solder or braze heat pipe to plated aluminum

[imagineers]

I am not sure if this is possible. I know you cannot solder to anodized aluminum without first sanding and taking off the anodizing in that area, but what about nickel plating the aluminum then brazing a heat pipe to it? if not Is there any way other than thermal epoxy to secure the heat pipe??

 

[imagineers]

maybe masking the heat pipe areas before anodizing or plating?

 

[MikeHalloran]

The common copper heat pipes you find in computers seem to be sealed with solder. Brazing, and probably even soldering, will probably cause them to open up, perhaps energetically.

Are you prepared to breach the heat pipe, remove the working fluid, then braze it, evacuate it, recharge it and seal it?

I think there may be brazing fluxes and alloys that will bond to aluminum without nickel plating, though some technique may be required.


Rather than go to that much bother, I'd consider thermal grease and mechanical retention.

 

[imagineers]

I know it can be soldered to plain aluminum as I have done it before, the main question is whether it would bond very well to the nickel plated aluminum?

 

[imagineers]

and is there some special instructions for doing this