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Liquid metal TIMs solidify, don't dry out, study finds

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] ·

A two-year experiment using an electron microscope has revealed that liquid metal thermal interface materials (TIMs) do not dry out as commonly believed. Instead, the gallium in the TIM reacts with copper, forming a solid compound called CuGa2. This solid layer has a thermal conductivity approximately one-quarter that of pure copper. When applied to nickel-plated coolers, a similar reaction forms NiGa5, which is thinner but conducts heat less effectively than the copper-gallium compound. AI

RANK_REASON The cluster details findings from a scientific experiment on the behavior of a specific material. [lever_c_demoted from research: ic=1 ai=0.1]

Read on Tom's Hardware →

AI-generated summary · Google Gemini · from 1 sources. How we write summaries →

Liquid metal TIMs solidify, don't dry out, study finds

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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Tom's Hardware TIER_1 English(EN) · Shane Downing ·

    Experiment shows liquid metal TIM doesn’t dry out; it turns solid

    Der8auer’s two-year electron microscope test shows liquid metal’s gallium turns solid on copper and nickel-plated coolers.

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