Industrial Cooling Fans

THERM-A-SHEET
Low Thermal Resistance
Phase-Change Interface
Material Pads

UTEC'S Therm-A-Sheet, phase-change
materials are formulated for use with
high performance components requiring
minimal thermal resistance for maximum
heat transfer efficiency. They combine
the easy handling advantages of
elastomeric pads with the low
thermal impedance of thermal grease,
making Therm-A-Sheet materials an
ideal choice for today's most demanding
thermal management applications:

Microprocessors
IGBTs
Solid State Relays

Memory Modules
Power Modules
Bridge Rectifiers

DC/DC Converters
Power Semiconductors

Small Blowers
Small Blowers
   
DESCRIPTION

Therm-A-Sheet materials are thermally enhanced polymers designed to minimize
the thermal resistance between power dissipating electronic components and
their associated heat sinks.This low thermal resistance path maximizes heat sink
performance and improves the reliability of microprocessors, memory modules,
DC/DC converters and power modules.
The Key feature of Therm-A-Sheet materials is their phase-change characteristic.
At room temperature, Therm-A-Sheet materials are solid and easy to handle.
This allows them to be consistently and cleanly applied as dry pads to a heat sink
or component surface. Therm A-Sheet material softens as it reaches component-
operating temperatures. With light clamping pressure it will readily conform to
both mating surfaces, similar to thermal grease. This ability to completely fill
interfacial air component packages and heat sinks allows Therm-A-Sheet pads
to outperform non flowing elastomeric or graphite-based thermal pads and
achieves performance comparable to thermal grease (see figure 1).
Therm-A-Sheet materials are electrically non conductive. However, since
metal-to-metal contact is possible after the material undergoes phase-change
in a typical heat sink assembly. Therm-A-Sheet pads should not be used as
electrical insulators.

 

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Low thermal impedance, 0.03º BC-in2/watt
Proven solution -years of production use in Personal Computer
OEM applications
Demonstrated reliability-no separation or dry-out after 3000
temperature cycles
Can be pre-applied to heat sinks
PSA (pressure-sensitive adhesive) versions allow
"peel and stick" installation
Non-PSA versions available for improved thermal performance
Protective release liner prevents contamination of material
prior to
final component assembly
Tabs available to ease removal of release liner
Available in custom die-cut shapes, kiss-cut on rolls
45º C or 58º C phase-change temperature
Thixotropic, paste-like consistency at application temperature ensures
that material will not run or drip, even in vertically-oriented applications
Electrically non-conductive




APPLICATION AND PERFORMANCE
Therm-A-Sheet pads can be supplied
with
pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA)
for easy pre-application to heat sinks.
Contact your heat sink supplier or UTEC
for further information. Since PSAs
tend to increase thermal impedance,
non-PSA versions are also available
for improved thermal performance.
Most heat sink suppliers have the
capability to "eat flux" non-PSA
Therm-A-Sheet pads in place onto
their heat sinks.
 
 

Each Therm-A-Sheet material has been designed to perform best within a specified
clamping pressure range. See next page for the recommended material for some
common applications.
Therm-A-Sheet materials are not structural adhesives and should not be used to
mechanically attach heat sinks to processors. Clips or other mechanical fasteners
must be used to maintain heat sink to component clamping pressure.
Due to the "grease-like" behavior of the material, actual thermal impedance in a
specific application cannot be determined using only the material's bulk thermal
conductivity unless the actual operating pressure, temperature, thickness, etc. are
known. Therefore, to account for the unique situations associated with specific
applications, UTEC recommends customer testing to validate performance. Contact
UTEC Applications Engineering at 603-579-5764 for assistance or further information.

Therm-A-Sheet Low Thermal Resistance Phase-Change Interface Pads
 
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Copyright: 2004 UTEC, United Thermal Engineering Corp.