Thermal conductivity

• To determine which material conducts heat the best, the heat transfer coefficient "k" is used that can be found on the Thermal Conductivity table.
  
  

Copper

• Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of rochelle hartman
  
  Copper has a higher thermal conductivity (400 W/mK) than aluminum with greater ductile tensile strength. The negative aspects are copper is heavier than aluminum and more expensive.
  
  

Aluminum

• Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of topquark22
  
  Aluminum has 62 percent thermal conductivity (255 W/mK) compared to copper's thermal conductivity, but aluminum resists corrosion. Being nonmagnetic, malleable and durable, automobile heat exchangers are made from aluminum.
  
  

Comparing weight and volume

• For the same weight copper has a heat capacity of 0.378 J / K*g and aluminum has a heat capacity of 0.888 J / K*g. For volume comparison, copper has a heat capacity of 3.37 J / K*cm^3 and aluminum's heat capacity is 2.40 J / K*cm^3.
  
  

Combined use

• Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Jean KOULEV
  
  Copper systems deliver faster thermal conductivity, used as spreaders for computer processor units (cpu). Aluminum makes excellent cpu cooling fins. Manufacturing of copper heat spreaders with aluminum fin structures provides ideal cpu thermal conductivity with minimum weight.