Bonded heat exchanger matrix and corresponding bonding method

Abstract

A heat exchanger metal matrix has a stack of components in which at least one of the components is bound by an adhesive layer based on an epoxide resin containing a corrosion inhibitor, and the adhesive layer is loaded with 20 to 60% by mass of a heat conductor so that a heat conductivity of the adhesive layer is in a range of 2 to 5 W/m/K. The heat exchanger metal matrix may be applied to corrosive environments, notably marine environments.

1 . A heat exchanger metal matrix comprising:
 a stack of components wherein at least one said components is bound by an adhesive layer based on an epoxide resin containing a corrosion inhibitor, and the adhesive layer is loaded with 20 to 60% by mass of a heat conductor so that a heat conductivity of the adhesive layer is in a range of 2 to 5 W/m/K.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger metal matrix according to  claim 1 , the heat conductor of the adhesive layer is based on a metal and/or a ceramic. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger metal matrix according to  claim 1 , the corrosion inhibitor of the adhesive layer is based on zinc oxides. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger metal matrix according to  claim 1 , wherein the components are coated with an adhesive holder. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger metal matrix according to  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive holder comprises a conversion layer having a thickness between 1 and 50 μm. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger metal matrix according to  claim 5 , wherein the components are made of an aluminium or an aluminium alloy, and the conversion layer is made of an alumina. 
     
     
         7 . The matrix according to  claim 1 , wherein a part of the components is brazed. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger comprising the matrix according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A method for assembling a heat exchanger metal matrix comprising:
 a) providing components of the heat exchanger metal matrix;   b) applying a structural adhesive ( 15 ) based on an epoxide resin containing a corrosion inhibitor and the structural adhesive is loaded with 20 to 60% by mass of a heat conductor so that a heat conductivity of the structural adhesive is in a range of 2 to 5 W/m/K on at least a part of the components;   c) stacking the components so as to obtain a stack; and   d) ovening the stack as to cure said structural adhesive and thereby obtain the heat exchanger metal matrix.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 applying an adhesive holder on the components before applying the structural adhesive.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein b) applying the adhesive holder comprises:
 anodizing or phosphorizing; and/or   applying a holding primer by dipping the components in a primer or projecting a primer on the components.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 drying and heating the components covered with the holding primer at a temperature between 50 and 200° C. for a period between 30 and 120 mins so as to bind the holding primer to the components.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein b) applying the adhesive holder comprises:
 i) providing the structural adhesive as a paste and spreading the paste of the structural adhesive out on the components by a doctor blade, or   ii) co-laminating the structural adhesive on the components.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein d) ovening the stack comprises:
 maintaining the stack at a temperature between 50 and 120° C. for a minimum period of 30 minutes followed by maintaining the stack at a temperature between 150 and 250° C. for a minimum period of one hour.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein d) ovening the stack comprises:
 maintaining the stack under compression at a pressure above 100 kPa.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger metal matrix according to  claim 1 , wherein the stack of the components is a stack of etched plates or fins, separating metal sheets and bars, or a combination of both types of stacking. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger metal matrix according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer has a thickness between 20 and 150 μm. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger metal matrix according to  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive holder is a conversion layer and/or a layer of an adhesive holding primer. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger metal matrix according to  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the conversion layer is between 5 and 20 μm. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 at least one fluid-dispensing head adhered to the matrix with said adhesive layer.