silicone-free?
Recently, we saw some thermal pads that caught our attention. Silicone-Free in industry is important for a number of reasons. In the last 10-20 years, silicone-free thermal pads has become a huge market for the electronic industry. In this blog, we wanted to discuss some silicone-free pads offered by Laird/DuPont.
Why is Silicone a Problem in Industry?
Silicone is so great. No one would challenge that it has brought humanity to a different level due to its amazing ability to withstand temperature, its non-stick properties, and lubrication properties. It has been depended on for years to be the matrix/polymer of choice for thermal pads for the last 35 years. However, due to the significant problems with silicone/siloxane in manufacturing many OEMs are now calling for silicone-free thermal pads due to the issues.
Problems with Silicone in Modern Manufacturing
-Trouble with Common Manufacturing Processes, bonding, soldering, and adhesive bonding
-Outgassing, Offgassing, Bleeding causes silicone contamination that will cause adhesive failures cohesively, and adhesively
-Painting processes can be severely disrupted to a point failure.
-Once Silicone is present in an application, it’s nearly impossible to clean up, and away. It’s a haunting ghost of the manufacturing environment.
TFlex Product Offering for Silicone-Free Thermal Pads(datasheet download)
TFLEX SF800– 7.8 W/m-K- Color Gray- thicknesses available: 0.020’’-0.160’’
TFLEX SF600– 3 W/m-K- Color Pink- thicknesses available: 0.010’’-0.140’’
TFLEX SF10– 10 W/m-K- Color Gray -thicknesses available: 0.020’’-0.200’’ this actually tests at around 12 w/m-k. I tested it twice cause I didn’t believe it!
Note: CoolZorb Ultra is also a silicone-free thermal gap filler that is a hybrid EMI absorber.
More Information on Silicone-Free Thermal Interface Pads
NEDC does custom die-cutting, and knife cutting of silicone-free pads for customers. For more information on silicone-free thermal pads, or you feel you have an application that could utilize thermal gap filler pads, please contact sales@nedc.com.