Radiator Materials

[[UESC] Robert Davidson VC DDS DC]

What are the best materials for a radiator?

[Admiral Obvious]

It mainly depends on output temperature of what gets hooked into them, as well as (I think) the thermal difusivity of the radiator. Output being higher than the melting point of the radiators = melted radiators. Thermal difusivity (I think, again) determines how well heat gets radiated away, leading to higher effective cooling.

I personally like aluminum radiators, they're extremely cheap, and have relatively high heat dispersion abilities.

[JWNoctis]

Aluminum had too low a melting point for anything with a useful radiator temperature. You'd be aiming for 2500-2700K for reactors, or they will get too large for anything that needs more than a bit of power.

Still having trouble figuring out how to make light radiators resist the first railgun salvo, though.

[Jonen]

Aluminum is good for crew modules, though - since you don't want those radiating glowing hot anyways.

[[UESC] Robert Davidson VC DDS DC]

Im looking for Reactors since I somehow need to get rid of 79.8 GW of heat and radiator's are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ massive

[Jonen]

Originally posted by UESC Robert Davidson VC DDS DC:

Im looking for Reactors since I somehow need to get rid of 79.8 GW of heat and radiator's are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ massive

What temperature is the reactor pumping into the radiators?
Raise it as high as the material you want to build radiators out of will take - it'll generate less power (since the temperature differential is what gives you power), but the payoff is you need less radiators (and you won't need running lights, since parts of your ship will be glowing white hot.

2700K (or was it 2200K, I forget) and Amorphous Carbon is a fair deal, but you can optimize further. Boron is good for most things and is a valid alternative to A.C.

[Admiral Obvious]

Originally posted by Jonen:

Aluminum is good for crew modules, though - since you don't want those radiating glowing hot anyways.

Exactly.

I've come to know that Amoporous Carbon, as mentioned above is extremely useful too, particularly for reactors.