Different High Thermal Conductivity Insulators Values

With the continuing evolution toward smaller, more powerful, and more integrated electronic devices, heat dissipation becomes an issue. Overheating reduces performance, decreases reliability and life span, and even poses safety risks [1,2]. To avoid this overheating, Efficient Thermal Management in Electronics are often used to help disperse the heat within the device.

However, not all insulators are created equal and they have different thermal conductivity values. This means that when it comes to choosing the best material for your particular application, you must consider the different factors that affect thermal conductivity.

Thermal conductivity is the amount of heat that can be transferred through a unit area of a given thickness of material in a given time at a given temperature difference. It is commonly denoted by k displaystyle k, l displaystyle l, or k displaystyle kappa. The higher the thermal conductivity value, the more conductive the material is.

The opposite of thermal conductivity is thermal resistance, which is the measure of how much energy it takes to raise the temperature of a material. A higher resistivity value indicates a higher level of insulation, which is desirable in applications where heat must be retained or dissipated over an extended period of time.

The density of a material is also a significant factor in determining its thermal conductivity. Denser materials tend to have lower thermal conductivity than thinner, lighter materials. This is because the larger mass of a dense material has greater resistance to the transfer of heat, thus slowing down the rate at which it can absorb or disperse heat.

Another important characteristic of an insulator is its specific heat capacity, which refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of a material by 1 K (or by 1oC). A high specific heat capacity means that a material has great thermal mass and will retain heat for long periods of time.

A low thermal conductivity is desirable in some cases, such as in insulating electrical wires. These materials will slow down the flow of electricity and protect against shocks, vibrations and other environmental stressors. However, in most applications, it is not a critical factor for the operation of the equipment being used.

MTC’s thermally conductive insulation products include a variety of types and material thicknesses. These products range from insulator pads to thermally conductive gap fillers and double-sided adhesive tapes. They can be used for a variety of applications including power semiconductors, electronic cooling, and other heat dissipation applications. All of our thermally conductive insulation products are RoHS compliant and meet or exceed industry standards for cut-through resistance. Contact a Xometry representative to learn more or request a quote today.