Metal Coolant Liquid?

[TheLightningsBoltZ]

So in was wondering if you could theoretically use gallium as a coolant liquid. Yes i know that 85 degrees for pc temperatures is not really ideal i just wanted to hear your guys' opinions on it.

 

Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallium

[Oshino Shinobu]

You technically could, yes. However, using an extremely conductive liquid as coolant in a PC is not a good idea, among other things. 

[Allshevski]

You could, but it is so dense that you will probably need some serious pump (maybe even two) and waterblocks that will let it go through. And remember not to leave yours system at temperature below 30 degrees Celsius.. Can't wait for some tech channel to try that and fail

[FilipSebik]

It will destroy aluminium so use on nickel or copper surfaces

[thatguyyouknow75]

arent there little metal pads that you melt to the heatsinks for great thermal conductivity?

[daniellearmouth]

Whilst not impossible, it's not advisable at all.

[ALwin]

The density of gallium and how it reacts with certain metals like aluminium...

[KE2012]

I'm sure I answered this very question the other day? Has some big youtuber asked the question or something?

 

But anyway, along with the issues raised, it's density might cause issues with the pump, and when it cools down it might expand / contract which will damage fins on your blocks.

[DXMember]

umm guys... may I raise your attention?

 

yes all your concerns are still valid but it is not the main reason why gallium shouldn't be used as a coolant

 

IT HAS HEAT CAPACITY ELEVEN TIMES LOWER THAN WATER

which makes it useless as a coolant

 

thank you for the attention

/thread

[TheLightningsBoltZ]

I'm sure I answered this very question the other day? Has some big youtuber asked the question or something?

 

But anyway, along with the issues raised, it's density might cause issues with the pump, and when it cools down it might expand / contract which will damage fins on your blocks.

Oh, ive known about this for awhile, and i asked it on Tom's Hardware and i just thought that I'd see what i could get here!

[DXMember]

Oh, ive known about this for awhile, and i asked it on Tom's Hardware and i just thought that I'd see what i could get here!

could you link to tomshw thread?

[ALwin]

Additionally gallium would not be ideal, even in liquid form, to be used with the water cooling pumps and radiators available on the market for PC cooling.  Even though gallium can turn to liquid in your hands, if the temperature is not high enough in the pump or radiator, it will solidify and block everything.

[KE2012]

Oh, ive known about this for awhile, and i asked it on Tom's Hardware and i just thought that I'd see what i could get here!

 

Righty. It's just this isn't a very common question so you can see why I could think some one 'big' asked.

[TheLightningsBoltZ]

umm guys... may I raise your attention?

 

yes all your concerns are still valid but it is not the main reason why gallium shouldn't be used as a coolant

 

IT HAS HEAT CAPACITY ELEVEN TIMES LOWER THAN WATER

which makes it useless as a coolant

 

thank you for the attention

/thread

Less capacity but more conductivity. From your last responses, I don't really want to link it to you because people at THW have never turned my freshwater threads into salty oceans. 

 

I'm sure I answered this very question the other day? Has some big youtuber asked the question or something?

 

But anyway, along with the issues raised, it's density might cause issues with the pump, and when it cools down it might expand / contract which will damage fins on your blocks.

This is such an obvious answer i can't believe i didn't think of it. Unless there was a way to control at what point the liquid should be cooled down to (1. There probably is with dual pumps and some fancy ass CPU fan control. 2. if its at 30 degrees celsius then that kind of ruins the whole point of it being there in the beginning. 

 

Thanks to everyone (Who posted freshwater answers)

 

                  /Solved

[Totallycasual]

Mercury would be cool if it wasn't for the fact that your PC would slowly kill you with the toxic fumes 

[ICantThinkOfAnyGoodName]

Mercury would be cool if it wasn't for the fact that your PC would slowly kill you with the toxic fumes

Unless the loop had a leak, there wouldn't be any fumes getting out...

[Godlygamer23]

Moved to General Discussion.

[Coaxialgamer]

What concerns me is the ~30C melting point. That means that at idle on a cold day, your coolant liquid would probably become solid.

[LogicalDrm]

Some of better water cooled PCs get down to low 20Cs. With "freezing" point of 30C, that doesn't sound too nice.

[ThomasD]

Higher conductivity would only matter if you could cycle the stuff quickly.

It's high density and viscosity would make that an energy intensive proposition. Although the process would probably also generate enough heat to keep it in a liquid state...