Thermally Conductive Additives

Definition

Thermal conductivity of a matter is its property to conduct heat from one place to the other. Thermal conductivity is measured in watts per meter kelvin W/(m K).

Introduction

Thermoplastics and thermosets are widely used in E&E (electric and electronic) applications. Their low thermal conductivity in the range of only 0.2–0.4 W/(mK) is linked to their chemical structure. Metals are by far still the most important materials in heat management, their only drawbacks are their high price and their high electrical conductivities; the latter being inevitably linked to the metal properties, on which their high intrinsic heat conductivity is also based. When being used in combination with electrical components with high energy density (processors, light emitting diodes, electric motors, batteries, electronics, etc.) new requirements of an efficient dissipation of heat while maintaining electrical insulation properties of housings like integration of heat management/heat sinks are...