Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • +44 (0)20 7454 5110
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
Return to PR Newswire homepage
  • News
  • Products
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All Public Company News
      • All Multimedia News
      • View All News Releases

      • Regulatory News

      • D/A/CH Regulatory News
      • UK Regulatory News
      • View All Regulatory News

  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads & Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking & Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film & Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers & Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalisation
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls & Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil & Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defence
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking & Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers & Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines & Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics & Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture & Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewellery
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film & Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks & Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels & Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Animal Welfare
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Economic News, Trends & Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • Labour & Union
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Public Safety
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Overview
  • Distribution
  • Paid Placement
  • Multichannel Amplification
  • Disclosure Services
  • SocialBoost
  • Rooms
    • MediaRoom
    • ESG Rooms
  • AI Tools
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships
  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PR Newswire UK provides press release distribution, targeting, monitoring, and marketing services
  • Send a Release
    • Phone

    • +44 (0)20 7454 5110 from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT

    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us

      +44 (0)20 7454 5110
      from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT

  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • News in Focus
    • Browse News Releases
    • Regulatory News
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
    • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Overview
  • Distribution
  • Paid Placement
  • Multichannel Amplification
  • Disclosure Services
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • AI Tools
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists

Innovations in Thermal Interface Materials Analyzed by IDTechEx

This image opens in the lightbox

News provided by

IDTechEx

04 Mar, 2021, 15:45 GMT

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

BOSTON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermal management is one of the most important topics in a wide range of applications; from electric vehicle battery packs through to consumer electronics, there is a pressing need to dissipate heat efficiently. Thermal interface materials (TIM) come in numerous types and play a crucial role in the thermal transfer from a heat source. This article will look at what the major innovations are for these materials and why those developments are significant.

Continue Reading
This image opens in the lightbox
Key areas of material innovations for TIM applications. Source: IDTechEx “Thermal Interface Materials 2020-2030: Forecasts, Technologies, Opportunities” (www.IDTechEx.com/TIM)

IDTechEx has carried out leading market research on the topic of thermal interface materials. Detailed analysis is provided on both the materials and a wide range of applications. The innovations for TIMs can be split into 3 main categories: High-volume applications, new emerging markets, and new material developments for higher performance.

High-volume markets

Nearly every major chemical and materials company is looking to position themselves to gain some market share within the electric vehicle supply chain; however, there remains are a large amount of turbulence as supply chains are formed, pack designs evolve, and production scaled-up. There is still no convergence in battery packs and a large amount of disruptive R&D coming to market, presenting both a threat and opportunity to the upstream suppliers.

Lithium-ion batteries will be the most significant market (in volume) for thermal interface materials (TIMs). TIMs will play an essential role in thermal management to connect the cells or modules to a heat spreader or heat sink; there is a large amount of corresponding market activity. The required thermal conductivity is approximately 3 W/mK which is relatively easy to achieve with ceramic-filled silicones or equivalent products; silicones are unpopular with the automotive industry, and there are many competing matrices looking to gain market adoption. Instead, the innovations here are not at a material-level but rather in achieving a high-throughput at low price. It has been regularly stated to IDTechEx that a target is to achieve 10 $/kg, which is an aggressively low TIM price.

IDTechEx expects the market to shift from predominantly gap pads to fillers over the next 10-year period in response to this demand. Gap fillers can be dispensed as a liquid allowing for a faster rate, easily modifiable distribution patterns, and typically in thinner layers. The challenges come in how the material is evenly dispensed and considerations around the cost of equipment plus its operation, maintenance, and lifetime.

New emerging markets

Technical developments are rapidly changing the world, and any significant new developments can often present new hardware deployment and, therefore, new TIM markets with specific requirements. There are many examples, including sensors for autonomous cars and data centers, but one of the most prominent is the rise of 5G.

Typically, these new markets do not need a dramatic improvement in thermal conductivity but rather some iterative improvement to existing products and formulations. The 5G revolution will see a large change in the infrastructure from base stations to the rapid emergence of small cells. IDTechEx has observed a range of targeted product launches from the likes of DOW, Laird, and Henkel for this industry generally falling in the 5-10 W/mK performance range. There are innovations to make them tailored to the market needs, but more important than any material improvements will be product positioning, establishing/expanding relationships, and the cost as these supply chains emerge.

New materials for higher performance

This is the area where most of the scientific innovation is. Here the developments usually come in the form of pre-formed pads targeting very higher thermal conductivities 20+ W/mK and with unique properties (such as a wide cyclable temperature range).

These typically find niche applications, such as supercomputers and satellites, before transitioning to mainstream industries such as in the most advanced consumer electronic devices.

IDTechEx has split these innovations into 6 categories that will be outlined in turn. These developments are seen from start-ups through to R&D divisions of very notable companies.

