# US 10,309,692 B2 · Self-heating thermal interface material

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,309,692 B2
- Document ID: US10309692B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/937,944
- Filed: 2015-11-11
- Published: 2017-05-11
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-11
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Eric J. Campbell; Joseph Kuczynski; Kevin A. Splittstoesser; Timothy J. Tofil
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309692B2

## CPC

- F24V 30/00: Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion
- H10W 40/00: Arrangements for thermal protection or thermal control (integrated devices comprising arrangements for thermal protection H10D89/60)
- H10W 40/251: {Organics}
- H10W 40/70: Fillings or auxiliary members in containers or in encapsulations for thermal protection or control
- H10W 40/735: {by melting or evaporation of solids}
- F24V: COLLECTION, PRODUCTION OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10

## Abstract

A self-heating thermal interface material (TIM) may be formed using heating components dispersed within the TIM. The heating components may produce heat when the TIM is compressed. The heating components may be formed from microcapsules and the microcapsules may contain exothermic reactants. The reactants may be isolated from contact within the microcapsule until a compressive force is applied.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A self-heating thermal interface material (TIM), the self-heating TIM comprising:
a TIM; and
at least one heat producing component dispersed within the TIM, wherein the at least one heat producing component further comprises:
at least one first microcapsule, the at least one first microcapsule having an outer shell, the outer shell forming a boundary between the TIM and contents of the at least one first microcapsule, the outer shell configured to sustain application of a compressive force without rupturing;
at least one first reactant and an at least one second reactant contained within the outer shell; and
at least one isolating structure within the outer shell, the at least one isolating structure preventing the at least one first reactant and the at least one second reactant from coming into contact when the compressive force is not applied, the at least one isolating structure configured to rupture when the compressive force is applied, the rupturing causing the at least one first reactant and the at least one second reactant to come into contact, the contact producing an exothermic reaction, the heat from the exothermic reaction transferring to the TIM.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The self-heating TIM of claim 1 wherein the TIM is selected from the group consisting of:
a phase-change TIM;
a silicone based TIM;
an acrylate based TIM; and
a mixture including any of a phase-change TIM, a silicone based TIM, and an acrylate based TIM.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The self-heating TIM of claim 1 wherein the at least one isolating structure is at least one second microcapsule, the at least one first microcapsule contains the at least one first reactant and the at least one second microcapsule, and the at least one second microcapsule contains the at least one second reactant.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The self-heating TIM of claim 1 wherein the at least one first reactant is hydrogen peroxide and the at least one second reactant includes iron and ferric nitrate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The self-heating TIM of claim 1 wherein the at least one isolating structure is at least one membrane, the at least one membrane separating two or more compartments of the first microcapsule, and wherein the at least one first reactant is contained within a first compartment and the at least one second reactant is contained within a second compartment.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The self-heating TIM of claim 1 wherein the at least one first reactant and the at least one second reactant are inert with respect to one or more of the TIM, the microcapsule, and the isolating structure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The self-heating TIM of claim 1 wherein one or more of the TIM, the microcapsule, and the isolating structure are inert with respect to one or more products of the exothermic reaction.