Laird (now under Qnity Electronics) has issued an official End-of-Life (EOL) notification for Tflex SF800, the widely used silicone-free thermal gap filler. If your current design specifies SF800, this post covers the key dates, the recommended replacement product, and how NEDC can help you transition without disruption.
What Is Tflex SF800?
Tflex SF800 is a silicone-free thermal gap filler pad from Laird/DuPont, rated at 7.0 W/m·K thermal conductivity. It has been a popular choice in electronics assemblies where silicone contamination is a concern — applications like automotive control units, LED lighting, power converters, and sensitive sensor housings. SF800 is available in thicknesses from 0.020″ to 0.160″ and ships in 9×9 inch sheets.
Because it contains no silicone, SF800 eliminates the risk of silicone outgassing and migration that can cause adhesive bonding failures, painting defects, and contact-resistance issues in manufacturing lines. That made it a go-to material for engineers who needed thermal performance without the silicone trade-offs.
The End-of-Life Timeline
Qnity Electronics distributed the official EOL notification on August 1, 2026. Here are the critical dates:
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| EOL Notification Date | August 1, 2026 |
| Last Purchase Date | October 31, 2026 (or as contracts allow) |
| Last Ship Date | January 31, 2027 |
Quantities will be limited to the raw materials Laird has on hand until they are fully consumed. All orders must request a ship date prior to January 31, 2027 — actual ship dates are established by Laird’s order acknowledgement and tied to specific orders.
If you’re currently using SF800 in production, now is the time to begin qualifying a replacement.
The Recommended Replacement: Tflex SF7
Laird’s official recommendation is Tflex SF7 — and it’s essentially a drop-in replacement. Here’s why:
- Thermal Conductivity: 7.0 W/m·K (matches SF800)
- Thickness Range: 0.020″ – 0.160″ (same as SF800)
- Silicone-Free: Yes — same chemistry family, no silicone outgassing risk
- Available Formats: 229×229 mm sheets
The part-number cross-reference is straightforward. Each SF800 thickness maps directly to an SF7 equivalent:
| SF800 Part Number | SF800 Description | SF7 Replacement Part Number | SF7 Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A15754-02 | Tflex SF820, 9×9″ | A18843-02 | Tflex SF7, 0.50, 229×229mm |
| A15754-03 | Tflex SF830, 9×9″ | A18843-03 | Tflex SF7, 0.75, 229×229mm |
| A15754-04 | Tflex SF840, 9×9″ | A18843-04 | Tflex SF7, 1.00, 229×229mm |
| A15754-05 | Tflex SF850, 9×9″ | A18843-05 | Tflex SF7, 1.25, 229×229mm |
| A15754-06 | Tflex SF860, 9×9″ | A18843-06 | Tflex SF7, 1.50, 229×229mm |
| A15754-07 | Tflex SF870, 9×9″ | A18843-07 | Tflex SF7, 1.75, 229×229mm |
| A15754-08 | Tflex SF880, 9×9″ | A18843-08 | Tflex SF7, 2.00, 229×229mm |
| A15754-09 | Tflex SF890, 9×9″ | A18843-09 | Tflex SF7, 2.25, 229×229mm |
| A15754-10 | Tflex SF8100, 9×9″ | A18843-10 | Tflex SF7, 2.50, 229×229mm |
| A15754-11 | Tflex SF8110, 9×9″ | A18843-11 | Tflex SF7, 2.75, 229×229mm |
| A15754-12 | Tflex SF8120, 9×9″ | A18843-12 | Tflex SF7, 3.00, 229×229mm |
| A15754-13 | Tflex SF8130, 9×9″ | A18843-13 | Tflex SF7, 3.25, 229×229mm |
| A15754-14 | Tflex SF8140, 9×9″ | A18843-14 | Tflex SF7, 3.50, 229×229mm |
| A15754-15 | Tflex SF8150, 9×9″ | A18843-15 | Tflex SF7, 3.75, 229×229mm |
| A15754-16 | Tflex SF8160, 9×9″ | A18843-16 | Tflex SF7, 4.00, 229×229mm |
For customized part numbers, Laird recommends consulting your account manager for the new part numbers.
You can view Tflex SF7 and the full Laird silicone-free thermal gap filler lineup on our Thermal Pads product page.
Why the Switch Makes Sense
The good news for engineers: SF7 is not a downgrade. In fact, Laird’s newer silicone-free series — SF4, SF7, and SF10 — represents the current generation of their silicone-free gap filler technology. We covered this transition in detail in our earlier post on TFLEX SF600 & SF800: Proven Thermal Gap Fillers, and the EOL of SF800 accelerates what was already the natural migration path.
If you need even higher conductivity, Laird also offers Tflex SF10 at 10 W/m·K (independent testing has confirmed actual performance around 12 W/m·K), available in thicknesses up to 0.200″. For lower-power applications, Tflex SF4 provides 4.0 W/m·K in the same thickness range.
How NEDC Can Help
As an approved Laird converter, NEDC stocks Tflex SF7 and the full silicone-free TFlex series. We die-cut these materials to exact customer specifications using steel-rule dies, laser cutting, and waterjet cutting — all from our 70,000 square-foot facility in Methuen, Massachusetts.
Here’s what we offer for customers transitioning off SF800:
- Custom die-cut SF7 pads in any shape or size, from prototypes to high-volume production runs
- Technical datasheets and material samples for qualification testing
- AS9100D & ISO-9001:2015 certified quality processes
- Fast turnaround on quotes and sample parts
Don’t wait until the last purchase deadline approaches. Request a quote for Tflex SF7 pads today, and our team will help you transition your design from SF800 to SF7 with minimal disruption.
Key Takeaways
- Tflex SF800 is being discontinued. Last purchase date is October 31, 2026; last ship date is January 31, 2027.
- Tflex SF7 is the direct replacement — same 7.0 W/m·K conductivity, same thickness range, same silicone-free chemistry.
- NEDC is an approved Laird converter and can supply custom die-cut SF7 pads immediately.
- Plan your transition now to avoid supply gaps before the EOL deadlines.
For questions about the SF800-to-SF7 transition, material specs, or custom cutting requirements, contact us at sales@nedc.com or call (978) 686-6332.