Chosen Solution
WARNING: DO NOT PUNCTURE ALUMINUM PLATE; FOR INTERNAL AIR FLOW. I was hoping the black plastic was spot glued. So I scored a 1cm square, as a test, to see if I could peel it off. Unfortunately, it seems the plastic is melted onto the aluminum plate. 100% adhesion, no gaps. So I used a dremel tool to try to grind the plastic off. Unfortunately the plastic is very tough. By the time I had cleared a 3cm diameter patch, my brass brush wheel was near bald. From the images below, you can see the plastic coated areas 1cm to the left & right of the bare aluminum spot, are 5°c hotter.
From the last image above, you can see I want to remove all the plastic from the semi-circle area I scored into the lid. WHAT’S THE EASIEST WAY TO REMOVE THE BLACK PLASTIC?
Ah! The basic question is Black or White (aluminum here) a better surface to conduct heat away. Sometimes this gets messy as depending on the heat source the answer maybe the opposite! In fact your testing has proved that point! You noted the bare metal surface is cooler than the black surface about 45.5c Vs 40c (15c difference). The problem in your logic is the metal plate is the same underneath the black plastic as your exposed area, so black plastic is in fact sapping away 15c worth of heat. Basically, its a heat sink! As its touching a surface (desk) the heat is then transferred to the mass of the desk. While you normally wear white cloths in the summer it only reflects the heat it does not remove it from your body. But lets look at what the Arab Bedouin wear they have dark clothing against their bodies and a white robe. The dark clothing pulls the heat away from their bodies and the White clothing shields them from the heat of the sun. Bottomline its a good design! And you’re actions will in fact make the system run hotter (force the fan to work harder)
