Reliability of Graphene Enhanced Thermal Interface Material under Mechanical Cycling

The requirement for efficient heat transfer to ensure the reliable operation of electronics devices is paramount. Thermal interface materials (TIMs), such as thermal grease and phase change materials, are extensively used globally to reduce thermal contact resistance and ensure optimal performance. In this paper, reliability of a graphene-enhanced TIM is characterized. In real applications, under certain circumstances, TIMs may experience mechanical compression or external pressure, leading to repetitive compression. This compression can affect the performance and mechanical stability of the TIMs. To study this, a Micron-Displacement Pressure Measurement Device with elevated ambient temperature measurement capability is used. This equipment enables us to study mechanical compression at specific temperatures and pressures, allowing the TIM to undergo multiple cycles of compression. In total, the mechanical cycling tests were done up to 5000 cycles. Through this procedure, the durability and potential fatigue damage of the graphene enhanced TIM is studied. The results show that the graphene enhanced TIM does not have significant thermal or mechanical degradation up to 5000 cycles. This suggests that reliability of the graphene enhanced TIM under mechanical loading is extremely good leading to potential use in electronics power module cooling applications.