Thermal Interface Materials
To effectively conduct heat, thermal interface materials are often required between heat-generating components and heat sinks. These materials fill rough, uneven bonding surfaces, reducing thermal resistance and enhancing component heat dissipation efficiency.
Thermal interface materials are primarily categorized into three types: thermal grease, thermal silicone, and thermal gel.
Thermal grease, also known as thermal paste, is a highly conductive, insulating silicone material. Manufactured from silicone oil blended with thermal fillers, stabilizers, and other additives, it undergoes processes like heating, vacuum reduction, and grinding to form an ester-like substance. This material possesses a certain viscosity without noticeable granularity. It effectively fills various gaps and is primarily applied between high-power heat-generating components and heat sinks.
Thermal conductive gel is a gel-like thermal interface material composed of silicone compound mixed with thermal fillers through stirring, blending, and encapsulation. It features low thermal resistance, excellent insulation properties, minimal required working pressure, high stability, strong adhesion, and low demands on interface geometry. This innovative material represents a highly efficient thermal interface solution.
In practical applications, thermal management materials and components often require combined use. AR glasses, constrained by demands for greater thinness and lightness, typically employ natural convection passive cooling. VR all-in-one devices, benefiting from larger space and higher power consumption, utilize a combination of active air cooling and passive cooling. For instance, the Meta Quest Pro employs a dual-fan + flat copper tube cooling solution, with thermal paste also applied around the camera.
As the VR, AR, and MR markets continue to evolve, global tech giants are investing significant resources in head-mounted device R&D. The effectiveness of thermal design and material selection will become an indispensable factor for the successful application of these cutting-edge technologies. With the launch of more new products in the future, the thermal management industry may encounter fresh opportunities.
