Thermal Interface Materials – otherwise referred to as thermal paste or thermal grease, are materials which use a thermally conductive filler such as a metal oxide, combined with a carrier fluid in order to create a material which is a good conductor of heat, whilst maintaining its electrically insulating properties. Electrolube non-silicone based materials use specialised carriers in place of silicone oils in order to offer silicone-free alternatives for those applications that prohibit the use of silicones. The choice of fillers, base oils, additives and mixing procedures can have a dramatic effect on the final properties of the paste.

The finished product is a thermally conductive material which can be used in a range of electronic devices to manage the heat generated during operation, dissipating it away from components to the heat sink or other cooling device and thus allowing the component to operate more reliably and at higher speeds than would otherwise be possible.

By clever formulation products such as Electrolube ‘Xtra’ range can achieve enhanced characteristics such as a higher thermal conductivity and lower oil bleed, with no compromise on usability, viscosity or thermal resistance.

There are a number of differences in performance to the silicone thermal pastes, these include higher dielectric strength, and a lower evaporation weight loss than the silicones. With some products such as the ‘Xtra’ range exhibiting improved resistance to changes in humidity and thermal shock. However as a general rule, the operating temperature range of non-silicone thermal paste is not quite as wide as their silicone based counterparts.

As with all thermal interface materials we would advise that you test any product you select thoroughly, as each application will vary from the next and figures quoted on a TDS may not match the results in the ‘real’ operating environment.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Technical Support Team, or alternately we have some great articles available:

• Thermal Management FAQ’s
• Thermal Management Technical Articles
• Thermal Management Blogs