# US 2014/0150997 A1 · Heat pipe and processing method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150997 A1 - Document ID: US20140150997A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/946,045 - Filed: 2013-07-19 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute - Applicants: Industrial Technology Research Institute - Inventors: Cheng-We TU; Kuo-Hsiang Chien; Ming-Shan Jeng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150997A1 ## CPC - F28D 15/046: {characterised by the material or the construction of the capillary structure} - C23C 8/42: only one element being applied - F28F 2245/02: hydrophilic - F28F 2245/04: hydrophobic - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) ## Abstract A heat pipe processing method includes steps of providing a metal tube with openings at two ends, where an inner wall of the metal tube has a capillary structure surface; and oxidizing the capillary structure surface so as to form an oxidized structure surface. In another embodiment, a heat pipe includes is provided, including a metal tube, a working fluid, and a first oxidized structure. An inner wall of the metal tube has a first area. The working fluid is filled in the metal tube. The first oxidized structure is formed on the inner wall defined by the first area, and the working fluid has a first contact angle on the first oxidized structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat pipe processing method, comprising steps of: providing a metal tube with openings at two ends, wherein an inner wall of the metal tube has a capillary structure surface; and oxidizing the capillary structure surface so as to form a first oxidized structure surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 1, wherein a material of the metal tube is copper. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 1, wherein a first contact angle exists between the first oxidized structure surface and a working fluid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 3, wherein a manner for oxidizing the inner wall of the metal tube further comprises steps of: providing an oxidizing solution; and enabling the oxidizing solution to oxidize an inner wall surface of the metal tube so as to form the first oxidized structure surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 4, wherein the oxidizing solution is one selected from a mixed solution of ammonium persulfate and sodium hydroxide, a mixed solution of ammonium persulfate and potassium hydroxide, a mixed solution of potassium persulfate and potassium hydroxide, a mixed solution of potassium persulfate and sodium hydroxide, a mixed solution of sodium persulfate and potassium hydroxide, and a mixed solution of sodium persulfate and sodium hydroxide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 4, wherein the oxidized structure surface is a surfaced formed of a metal hydroxide or a metal oxide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 4, further comprising modifying partial area of the first oxidized structure surface by using an chemical solution so as to form a second oxidized structure surface with a long chain structure, wherein the working fluid on the second oxidized structure surface has a second contact angle with the working fluid, and the second contact angle is greater than the first contact angle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 7, wherein the chemical solution is a diluted solution of fluoroalkylsiloxane, fluoroalkyltrichlorosilane, fluoroalkyldimethylchlorosilane, alkylsiloxane, alkyltrichlorosilane, alkyldimethylchlorosilane or alkyl mercaptan. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 7, wherein the long chain structure is a long chain fluoroalkyl group or long chain alkyl group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 3, wherein a manner for oxidizing the inner wall of the metal tube is to place the metal tube into an aerobic environment with an oxidizing temperature, and obtaining the first oxidized structure surface after a first oxidizing time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 10, wherein the oxidizing temperature is 250° C. to 450° C., and the oxidizing time is 0.5 to 6 hours. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 11, further comprising modifying partial area of the first oxidized structure surface by using an chemical solution, so as to form a second oxidized structure surface with a long chain structure, wherein the working fluid on the second oxidized structure surface has a second contact angle with the working fluid, and the second contact angle is greater than the first contact angle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 12, wherein the chemical solution is a diluted solution of fluoroalkylsiloxane, fluoroalkyltrichlorosilane, fluoroalkyldimethylchlorosilane, alkylsiloxane, alkyltrichlorosilane, alkyldimethylchlorosilane or alkyl mercaptan. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 12, wherein the long chain structure is a long chain fluoroalkyl group or long chain alkyl group. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 10, wherein the first oxidizing temperature is 80° C. to 150° C., and the first oxidizing time is 0 to 10 hours. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 15, further comprising steps of: providing an oxidizing solution; and enabling the oxidizing solution to oxidize the first oxidized structure surface so as to form a second oxidized structure surface, wherein the working fluid on the second oxidized structure surface has a second contact angle, and the second contact angle is smaller than the first contact angle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 16, wherein the oxidizing solution is one selected from a mixed solution of ammonium persulfate and sodium hydroxide, a mixed solution of ammonium persulfate and potassium hydroxide, a mixed solution of potassium persulfate and potassium hydroxide, a mixed solution of potassium persulfate and sodium hydroxide, a mixed solution of sodium persulfate and potassium hydroxide, and a mixed solution of sodium persulfate and sodium hydroxide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The heat pipe processing method according to claim 16, wherein the second oxidized structure surface is a surface formed of a metal hydroxide or a metal oxide. ### Claim 19 A heat pipe, comprising: a metal tube, having a first area on an inner wall thereof; a working fluid, filled in the metal tube; and a first oxidized structure, formed on the inner wall defined by the first area, wherein the working fluid has a first contact angle on the first oxidized structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The heat pipe according to claim 19, wherein the first oxidized structure is an oxidized structure formed of a metal hydroxide or a metal oxide. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The heat pipe according to claim 20, wherein the inner wall of the metal tube further has a second area and a second oxidized area that is formed on the inner wall defined by the second area; the working fluid has a second contact angle on the second oxidized structure, and the second contact angle is greater than the first contact angle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The heat pipe according to claim 21, wherein the second oxidized structure is a structure surface with a long chain structure. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The heat pipe according to claim 22, wherein the long chain structure is a long chain fluoroalkyl group or long chain alkyl group. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The heat pipe according to claim 19, wherein a material of the metal tube is copper. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The heat pipe according to claim 24, wherein the first oxidized structure is copper oxide or cuprous oxide. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The heat pipe according to claim 19, wherein the first oxidized structure is a structure surface with a long chain structure. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The heat pipe according to claim 26, wherein the long chain structure is a long chain fluoroalkyl group or long chain alkyl group.