# US 2019/0170403 A1 · 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 2019/0170403 A1 - Document ID: US20190170403A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/268,890 - Filed: 2019-02-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - 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/US20190170403A1 ## 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 method for creating a self-heating thermal interface material (TIM), the method comprising: selecting a TIM, the TIM having a first compliance at a first temperature, the TIM having a second compliance at a second temperature; forming at least one heating component, the at least one heating component producing heat when subjected to a compressive force, the heat produced by the at least one heating component transferring to the TIM; determining an amount of the at least one heating component sufficient to increase the temperature of an amount of the TIM, the increased temperature producing the second compliance; and dispersing the amount of the at least one heating component within the amount of the TIM. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method 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 method of claim 1 further comprising: forming the at least one heating component to contain at least one first reactant and at least one second reactant; forming the at least one heating component to prevent the at least one first reactant and the at least one second reactant coming into contact when the at least one heating component is not subject to the compressive force; and forming the at least one heating component to allow the at least one first reactant and the at least one second reactant to come into contact upon application of the compressive force, the at least one first reactant and the at least one second reactant coming into contact producing an exothermic reaction, the exothermic reaction producing the heat transferred to the TIM. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one first reactant is hydrogen peroxide and the at least one second reactant includes iron and a catalytic amount of ferric nitrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 further comprising: forming the at least one heating component from at least one first microcapsule, the at least one first microcapsule having a first outer shell; forming the first outer shell to sustain application of the compressive force to the at least one first microcapsule without rupturing; forming the at least one first microcapsule to contain the at least one first reactant and the at least one second reactant; forming the at least one first microcapsule to contain at least one isolating structure within the first 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 at least one first microcapsule is not subjected to the compressive force; and forming the at least one isolating structure to rupture upon application of the compressive force to the at least one first microcapsule, 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, and the exothermic reaction producing the heat transferred to the TIM. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 further comprising: forming the at least one isolating structure as at least one second microcapsule, the at least one second microcapsule containing the at least one second reactant, the at least one first microcapsule containing the at least one second microcapsule within the at least one first reactant; and forming the at least one second microcapsule having a second outer shell, the second outer shell configured to rupture when the at least one first microcapsule is subjected to the compressive force. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 further comprising forming the first outer shell of the at least one microcapsule to prevent the at least one first reactant, the at least one second reactant, and the chemical products of the exothermic reaction from coming into contact with the TIM. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, 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 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, 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 at least one first microcapsule, and the isolating structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein one or more of the TIM, the at least one first microcapsule, and the isolating structure are inert with respect to one or more products of the exothermic reaction.