Thermally Conductive Materials
Long-term, reliable protection of sensitive circuits and components is important in many of today’s delicate and demanding electronic applications. With the increase in processing power and the trend toward smaller, more compact electronic modules, the need for thermal management is growing. Dow’s family of thermally conductive materials provides excellent thermal management options. Thermally conductive silicones function as heat transfer media, durable dielectric insulation, barriers against environmental contaminants and as stress-relieving shock and vibration absorbers over a wide temperature and humidity range.

In addition to sustaining their physical and electrical properties over a broad range of operating conditions, silicones are resistant to ozone and ultraviolet degradation and have good chemical stability. Dow’s line of thermal management materials includes adhesives, encapsulants, compounds and gels.

Good heat transfer is dependent on a good interface between the heat producing device and the heat transfer media. Silicones have a low surface tension that enables them to wet most surfaces, which can lower the thermal contact resistance between the substrate and the material.