Interface material / TIM

With a thermal conductivity of only 0.0263 W / mK, air is an extremely poor conductor of heat. For this reason, there are a number of materials for the interface between the heat source and the heat sink. These interface materials in the form of pastes, adhesives, pads, foils or special phase change materials has a very low thermal resistance and is applied directly between the components. Depending on the surface quality and the expected temperature, certain layer thicknesses and materials are required.

Significance in the system

The performance of a system is not only influenced by the existing cooling capacity of the components, but also by the interfaces between the individual components. Thermal Interface Materials (TIM, thermally conductive materials) ensure that heat is efficiently dissipated and local temperature overloads are prevented. Thermally conductive materials also fill the smallest gaps or unevenness on the contact surfaces, so that the heat can be transferred between each component. Thermal paste is widely used as a relatively inexpensive solution in electronics, motor construction and in heating and cooling devices. It has a thermal conductivity of 2 to 10 W / mK. However, for more demanding purposes it is necessary to rely on thermally conductive materials and techniques, such as foils or adhesives.

Types and properties

There are various ways to compensate for tolerances, unevenness, or roughness, and to join contact surfaces using interface materials to be almost airtight. However, there are a few factors to consider, because no material is equally suitable as a universal medium.

They can be broadly classified into three types of TIMs:

Thermal paste

Thermal conductive pastes usually have a ceramic base, which is mixed with microscopic particles of aluminum oxide, boron nitride and zinc oxide. Silicone-Free and several special synthetic oils helps to achieve long-term stability and guarantees extraordinary performance.

During application, the viscosity of the TIM is reduced. As a result, the smallest surface roughness is filled and air inclusions are displaced. The paste solidifies in the first 20-30 hours of operation and prevents expansion caused by temperature fluctuations. With a temperature range from -40 °C to 180 °C, thermal paste is suitable for various applications.

Thermal paste is used wherever an efficient heat transfer between two objects is necessary. For example, between a microchip and a heat sink.

Thermal conductive foils / special foils

In the field of power electronics, higher requirements are often placed on heat dissipation and dielectric strength. Thermal conductive foils are available in a wide variety of designs with a wide variety of properties. With material compositions based on polyamide, silicone or carbon fibers, there is something for almost every application.

The most important special foils are graphite heat conducting foils. They can be used in a wide temperature range from -200 °C to +600 °C. In addition, they have excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. With a thermal conductivity across the fiber of 5-16 W / mK or between 155-470 W / mK in the direction of the fiber, they dissipate the heat efficiently and in a targeted manner. However, they need a certain amount of pressure.

Thermal adhesive

Thermal conductive adhesives are based on a synthetic resin compound which is enriched with metallic fillers such as silver or graphite. This achieves an optimal thermal conductivity and at the same time ensures that the heat sink is fixed. In order to prevent electrical conductivity through the heat conducting material, ceramic or mineral materials can be added instead of metallic substances. With a thermal conductivity of 1 to 4 W / mK, maximum temperatures of up to 250 °C can be recorded and dissipated.

The advantage of adhesive connections compared to welding or soldering is the ease with which a wide variety of materials can be joined together. The medium cure at room temperature, so that mechanical distortion or deformation usually does not occur.

This type of thermal conductive adhesive is used in the fields of microelectronics, power electronics, sensor and energy technology and the automotive industry to create permanent, mechanical and heat-conductive connections between individual components.

In addition, there are still special forms of the materials mentioned above, but also other types of possibilities, which are only partly based on the main types, such as:

Phase-change material (PCM) / PCM screen printing

For applications where conventional thermal grease is not possible, the PCM are introduced. At room temperature this material is dry and malleable. It undergoes phase transition and becomes liquid when installed at a pressure of > 20N / cm² and around 45 °C. In this way, it fills cavities and gaps optimally and thus guarantees the best heat transfer. The use of conventional thermal paste is no longer necessary.

In addition, a special screen printing process enables the mass production of coated components. As a result, the phase change material (PCM) is printed directly onto the individual elements.