Thermal grease may seem inconspicuous, but
it plays a very important role in most thermal management systems. Just like a
million-dollar luxury car, if there is no tire as the driving medium, no matter
how powerful the engine is It is impossible to achieve the high performance of
the car. Thermal grease is a thermal medium that acts as a bridge between the
chip and the heat sink. However, with the introduction of many thermal grease
products, the price difference is huge, which creates a distinction between high-end
and low-end. However, many users are confused about the specific difference
between the two. Today, I will explain it to many users in detail. How to judge
the pros and cons of thermal grease.
Three main parameters affect the
performance of thermal grease
1. Thermal conductivity: The higher the
thermal conductivity, the better the performance of the silicone grease, of
course, the price is more expensive.
2. Thermal resistance: In thermal grease,
the smaller the thermal resistance, the better the heat transfer effect.
3. Oil separation rate: Generally speaking,
the lower the oil content of thermal grease, the better, because the silicone
grease with high oil content will separate some grease after a long storage
time, and these greases will hinder the heat conduction to a certain extent.
Raw materials that affect the performance
of thermal grease
Silicone oil is the base material in the
production of thermally conductive silicone grease, which has good waterproof
sealing, water resistance, solvent resistance, and anti-crawling properties. In
fact, whether it is high-end or low-end thermal grease, the silicone oil used
is not much different, because the silicone oil itself is a pure insulator, and
its thermal conductivity is very poor. Then the main difference between
high-end and low-end thermal grease in raw materials is the various types of
metal compounds that can enhance the performance of silicone grease. Generally,
ordinary thermal grease will generally add substances such as alumina, and the
price and more high-end boron oxide, sterling silver, and other substances are
usually only used in high-end silicone grease.
In fact, it is difficult for us to
distinguish the difference between the pros and cons of thermal grease with the
naked eye, but if we analyze it from the perspective of use, we can see the
difference very clearly. In addition to the thermal conductivity of the
silicone grease, there are also the viscosity factor, thermal resistance, and
the degree of oil separation, all of which have a direct effect on the use of
the silicone grease, and these effects can be analyzed by professional testing
instruments or equipment to find out the specific performance parameters of the
silicone grease. For example, the oil separation rate will affect the life of
thermal conductive silicone grease. When the oil separation speed of the
silicone oil in the silicone grease is too fast, the silicone grease will dry
out, which will lead to a gap between the value and the interface, reduce the
thermal conductivity area, or the medium will react with the air and change the
nature of the silicone grease itself to reduce the performance. Therefore, the service
life of silicone grease and whether the physical and chemical properties are
stable are also important indicators for judging the pros and cons of thermal
grease.
When we purchase thermal grease, we should
not only look at the performance of the product but also choose a trusted brand
of thermal grease. Here, we recommend a thermal grease TS1101 independently
developed and produced by TENSAN, which has the characteristics of high
viscosity, no solvent, easy operation, thermal conductivity of 4.5W, and extremely
low oil separation rate, low thermal resistance, and excellent thermal
conductivity. Used in lighting assemblies, telecom equipment, consumer
electronics, power supplies and power components for transportation, etc.
