Electrically and thermally conductive gaskets

An electrically and thermally conductive compressible gasket comprising:

• a resilient core comprising foam and a plurality of sides including opposing end portions, opposing side portions, and opposing top and bottom portions;
• a heat spreader comprising a graphite sheet wrapped around and covering the opposing side portions and the opposing top and bottom portions of the resilient core;
• and
• an electrically conductive layer disposed over and covering the graphite sheet such that the electrically conductive layer inhibits graphite from flaking or breaking off from the portion of the graphite sheet covered by the electrically conductive layer;
• wherein:
• the electrically conductive layer is configured to provide mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, and protection for the portion of the graphite sheet covered by the electrically conductive layer and to provide electrical conductivity and additional thermal transfer for the gasket;
• the gasket is configured to have a maximum compression ratio within a range from about 40% to about 70%;
• the gasket is configured to have a shielding effectiveness greater than 60 decibels for frequencies within a range from 30 megahertz to 18 gigahertz at a 50% compression ratio;
• the gasket is configured to have a Z-axis electrical resistance of less than 0.04 ohms for a compression ratio within a range from about 0% compression to about 70% compression;
• the resilient core, the heat spreader, and the electrically conductive layer combined have no more than a maximum of 900 parts per million chlorine, no more than a maximum of 900 parts per million bromine, and no more than a maximum of 1,500 parts per million total halogens such that the gasket is defined as halogen free;
• and
• the gasket is configured to be compressible to about 15% to 60% of its original (uncompressed) state, such that when the gasket is compressed to less than 25% of its original (uncompressed) state, the gasket recovers to 90% to 100% of its original (uncompressed) state;
• whereby the gasket is positionable and compressible between first and second surfaces to thereby define an electrically conductive path and a thermally conductive path between the first and second surfaces.

An electrically and thermally conductive gasket comprising:

• a resilient core comprising foam and a plurality of sides;
• a heat spreader comprising a graphite sheet wrapped around and covering all of the plurality of sides of the resilient core;
• and
• an electrically conductive layer disposed over and covering the graphite sheet such that the electrically conductive layer inhibits graphite from flaking or breaking off from the portion of the graphite sheet covered by the electrically conductive layer;
• an outer adhesive between and adhesively bonding the electrically conductive layer directly to the graphite sheet;
• a tape is along the heat spreader;
• an inner adhesive between and adhesively bonding the tape and the resilient core;
• an electrically conductive and thermally conductive pressure sensitive adhesive is along an outer portion of the gasket for adhesively bonding the gasket to a surface;
• wherein the electrically conductive layer is configured to provide mechanical strength, abrasion resistance, and protection for the portion of the graphite sheet covered by the electrically conductive layer, and to provide electrical conductivity and additional thermal transfer for the gasket;
• whereby the gasket is positionable and compressible between first and second surfaces to thereby define an electrically conductive path and a thermally conductive path between the first and second surfaces;
• wherein:
• the gasket is configured to have a maximum compression ratio within a range from about 40% to about 70%;
• the gasket is configured to have a shielding effectiveness greater than 60 decibels for frequencies within a range from 30 megahertz to 18 gigahertz at a 50% compression ratio;
• the gasket is configured to have a Z-axis electrical resistance of less than 0.04 ohms for a compression ratio within a range from about 0% compression to about 70% compression;
• the resilient core, the heat spreader, and the electrically conductive layer combined have no more than a maximum of 900 parts per million chlorine, no more than a maximum of 900 parts per million bromine, and no more than a maximum of 1,500 parts per million total halogens such that the gasket is defined as halogen free;
• the gasket has a flame rating of V-0 under Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) Standard No. 94;
• and
• the gasket is configured to be compressible to about 15% to 60% of its original (uncompressed) state, such that when the gasket is compressed to less than 25% of its original (uncompressed) state, the gasket recovers to 90% to 100% of its original (uncompressed) state.