Thermal Conductivity Characterization of Thermal Grease Containing Copper Nanopowder

Materials (Basel). 2020 Apr 17;13(8):1893. doi: 10.3390/ma13081893.

Abstract

As electronic devices and mainboards become smaller, the need for thermal conductive materials having excellent internal heat dissipation is increasing. In this study, nano thermal grease was prepared by mixing in copper nanopowder, which is used as a heat transfer medium in thermal grease, which is a kind of thermal conductive material, with silicon oil. In addition, copper powder was mixed with graphene and alumina, respectively, and the thermal conductivity performance was compared. As a result, the thermal conductivity improved by 4.5 W/m·k over the silicon base, and the upward trend of thermal conductivity increased steadily up to 15 vol. %, and the increasing trend decreased after 20 vol. %. In addition, the increased rate of thermal conductivity from 0 to 5 vol. % and 10 to 15 vol. % was the largest.

Keywords: alumina; graphene; nano powder; thermal conductivity; thermal grease; thermal interface materials.