Thermal interface material and method for making the same
AssigneesTsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
InventorsHua Huang, Chang-Hong Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
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Abstract
A thermal interface material includes a matrix and a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The matrix includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. The carbon nanotubes are embedded in the matrix uniformly. The carbon nanotubes extend from the first surface to the second surface and each have two opposite ends. At least one of the two opposite ends of the carbon nanotubes is exposed out of one of the first and second surfaces of the matrix. The exposed ends of the carbon nanotubes being elastically bent/embedded in a phase change layer formed thereon.
Claims19
A thermal interface material comprising:
- a matrix having a first surface and an opposite second surface;
- and
- a plurality of carbon nanotubes embedded in the matrix, the carbon nanotubes extending from the first surface to the second surface and each having two opposite ends, at least one of the two ends of the carbon nanotubes being exposed out of one of the first and second surfaces of the matrix, the exposed ends of the carbon nanotubes being elastically bent/embedded in a phase change layer formed thereon.
A method for making a thermal interface material, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of carbon nanotubes having two opposite ends;
- forming a protective layer on at least one of the two ends of the carbon nanotubes;
- injecting curable liquid matrix into clearances among the carbon nanotubes and curing the liquid matrix;
- removing the protective layer to expose at least one of the two ends of the carbon nanotubes;
- and
- elastically bending/embedding the exposed ends of the carbon nanotubes in a phase change layer formed thereon.
A thermal management system comprising:
- a heat source;
- a heat sink;
- and
- a thermal interface material sandwiched between the heat source and the heat sink, the thermal interface material comprising:
- a matrix having a first surface and an opposite second surface;
- and
- a plurality of carbon nanotubes embedded in the matrix, the carbon nanotubes extending from the first surface to the second surface and having two opposite ends, at least one of the two ends of the carbon nanotubes being exposed out of one of the first and second surfaces of the matrix, the exposed ends of the carbon nanotubes being elastically bent/embedded in a phase change layer formed thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.