Most thermal pastes are thermally conductive. But not all thermal pastes are electrically conductive. The electrical conductivity of thermal paste can cause a short circuit and endanger the device for use.
Generation of heat is always present where electricity flows. If this heat isn’t dissipated, the device can be damaged. So, the use of thermal pastes is a must for heat management of a device.
Is Thermal Paste Conductive
Thermal pastes are thermally conductive. The foremost duty of thermal pastes is to ensure that the excess heat of any device is dissipated in the environment. It is usually mounted on any semiconductor chip. It carries the heat from the chip to a cooling heat sink.
Thermal paste ensures that the excess heat generated in a semiconductor chip is carried to the heat sink and dissipated in the environment. It should be electrically non-conductive so that there aren’t any risks for short circuits. Though some of the thermal pastes are electrically conductive.
Is Thermal Paste Electrically Conductive
Well, traditional thermal pastes are electrically non-conductive. Thermal paste is used between two surfaces. One of them is the heat source and the other is the heat sink. If it is electrically conductive, the heat sink, and the source becomes short-circuited. Hence traditional pastes were made electrically non-conductive.
But nowadays some thermal pastes are made conductive for various purposes. So, thermal pastes could be electrically conductive or non-conductive.
What Is Thermal Pastes Made of
Thermal pastes are usually made of epoxies, silicones (silicone grease), urethanes, acrylates, solvent-based systems, and hot-melt adhesives. For making the thermal paste, aluminum oxide, boron nitride, zinc oxide, and increasingly aluminum nitride are used as fillers for these types of adhesives.
How Do I Know if My Thermal Paste Is Conductive
As you know the thermal pastes you’re using could be electrically conductive or non-conductive, so you should perform a test to check their conductivity.
For this, you’ll just need a multimeter and some paste. Just hold two of your multimeter’s chords at two points where you’ve used the paste and measure the resistance. You’ll know if it’s conductive or not by knowing the resistance between those two surfaces.
Are Most Thermal Pastes Conductive
Most thermal pastes are made electrically non-conductive as there’s a risk of short-circuiting if the paste is conductive.
Thermal paste is sandwiched between two surfaces. The part of any device that generates excess heat requires thermal paste to dissipate the heat and cool the device. Therefore, electrically conductive thermal pastes short-circuit the two surfaces and your device could be damaged.
Can Thermal Paste Short-circuit
Thermal pastes can short-circuit two surfaces if they are made conductive. This is dangerous for your device. Though nowadays some thermal pastes are made electrically conductive for required purposes.
What Characteristics Should Your Thermal Paste Have
- Viscosity should be low.
- Mixture should be homogeneous and stable.
- Compliance should be according to industrial standards.
- Cost should be balanced.
Standard Thermal Pastes
Standard thermal pastes that we use more often are given below with their specifications:
| Thermal Pastes | Specifications |
| 1. ProlimaTech PK-3 Nano Aluminum | Electrically Conductive: NoThermal Conductivity: 11.2 W/mkEase of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)Relative Performance: 4.0 (1=poor, 5=excellent)Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs, and alcohol |
| 2. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut | Electrically Conductive: NoThermal Conductivity: 12.5 W/mkEase of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)Relative Performance: 4.0 (1=poor, 5=excellent)Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs, and alcohol |
| 3. Cooler Master MasterGel Pro v2 | Electrically Conductive: NoThermal Conductivity: 9 W/mkEase of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)Relative Performance: 3.5 (1=poor, 5=excellent)Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs, and alcohol |
| 4. Arctic MX-5 | Electrically Conductive: NoThermal Conductivity: 6.0 W/mkEase of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)Relative Performance: 4.0 (1=poor, 5=excellent)Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs, and alcohol |
| 5. NAB Cooling NB Max Pro | Electrically Conductive: NoThermal Conductivity: 8.5 W/mkEase of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)Relative Performance: 1 (1=poor, 5=excellent)Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs, and alcohol |
| 6. Noctua NT-H1 | Electrically Conductive: NoThermal Conductivity: UnlistedEase of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)Relative Performance: 4.0 (1=poor, 5=excellent)Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs, and alcohol |
| 7. Gelid GC-Extreme | Electrically Conductive: NoThermal Conductivity: 8.5 W/mkEase of Use: 4.0 (1=difficult, 5=simple)Relative Performance: 3.5 (1=poor, 5=excellent)Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs, and alcohol |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the alternatives to thermal pastes?
You can use thermal pads, thermally conductive adhesive tapes, thermal foam, and ceramic inserts as a substitution for thermal pastes.
Conclusion
Thermal pastes are thermally conductive but electrically used as insulators in most cases. The thermal conductivity of these pastes is the reason why these are used in heat management. Most thermal pastes are electrically non-conductive to avoid the hazards of short-circuiting and damage to the device.
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