A metal microtextured thermal interface material (MMT-TIM) has been proposed to address some of the shortcomings of conventional TIMs. These materials consist of arrays of small-scale metal features that plastically deform when compressed between mating surfaces, conforming to the surface asperities of the contacting bodies and resulting in a low-thermal resistance assembly. The present work details the development of an accurate thermal model to predict the thermal resistance and effective thermal conductivity of the assembly (including contact and bulk thermal properties) as the MMT-TIMs undergo large plastic deformations. The main challenge of characterizing the thermal contact resistance of these structures was addressed by employing a numerical model to characterize the bulk thermal resistance and estimate the contribution of thermal contact resistance. Furthermore, a correlation that relates electrical and thermal contact resistance for these MMT-TIMs was developed that adequately predicted MMT-TIM properties for several different geometries. A comparison to a commercially available graphite TIM is made as well as suggestions for optimizing future MMT-TIM designs.
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Research-Article
Modeling and Experimental Characterization of Metal Microtextured Thermal Interface Materials
R. Kempers,
Manufacturing Engineering,
Trinty College,
R. Kempers
1
Department of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering,
Trinty College,
Dublin, Ireland
;1Corresponding author.
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A. M. Lyons,
Manufacturing Engineering,
Trinity College,
College of Staten Island,
Staten Island,
A. M. Lyons
Department of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering,
Trinity College,
Dublin, Ireland
;City University of New York
,College of Staten Island,
Staten Island,
NY
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A. J. Robinson
Manufacturing Engineering,
A. J. Robinson
Department of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering,
Trinity College
,Dublin, Ireland
Search for other works by this author on:
R. Kempers
Department of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering,
Trinty College,
Dublin, Ireland
;
A. M. Lyons
Department of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering,
Trinity College,
Dublin, Ireland
;City University of New York
,College of Staten Island,
Staten Island,
NY
A. J. Robinson
Department of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering,
Trinity College
,Dublin, Ireland
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Heat Transfer. Manuscript received July 17, 2012; final manuscript received May 14, 2013; published online October 25, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Bruce L. Drolen.
J. Heat Transfer. Jan 2014, 136(1): 011301 (11 pages)
Published Online: October 25, 2013
Article history
Received:
July 17, 2012
Revision Received:
May 14, 2013
Citation
Kempers, R., Lyons, A. M., and Robinson, A. J. (October 25, 2013). "Modeling and Experimental Characterization of Metal Microtextured Thermal Interface Materials." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. January 2014; 136(1): 011301. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4024737
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