spreader refers to an object that has high thermal conductivity and that is used as a bridge between a heat source and a heat exchanger. It is meant to fully utilize a secondary heat exchanger where the geometry of two surfaces is not the same or fully compatible. A heat spreader can be as simple as a thin copper plate.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains Heat Spreader

A heat spreader essentially “spreads out” the heat from its source, making it possible to sink heat by distributing it to the next level (usually called a heat exchanger). It has high thermal conductivity and heat capacity. A heat spreader is usually needed in an electronic system where the heat source has a high flux density and the heat cannot directly sink to the secondary heat exchanger; efficiency must thus be added to the system, such as those that are air-cooled, which have a lower heat transfer coefficient than liquid-cooled ones. A heat spreader is used in electronic devices with powerful processing units and electrical or mechanical components.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Latest Hardware Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…