A heat sink which comprises an enclosure having a highly thermally conductive
surface
region and defining an enclosed cavity. A porous, highly thermally conductive material
is disposed in the cavity, preferably homogeneously therein, and is thermally coupled
to the thermally conductive surface. A phase change material changing from its
initial phase, generally solid, to its final phase, generally liquid, responsive
to the absorption of heat is disposed in the enclosed cavity and in the porous
material. In accordance with a first embodiment, the highly thermally conductive
surface region is preferably aluminum and the porous medium is a highly thermally
conductive porous medium, preferably aluminum. In accordance with a second embodiment,
the thermally conductive surface is composed of highly thermally conductive fibers
disposed in a matrix and the porous material is a plurality of the thermally conductive
fibers extending from the thermally conductive surface into the cavity. The highly
thermally conductive fibers are preferably graphite and the matrix is preferably
an epoxy.