Thermal gap pads are used in applications in place of traditional thermal interface materials such as thermal paste or grease. They offer quick and easy application with minimal training and without the mess associated with paste or grease, or without the need for expensive dispensing machines.

Gap pads work in much the same way as other TIM’s, filling small gaps and pockets between two surfaces. They offer many of the same properties as paste or grease alternatives, however as a general rule they work best for applications where there is high pressure between components. This pressure forces the pad material into the air pockets more effectively reducing the thermal resistance; the thermal resistance achieved will not be as low as a thermal paste, however. Thermal pads can also benefit over traditional TIM’s which may be ‘pumped out’ due to this pressure.

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