Fundamentals of Heat Transfer in Thermal Interface
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Introduction - This paper focuses on the primary function of a thermal gap filler – its ability to transfer heat from one surface to another. The selection process for a gap filler can sometimes be confusing because most thermal considerations are left to the end of the design cycle when the selection process must be performed under a tight schedule. This paper will describe steps to making the selection process simpler.
Terms and Units - Prior to beginning a discussion on heat transfer in
thermal interface gap filler materials, a number of terms and units require definition. The most common term is thermal resistance. This is the reciprocal of conductivity that includes contact resistance. It is not just thermal resistance of the bulk material, but also contact resistance between the hot and cold sides.
