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This is a Observational study (also classified as: Literature Review).

August 21, 2025Open Access

Cool It! On Energy Dissipation, Heat Generation and Thermal Degradation: The Microstructurothermal Entropy and Its Application to Real-World Systems

Key Points

Thermal degradation increases with energy dissipation rates, indicating a strong relationship between temperature rise and system performance.
The key metric shows a progressive degradation in materials, particularly in systems like batteries and lubricants.
Observational analysis across various multi-physics systems reveals significant risks in performance and reliability due to thermal effects.
Recommendations for active cooling highlight its potential to mitigate energy dissipation effects and enhance durability.

Abstract

Thermodynamic free energy is used to elucidate the significance of energy dissipation-induced temperature rise on the performance, reliability, and durability of all systems, biological, chemical and physical. Transformation (a measure of reliability) and degradation (a measure of durability) are distinguished. The temperature rise mechanism is characterized by the microstructurothermal (MST) energy/entropy. A framework to quantify the contributions of the MST entropy to system transformation and degradation is introduced and demonstrated using diverse multi-physics systems: cardiovascular strain in humans, charge capacity of batteries, tribological wear of journal bearings, and shear strength of lubricating greases. Various levels of temperature-induced degradation are observed in the systems. Thermal degradation rate increases with process and energy dissipation rates. The benefits of active cooling on systems and materials are shown. This article is recommended to engineers, scientists, designers, medical doctors, and other system analysts for use in dissipation/degradation characterization and minimization.

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