A heat sink is defined as a component that removes unwanted heat from a metal surface or electronic equipment and delivers that heat to the surrounding air. The heat sink is used to keep the device at a safe operating temperature.

Key Features:

High thermal conductivity: Heat sinks are generally made from aluminum or copper because of their superior ability to provide effective thermal removal from heat-generating positions.

Design: Heat sinks are often shaped with fins or extended surfaces that maximize the surface area available to the air for the transfer of heat.

Application: Heat sinks can be found in computers, LEDs, power electronics, and industrial machines to keep the temperature from climbing past an unsafe level.

Heat sinks are important because they prolong the operating life of any electrical device and help avoid failure. In computers, for example, heat sinks absorb heat off the CPU or GPU so the computer does not go into thermal shutdown. In most LED lights, heat sinks control the heat build-up so the light does not suffer from loss of brightness over time, or worse, loss of lifespan of the device. The best design and material in a heat sink will allow for maximum dissipation of the heat generated. As equipment becomes smaller and more intensive, performance is needed to support the new advances, and more heat sink options are available. Regardless, heat sinks remain a critical part not just for the reliability of the performance of modern devices but also for the safety of the devices they use and the operators using them.