Thermally reversible thermal interface materials with improved moisture resistance

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a reversibly adhesive thermal interface material for electronic components and methods of making and using the same. More particularly, embodiments of the invention provide thermal interface materials that include a hydrolytically-stable, thermally-reversible adhesive, and a thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive filler, where the thermal interface material is characterized by a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W/m-K or more and an electrical resistivity of 9×1011 ohm-cm or more. The thermally reversible adhesive comprises a functionalized aminopropyl methylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane copolymer containing a plurality of dienophile functional groups bonded through an imide linkage, preferably maleimide groups, and a crosslinking agent containing a plurality of diene functional group, preferably furan groups. The reactive groups undergo a Diels Alder crosslinking reaction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.