Thermal Interface Material (TIM) are substances placed between two objects to improve the transfer of heat from one object to another. They are used to dissipate the power of electronics from their internal components into a heat sink or other form of cooling to prevent overheating and failure. The most common TIMs are pads, pastes, and thermally conductive adhesives. Dexerials manufactures a range of different TIM gap fillers that are available in a variety of formats, each with its own set of properties that can be tailored for a specific application.
The most important factor when selecting a TIM is its thermal conductivity. A TIM’s thermal conductivity is determined by the type of material, its thickness, and the way it is compressed. The higher the thermal conductivity, the more conductive it is.
A TIM’s surface finish is also crucial to its performance. A poor surface finish leaves air between the mating surfaces, which significantly reduces thermal conductivity capabilities. A good surface finish leaves less air between the surfaces and allows more energy to be transferred.
Another factor to consider is how well a TIM holds up under vibration and shock. A TIM must be resilient enough to withstand the movement of components during assembly and use and still maintain its integrity, or else it will fail to do its job. A good test for a TIM’s resilience is to apply the same shock test to the same assembly after it has been subjected to vibration or temperature cycling to see how well it performs.Thermal Interface Material