Sealant solutions for the AI data center heat problem

We now live in a world where data is king. Computer systems keep getting faster and more powerful, and AI has already revolutionized how we seek and receive information. AI search and tools are here to stay, and the data centers that power these tools continue to be built on a massive scale, particularly in the US and Europe.

These data centers bring with them problems which you may have already heard about. They use copious amounts of electricity and water, leading to concerns about the environment and water supply. For the data centers themselves, AI servers in particular generate enormous quantities of heat that need to be expelled in order to run properly. These two issues go hand in hand.

AI servers consume on average ten times as much energy as traditional servers, and therefore generate substantially more heat. The solution for this has until recently been air cooling, which tends to consume vast quantities of water via the use of evaporative cooling towers. This method, while established and effective for traditional server cooling, is not so well suited for AI data center cooling. The large amounts of heat that need to be cleared from AI servers make it very energy inefficient for this purpose, in part because air is a fairly poor medium of heat transfer compared to liquids.

Liquid cooling – an energy-efficient solution 

With the continually increasing demand for energy in AI data centers and the subsequent heat generated, a new solution to cooling is needed – liquid cooling. Water-based coolants are able to remove thousands of times more heat per unit volume than air, which enables greater efficiency and lower energy usage. Somewhat ironically, liquid-based cooling systems actually tend to use less water than air-based ones due to their efficiency.

The increasing number of AI data centers is driving the uptake of liquid cooling systems as a modern, energy-efficient solution to the issue of server heating, with air-based systems now beginning to decrease in popularity.

The role of pipes in liquid cooling systems  

There are many components to a data center liquid cooling system. Among these, pipes play a vital role. Their main job is to circulate dielectric fluid or treated water to and away from servers and other high-heat equipment. They are mainly used in direct-to-chip cooling, where liquid is transported to cold plates attached directly to heat-generating chips (CPUs/GPUs). The heated liquid is then sent back through the pipes to a heat exchanger for cooling.

Pipes are also used in immersion cooling systems, where servers are fully submerged in a non-conductive, dielectric liquid to keep them cool. In this case, pipes transfer cooling fluids into the tanks where the servers are submerged.

Sealants for data center cooling 

Since pipes are such vital components in modern data centers, the job of sealants for data center cooling is to help keep these pipes watertight and in prime condition. Any leaks from pipes can cause significant and costly damage to sensitive electronic equipment. This makes data center pipe sealants incredibly important, and the role that these products perform is multifaceted.

The most important job of a data center pipe sealant is, as its name suggests, to seal pipes! Pipes carrying coolant fluid to and away from servers need to be kept watertight. Any leakages of coolant could cause damage to the servers or other sensitive electronic equipment, making choosing the right adhesive for the job essential.

An adhesive must also be able to withstand thermal cycling, since the pipes are subjected to both heat from the computer equipment and cold from the coolant. Other key factors in terms of durability are pressure and vibration resistance, as well as chemical resistance. Many coolant fluids contain glycols and corrosion inhibitors – a good pipe sealant for data center cooling should be able to handle these with its performance unaffected.

Permabond MH052 – the sealant solution for data center cooling

Permabond offers a range of adhesives for data center cooling that offer an instant seal, good vibration and chemical resistance as well as leak prevention.

Among them, Permabond MH052 stands out as a high-performance anaerobic sealant for sealing liquid coolant pipe connections. It creates a fast, low-pressure seal and cures into a chemical-resistant polymer that prevents leaks even under vibration, pressure, shock, and contamination. The adhesive is PFAS-free and BAM-approved for use with gaseous oxygen. Unlike pipe dope or PTFE tape, MH052 will not dry out or shred over time, instead providing a long-lasting, durable seal.

Although sealing coolant lines in data centers is a relatively new undertaking, MH052 has a long history. It is trusted by manufacturers in the commercial refrigeration industry (just as with coolants, MH052 works very effectively with refrigerants). Its BAM approval makes it trusted for use in the medical field, and its WRAS approval makes it safe for applications involving contact with drinking water.

Key Features of MH052

The following features make MH052 particularly well-suited for sealing data center cooling loops:

• Fast low-pressure seal on application, with full cure in 24 hours. Cure can be accelerated with Permabond ASC10
• Bonds well to stainless steel and brass, unlike many other sealants
• Withstands vibration, pressure, and shock – the kinds of mechanical stresses that degrade lesser sealants over time
• Chemical resistance to glycols and inhibitors found in modern coolant formulations
• PFAS-free formulation, an increasingly important consideration as regulatory and environmental standards tighten globally
• BAM approval, for use with gaseous oxygen
• WRAS approval, for applications involving contact with drinking water
• No shredding unlike PTFE tape, which can fragment over time and introduce particles into coolant loops, MH052 remains intact and functional long term
• No drying out unlike pipe dope, prolonging joint life
• Accordion pack – handheld, no equipment needed

Final Thoughts

With the boom in AI data center construction, liquid cooling is becoming the go-to method for data center cooling. Permabond’s range of anaerobic sealants help keep cooling pipes working as they should, all the while protecting critical equipment in data centers. Choosing a sub-par product in this industry could be a costly mistake – Permabond MH052 won’t let you down.

Please contact us if you’d like to find out more about our range of anaerobic adhesives suitable for use in data center cooling applications.