Improvements in thermal interface materials (TIMs) can enhance heat transfer in electronics packages and reduce high temperatures. TIMs are generally composed of highly conductive particle fillers and a matrix that allows for good surface wetting and compliance of the material during application. Two types of TIMs are tested based on the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs): one mixed with a commercial TIM product and the other only CNTs and silicone oil. The materials are tested using an in-house apparatus that allows for the simultaneous measurement of temperature, pressure, heat flux, and TIM thickness. Results show that addition of large quantities of CNTs degrades the performance of the commercial TIM, while the CNT-silicone oil mixtures showed improved performance at high pressures. Thickness and pressure measurements indicate that the CNT-thermal grease mixtures are more compliant, with a small increase in bulk thermal conductivity over the range of tested pressures.
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e-mail: dfabris@scu.edu
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June 2011
Carbon Nanotubes
Application of Carbon Nanotubes to Thermal Interface Materials
Drazen Fabris,
Drazen Fabris
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
e-mail: dfabris@scu.edu
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
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Michael Rosshirt,
Michael Rosshirt
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
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Christopher Cardenas,
Christopher Cardenas
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
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Patrick Wilhite,
Patrick Wilhite
Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
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Toshishige Yamada,
Toshishige Yamada
Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
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Cary Y. Yang
Cary Y. Yang
Department of Electrical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
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Drazen Fabris
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053e-mail: dfabris@scu.edu
Michael Rosshirt
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
Christopher Cardenas
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
Patrick Wilhite
Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
Toshishige Yamada
Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053
Cary Y. Yang
Department of Electrical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara Center for Nanostructures,
Santa Clara University
, Santa Clara, California 95053J. Electron. Packag. Jun 2011, 133(2): 020902 (6 pages)
Published Online: June 7, 2011
Article history
Received:
December 6, 2009
Revised:
February 18, 2011
Online:
June 7, 2011
Published:
June 7, 2011
Citation
Fabris, D., Rosshirt, M., Cardenas, C., Wilhite, P., Yamada, T., and Yang, C. Y. (June 7, 2011). "Application of Carbon Nanotubes to Thermal Interface Materials." ASME. J. Electron. Packag. June 2011; 133(2): 020902. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4003864
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