Autonomous vehicle computing device with barrier layer

A method of assembling an autonomous vehicle computing device, comprising:

• providing a printed circuit board;
• applying a barrier layer on the printed circuit board;
• applying a thermal interface material on the barrier layer;
• and
• compressing the thermal interface material between a heat sink and the printed circuit board, wherein the barrier layer is between the printed circuit board and a thermal interface material layer formed from the thermal interface material, and wherein the thermal interface material layer and the printed circuit board are separatable at the barrier layer after curing of the thermal interface material layer.

An autonomous vehicle, comprising:

• an autonomous vehicle computing device, comprising:
• a printed circuit board;
• a heat sink;
• a thermal interface material layer between the printed circuit board and the heat sink;
• and
• a barrier layer between the thermal interface material layer and the printed circuit board, wherein the thermal interface material layer and the printed circuit board are separatable at the barrier layer after curing of the thermal interface material layer.