Dongguan Nuodi - What is the difference between thermal conductive silicone grease and thermal conductive silicone pad?

What are the differences between thermal conductive silicone grease and thermal conductive silicone sheets?  

First, both thermal conductive silicone sheets and thermal conductive silicone grease belong to thermal interface materials, which can assist electronic products in heat dissipation and improve their performance and service life. The main differences between the two are as follows:  

Thermal conductive silicone sheets are typically used on the surfaces of electronic components and chips with low heat generation. The thermal conductivity of this material is relatively small, resulting in lower thermal performance. Thermal conductive silicone grease, on the other hand, is one of the materials used to fill the gaps between CPUs and heat sinks. Its role is to conduct the heat generated by the CPU to the heat sink, keeping the CPU temperature within a reasonable range for stable operation, preventing damage due to poor heat dissipation, and extending the product's service life.  

The specific differences are as follows:  

1.Form

Thermal conductive silicone sheets are solid, while thermal conductive silicone grease is liquid and does not cure after use.  

2.Application Method

Thermal conductive pads can be held by hand or clips and directly pasted onto the interface requiring heat conduction; thermal conductive silicone grease needs to be loaded into a syringe for injection or applied to the CPU with a small scraper, which takes longer to operate.  

3.Thickness

The thickness of thermal conductive pads can be adjusted between 0.15-18mm; thermal conductive silicone grease is used in a coating form, usually with a thickness of no more than 0.23mm.  

4. Application Range

Thermal conductive silicone sheets have a wide range of applications, from small Bluetooth earphones to space shuttles and various electronic products; thermal conductive silicone grease has relatively limited applications due to its characteristics, mainly used in home appliances, lighting industries and other fields.  

5.Operability

Thermal conductive silicone sheets are highly operable, allowing for back glue and back film processing, and can be cut into any shape, deriving various types such as wear-resistant thermal pads, silicone-backed thermal pads, fiberglass thermal pads, silicon-free thermal pads, carbon fiber thermal pads, wave-absorbing thermal pads, and double-sided adhesive thermal pads; thermal conductive silicone grease has poor operability, and unprofessional operation can easily cause the grease to overflow onto the circuit, leading to short circuits, and it is difficult to clean.  

6. Raw Materials and Processing Technology

Thermal conductive silicone sheets are mainly composed of silicone and aluminum oxide, with relatively complex processing technology; thermal conductive silicone grease is made of silicone oil as the base, thermal conductive powder as the filler, and functional additives, processed by mixing and grinding, with a simpler process.