variavel0=<b>Eduardo G. Reimbrecht</b> - eduardo@cet.ufsc.br Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC
<b>Edson Bazzo</b> - ebazzo@emc.ufsc.br UFSC
<b>Alexandre R. Takahashi</b> - takahashi@emc.ufsc.br UFSC
<b>Marcelo Nogoseke</b> - marcelo@cet.ufsc.br UFSC
<b>Fernando Tabalipa</b> - engtabalipa@hotmail.com UFSC
<b>Abstract.</b> Porous wicks are applied to displace the working fluid in capillary pump loops (CPL) and loop heat pipes (LHP). The heat load starts to evaporate the working fluid and create a meniscus into the porous structure that manages the system work. Several parameters are important to capillary pumps, the working fluid, the heat load, the wick material and the characteristics of the porosity. The wick conductivity, the wick material and the working fluid change the capillary pump capacity. The explanation is that the choice of the wick material and the working fluid change the wetting angle. The wick conductivity and the material - fluid combination that change the wetting angle alter hardly the capillary pump capacity. The compatibility between the material and the fluid is another important parameter, thermal and chemical stability are necessary. The mean objective of this work is analyze the ceramic material as an alternative for capillary evaporator application. Porosity, pore size distribution and permeability were the parameters determined and used to compare ceramic and metallic wicks. Experimental results of a ceramic wick in a test bed are showed too.
<b>Keywords.</b> Capillary pumping system, Ceramic porous wick, Image analysis.