Electronic products currently on the market thermally conductive material commonly used are: silicone thermal pad, thermal grease, thermally conductive double-sided tape, and a phase change material and so on.
The following is a simple analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of these kinds of thermal materials and the main application environment.
1: silicone thermal pad
Advantages: good caulking property, large thickness adjustable range, strong tolerance performance, good insulation, large compression, certain anti-shock effect, slightly viscous on both sides, and strong operability.
Disadvantages: The manufacturing process below 0.5mm is complicated, the thermal resistance is relatively high, and the cost is relatively high.
Main application environment: between the heating component and the housing under the condition that the gap between the heating component and the heat sink is large.
2: thermal grease (thermal grease)
Advantages: semi-liquid state, relatively high thermal conductivity, can be applied very thin, good caulking, resulting in lower thermal resistance and lower cost
Disadvantages: the thickness of the application should not be too thick, preferably less than 0.2mm. It is not suitable for large-area application. It is inconvenient to operate. After long-term use, it will age easily under high temperature and will dry out. The thermal resistance will increase volatility.
Main application environment: between high-power heating components and heat sinks, heat-dissipating components have their own fixtures
3: thermal double-sided tape
Advantages: low thickness, generally below 0.3mm, strong adhesive, can be used to fix small radiators.
Disadvantages: thickness cannot be too thick, cannot be used when the gap is large, cannot be reused, thermal conductivity is not high.
Main application environment: between the low-power heat source and the small heat sink, used to fix the heat sink
4: phase change materials
Advantages: At room temperature, it is in the form of flakes, thin in thickness, and strong in maneuverability. Under high temperature conditions, the phase changes into a semi-liquid state, and the caulking property is strong, and there is an instantaneous heat absorption capability in the phase change process.
Disadvantages: not easy to store, transport, relatively high cost.
Main application environment: on the thermal module
