With the rapid development of technology, electronic devices are becoming increasingly powerful and complex. thermal potting, as key auxiliary materials, play an irreplaceable role in their production and maintenance. These liquid composites, primarily composed of silicone, possess excellent thermal conductivity, insulation, weather resistance, and corrosion resistance. Their core function is to protect circuit boards and components, improve heat dissipation performance and stability, while also facing numerous challenges, although their future development direction is clear.
Both thermal grease and thermal gel are thermal interface materials, presenting a paste-like consistency that often leads to confusion, with some even believing they differ only in name. In reality, significant distinctions exist between them. Thermal grease represents a traditional, commonly used category within thermal interface materials, whereas thermal gel is a newer material that has gained prominence in recent years. The following provides a detailed analysis of their differences.
In industrial production, potting compounds are frequently employed for bonding and sealing electronic components and circuit boards. Among these, silicone potting compounds are favoured in numerous applications due to their exceptional adaptability, primarily categorised into two-component and single-component formulations. Compared to other adhesives such as epoxy resins, silicone potting compounds typically cure into soft elastomers. Depending on the functional additives incorporated, they exhibit varying degrees of heat resistance, waterproofing, and electrical insulation properties.
Thermal conductive potting compounds are primarily employed in the bonding, sealing, potting, and post-maintenance stages of power batteries. Prior to curing, they exist in a liquid state with excellent flowability, though their viscosity varies according to material properties, functional requirements, and production processes. Once fully cured, these compounds deliver their full application value, providing power batteries with multifaceted protection: waterproofing, dustproofing, insulation, thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and shock absorption.
Silicone gel is an environmentally friendly, two-component addition-curing silicone rubber with extremely low hardness. Non-toxic and odourless, it cures to a soft jelly-like texture with a naturally regenerative adhesive surface. It enhances physical bonding strength to most substrates without requiring a primer, offering convenient application and increasingly broad usage. Below are core insights compiled by Schnaiss.