  • Carbon fiber, graphite, and nanocarbons: One of the most exciting areas is the use of pitch-based carbon fiber, graphite, CNTs, and graphene. These have tremendous thermal conductivity but are also electrically conductive, which brings additional design considerations. There is a range of active companies, from Dexerials with their commercially established CF pad to Fujitsu R&D with some promising CNT announcements, and young companies gaining significant traction, such as Carbice.
  • Ceramic advancements: Ceramics play a key role as a thermally conductive dielectric filler for TIMs. The challenge is driving the performance high enough so that designers do not need to turn to carbon or metal alternatives. There are improvements in the established products, from the likes of Showa Denko, but the most exciting innovation comes from the emergence of boron nitride nanotube (BNNTs) and nanosheets (BNNSs). These are the isoelectronic to their CNT and graphene counterparts and are beginning to gain some commercial traction with the likes of BNNT LLC, BNNano, and more.
  • Metal filler and liquid metal developments: Metals are well-known additives and have maintained a consistent market share with obvious benefits and downfalls. There are still innovations driving this progression from the use of alternative metals, such as from the start-up Arieca, through to liquid metal developments from the likes of Indium.
  • Anisotropic filler alignment: This links to the previous three examples but where the focus is on aligning fillers to enhance through-plane conductivity. This is with the aim of reducing the filler requirement for the same performance or increasing the overall z-plane thermal conductivity. There are numerous ways that this is being done depending on the filler, including flocking processes, initial growth mechanisms (in the example of VACNT forests), or advanced processes like the dielectrophoresis process being used by CondAlign. It should be noted that any aligned part is still at the limitation of the contact resistance between the TIM and the substrate.
  • Phase change materials: Again, this is a very well-known class of materials but still bringing new products to market. There have been some developments in using these to house battery cells but also TIMs. One example here is Rogers expanding their HeatSORB product line to accommodate market demands. 
  • Heat spreader integration: This is the area of integrating a TIM (z-plane) with a heat spreader (x-y-plane) in a single product. Here we can also consider including insulative sheets (e.g., aerogels) if the heat needs to be channeled in a specific direction. IDTechEx has observed a group of companies offering these more integrated products, including very early-stage players like HyMet and SHT Smart High Tech.

For more information on all these innovations, the key players, and market potential, see the market report "Thermal Interface Materials 2020-2030: Forecasts, Technologies, Opportunities" (www.IDTechEx.com/TIM). IDTechEx also have key thermal management reports on Electric Vehicles and 5G.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com. 

Media Contact:

Natalie Moreton 
Digital Marketing Manager 
press@IDTechEx.com 
+44(0)1223 812300 

Image Dropbox Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fa8v9gpp50hkaeq/AACAHSC24G72youlR5GXX9Lya?dl=0 

Social Media Links: 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/IDTechEx 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/idtechex/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IDTechExResearch 

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1447800/IDTechEx_TIM_Applications.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/478371/IDTechEx_Logo.jpg

Modal title

Also from this source

IDTechEx Forecasts US$110B Worth of Critical Materials Recovered Annually by 2045

IDTechEx Forecasts US$110B Worth of Critical Materials Recovered Annually by 2045

End-of-life equipment from automotives, electric vehicles, e-waste and decarbonized energy technologies are rapidly emerging secondary raw material...

Roboshuttles: A Promising Yet Challenging Mobility Solution, Finds New IDTechEx Report

Roboshuttles: A Promising Yet Challenging Mobility Solution, Finds New IDTechEx Report

Roboshuttles are small, fully electric, and operate at Level 4 autonomy, making them an ideal last-mile solution. They were once highly anticipated...

More Releases From This Source

Explore

Publishing & Information Services

Publishing & Information Services

Computer & Electronics

Computer & Electronics

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology

Electrical Utilities

Electrical Utilities

News Releases in Similar Topics

Contact PR Newswire

  • +44 (0)20 7454 5110
    from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships

Products

  • Content Distribution
  • Multimedia Services
  • Disclosure Services
  • Cision Communications Cloud®

About

  • About PR Newswire
  • About Cision
  • Partnering Opportunities
  • Careers
  • Accessibility Statement
  • APAC
  • APAC - Simplified Chinese
  • APAC - Traditional Chinese
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Czech
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Mexico
  • Middle East
  • Middle East - Arabic
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United States
  • Vietnam

My Services

  • All News Releases
  • Customer Portal
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Data Privacy

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via Privacy@cision.com 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact PR Newswire

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Customer Portal
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
+44 (0)20 7454 5110
from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Information Security Policy
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 PR Newswire Europe Limited. All Rights Reserved. A Cision company.