Indium offers a portfolio of solutions for thermal interface materials (TIMs). TIMs are metallic alloys that are in a liquid state at room temperature. Indium's liquid metal TIMs are designed to provide very good thermal conductivity as a thin interlayer (<0.5 mm) on most surfaces of components, assemblies and heat sinks and ensure fast heat dissipation (16 W/mK).
They therefore surpass the properties of non-metallic heat dissipation materials and are also electrically conductive. They are suitable for TIM1 and TIM2 applications and thus improve the reliability and usable service life of critical end products. These liquid metal TIMs are available from Indium in various alloys, including InGa ('Indalloy') and InGaSn. They were demonstrated in mid-March at the SEMI-THERM (Annual Semiconductor Thermal Measurement, Modeling and Management Symposium) in San Jose, California.
The m2TIM material is a special combination of solid and liquid material supplied in a metallic preform, eliminating the need for a solderable surface. This hybrid solution offers good wetting of (oxide-free) metallic and non-metallic surfaces (including glass and quartz) with low thermal resistance. Typical applications include thermostats, switches, barometers, heat dissipation systems and heating and cooling systems. In unopened condition, the materials have a storage time (<65.6 °C) of one year.
