Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of systems and methods of applying thermal interface materials (TIMs). The thermal interface materials may be applied to a wide range of substrates and components, such as lids or integrated heat spreaders of integrated circuit (IC) packages, board level shields, heat sources (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), etc.), heat removal/dissipation structures or components (e.g., a heat spreader, a heat sink, a heat pipe, a vapor chamber, a device exterior case or housing, etc.), etc.

A liquid cooling jacket is produced by forming a first butted portion where a step side face of a peripheral wall portion and an outer peripheral side face of a sealing body butt each other and a third butted portion where a step side face of a support pillar portion and a hole wall of the hole portion of the sealing body portion butt each other with a gap, and friction-stirring by inserting a tip side pin and a base side pin of a primary joining rotary tool that is rotating into the sealing body and moving the primary joining rotary tool along the third butted portion with an outer circumferential face of the tip side pin being kept off the step side face while having a second aluminum alloy of the sealing body flow into the gap.

A liquid cooling jacket is produced by forming a first butted portion where a step side face of a peripheral wall portion and an outer peripheral side face of a sealing body butt each other and a third butted portion where a step side face of a support pillar portion and a hole wall of the hole portion of the sealing body portion butt each other with a gap, and friction-stirring by inserting a tip side pin and a base side pin of a primary joining rotary tool that is rotating into the sealing body and moving the primary joining rotary tool along the third butted portion with an outer circumferential face of the tip side pin being kept off the step side face while having a second aluminum alloy of the sealing body flow into the gap.

A method of making an end-piece for a plate heat exchanger, wherein the end-piece includes a frame part having inner and outer portions, and an intermediate portion arranged between the inner and outer portions, with the outer wall surface of the inner portion being arranged to face a first surface of a package of heat transfer plates comprising the plate heat exchanger, and the first surface having a center portion and a peripheral portion encircling the center portion. The method includes extruding the frame part with plural cavities in the intermediate portion of the frame part that extend in the extrusion direction of the frame part and that are parallel to the frame part axis, with outer dimensions of the outer wall surface of the inner portion configured to be at least as large as outer dimensions of the center portion of the first surface heat transfer plate package.

A method of making an end-piece for a plate heat exchanger, wherein the end-piece includes a frame part having inner and outer portions, and an intermediate portion arranged between the inner and outer portions, with the outer wall surface of the inner portion being arranged to face a first surface of a package of heat transfer plates comprising the plate heat exchanger, and the first surface having a center portion and a peripheral portion encircling the center portion. The method includes extruding the frame part with plural cavities in the intermediate portion of the frame part that extend in the extrusion direction of the frame part and that are parallel to the frame part axis, with outer dimensions of the outer wall surface of the inner portion configured to be at least as large as outer dimensions of the center portion of the first surface heat transfer plate package.

A method of tube plug installation in a heat exchanger or pressure vessel is provided. The method includes verifying the suitability of a selected tube plug with a specifically identified type of heat exchanger or pressure vessel before installation of the selected tube plug. The step of verifying being performed with a device having an app, software, or user interface and after having entered or accessed data concerning the selected tube plug and entering or accessing data concerning the specifically identified type of heat exchanger or pressure vessel and operating parameters of the specifically identified type of heat exchanger or pressure vessel.

A method of tube plug installation in a heat exchanger or pressure vessel is provided. The method includes verifying the suitability of a selected tube plug with a specifically identified type of heat exchanger or pressure vessel before installation of the selected tube plug. The step of verifying being performed with a device having an app, software, or user interface and after having entered or accessed data concerning the selected tube plug and entering or accessing data concerning the specifically identified type of heat exchanger or pressure vessel and operating parameters of the specifically identified type of heat exchanger or pressure vessel.

Exfoliated graphite materials, and composite materials including exfoliated graphite, having enhanced through-plane thermal conductivity can be used in thermal management applications and devices. Methods for making such materials and devices involve processing exfoliated graphite materials such as flexible graphite to orient or re-orient the graphite flakes in one or more regions of the material.

Exfoliated graphite materials, and composite materials including exfoliated graphite, having enhanced through-plane thermal conductivity can be used in thermal management applications and devices. Methods for making such materials and devices involve processing exfoliated graphite materials such as flexible graphite to orient or re-orient the graphite flakes in one or more regions of the material.

A vapor chamber that includes a housing having a first sheet and a second sheet that oppose each other and that are joined to each other in a peripheral region of the housing; a working liquid enclosed within the housing; and a wick structure on an inside surface of the first sheet or the second sheet. In the vapor chamber, the wick structure includes multiple protruding portions and a grid portion integral with the protruding portions. In addition, surfaces of the protruding portions and a surface of the grid portion opposite the inside surface of the first sheet or the second sheet are positioned on a same flat surface.