Sourcing thermal paste (or grease) for solar hot water panel repair

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Sourcing thermal paste (or grease) for solar hot water panel repair

(7 posts) (5 voices)

Started 7 years ago by DavidGobbett
Latest reply from Lance

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DavidGobbett
Member

Hello,

I am planning to repair a frost-damaged solar hot water panel. The bottom header (or is it footer?) tube has ruptured.

Between the copper riser tubes and the aluminium collector plate there is a paste like compound. I assume this is something that is thermally conductive, but electrically resisitve, in order to prevent electrolysis between the dissimilar metals.

I have spoken to a plumbing supplier, and googled, but can't be sure what this stuff might be called, or where I would source it. Can anyone advise me on this?

regards
David

Posted Saturday 23 Aug 2014 @ 2:01:34 am from IP #
David
Member

DavidGobbett said:
Between the copper riser tubes and the aluminium collector plate there is a paste like compound. I assume this is something that is thermally conductive, but electrically resisitve, in order to prevent electrolysis between the dissimilar metals.

Actually it does not to be electrically resistive it does needs to keep oxygen out of where they contact together, the same as when using AL wire for various wiring, which I use from time to time with some electrical work.

There is product that is called "Aluminox" it is specifically designed to be used with AL joints to certain dissimilar metals, copper is one of them. I suggest using it, very good for clamped jointed areas. Pretty good at thermal as well.

Posted Saturday 23 Aug 2014 @ 11:26:30 am from IP #
munter
Member

You can also buy basic thermal paste on eBay. It often gets sold to PC enthusiasts for thermally bridging CPUs to heat sinks. This is the same stuff as is used on evac tube collector heat pipes.

Posted Monday 25 Aug 2014 @ 10:06:25 pm from IP #
DavidGobbett
Member

David and Munter,

Thanks for your helpful suggestions. The CPU heat sink paste is also available from Jaycar.

David

Posted Tuesday 26 Aug 2014 @ 8:12:13 am from IP #
Lance
Key Master

Heatsink paste is available from many sources, a typical example is http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-150g-gray-GD220-thermal-conductive-compound-grease-paste-silicone-for-cpu-heatsink/1277977094.html

I never buy any materials or components from the big Oz stores, always much cheaper online...

Posted Wednesday 27 Aug 2014 @ 12:11:50 am from IP #
Phil A
Member

Another one I have here is Unick silicone heat transfer compound.
Unick chemical corp.

Posted Saturday 30 Aug 2014 @ 12:21:29 am from IP #
Lance
Key Master

I gave up on the Unick stuff, after sitting in a tube for a while it always separates, you have to knead the tube for ages to get it to mix again and it's never perfect. Have found other brands just don't have as much of a prob with separation. Probably would be easier to squeeze it all into a small pot and mix it up that way...

Posted Saturday 30 Aug 2014 @ 2:41:45 am from IP #

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