US5591034A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermally conductive adhesive interface
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1995-07-25
•
Granted: 1997-01-07
•
Expires: 2015-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A thermally conductive interface is provided suitable for thermal conduction, especially between electronic components. The preferred thermally conductive interface comprises an open structure fluoropolymer material, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, with uncoated thermally conductive particles attached to solid portions thereof. The interface has numerous benefits over previously available material, such as improved thermal conductivity, high conformability, better compressibility, inherent porosity so as to provide air relief, improved stress relief, and high material compliance and resistance to fatigue during thermal cycling.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph G. Ameen
- 👤 Joseph E. Korleski
- 👤 William P. Mortimer, Jr.
- 👤 Victor P. Yokimcus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:30
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W40/00; H10W40/20; H10W40/25; H10W40/251; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/901; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249955; Y10T428/249986; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/256; Y10T428/257; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A thermally conductive interface mounted between electronic component parts which comprises: a porous fluoropolymer material having a first surface and a second surface; thermally conductive particles embedded within the fluoropolymer material between the first and second surfaces; and an adhesive material imbibed within the porous fluoropolymer material; wherein the interface conforms to provide a tight thermally conductive interface between the component parts; and wherein the interface is sufficiently conformable to form a tight thermally conductive interface under a pressure of less than about 147 kg/m 2 (30 psi).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A thermally conductive interface mounted between electronic component parts which comprises: a porous fluoropolymer material having a first surface and a second surface; thermally conductive particles embedded within the fluoropolymer material between the first and second surfaces; and an adhesive material imbibed within the porous fluoropolymer material; wherein the interface conforms to provide a tight thermally conductive interface between the component parts; and wherein the interface is sufficiently conformable to form a tight thermally conductive interface under a pressure of less than about 147 kg/m 2 (30 psi).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein when the interface is mounted between component parts, the thermally conductive particles are in direct contact with each of the component parts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein the fluoropolymer material comprises a network of nodes interconnected by fibrils, and at least some of the thermally conductive particles are attached to the nodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 3 wherein the adhesive material is filled within voids between the network of nodes and fibrils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 3 wherein the fluoropolymer material comprises an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein the interface includes particles of different sizes mixed therein so as to accommodate greater packing density.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein the interface is about 0.1 to 0.38 mm thick and has a high heat dissipation rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein the thermally conductive particles are suspended in the adhesive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein the interface is sufficiently compliant to accommodate at least a 0.127 mm (5 mil) differential between one end and another of an interface measuring about 127 mm in length.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein the adhesive is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polybutadienes, polyepoxide, polyimide, polysiloxane, polycyanurate, polyurethane, polysisquloxane, poly bis cyclobutane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 9 wherein the interface provides relief of stresses generated due to differences in coefficients of expansion between component parts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein the interface is sufficiently compliant to fill a gap between two surfaces that are not parallel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein thermally conductive particles are substantially free of a thermally insulative coating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 13 wherein the fluoropolymer material includes a network of nodes interconnected by fibrils, and at least some of the thermally conductive particles are attached to the nodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 1 wherein the thermally conductive particles are selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, copper, nickel, and silicon carbide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
111 words
A thermally conductive interface mounted between component parts comprising: a porous fluoropolymer material including a network of nodes interconnected by fibrils; thermally conductive particles contained within the fluoropolymer material, at least some of the particles being embedded within the nodes of the fluoropolymer; and adhesive material imbibed within the porous fluoropolymer materials; wherein the interface conforms to provide a tight thermally conductive interface between the component parts, placing thermally conductive particles in direct contact with each of the component parts; and wherein the interface is sufficiently compressible so as to provide a tight seal between the component parts at relatively low mounting pressures of less than 147 g/m 2 (30 psi).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
111 words
A thermally conductive interface mounted between component parts comprising: a porous fluoropolymer material including a network of nodes interconnected by fibrils; thermally conductive particles contained within the fluoropolymer material, at least some of the particles being embedded within the nodes of the fluoropolymer; and adhesive material imbibed within the porous fluoropolymer materials; wherein the interface conforms to provide a tight thermally conductive interface between the component parts, placing thermally conductive particles in direct contact with each of the component parts; and wherein the interface is sufficiently compressible so as to provide a tight seal between the component parts at relatively low mounting pressures of less than 147 g/m 2 (30 psi).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 16 wherein the interface includes particles of different sizes mixed therein so as to accommodate greater packing density.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The thermally conductive interface of claim 16 wherein the adhesive material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polybutadienes, polyepoxide, polyimide, polysiloxane, polycyanurate, polyurethane, polysisquloxane, poly bis cyclobutane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3953566A
Cited
US4008300A
Cited
JPS54156068A
Cited
US4518737A
Cited
US4265775A
Cited
US4385093A
Cited
JPS5837541A
Cited
US4598011A
Cited
US4557957A
Cited
US4606962A
Cited
US4602678A
Cited
US4574879A
Cited
US4853763A
Cited
JPS6140328A
Cited
US4669954A
Cited
JPS6252302A
Cited
JPS62100539A
Cited
US4810563A
Cited
GB2195269A
Cited
US5045249A
Cited
JPS6412406A
Cited
US4820376A
Cited
EP0322165A1
Cited
US5011872A
Cited
US5084211A
Cited
US4999741A
Cited
GB2219133A
Cited
US5028984A
Cited
US4961064A
Cited
US4902857A
Cited
US5001302A
Cited
US4996097A
Cited
US4985296A
Cited
JPH03137138A
Cited
US5060114A
Cited
US5227230A
Cited
US5137283A
Cited
US5213868A
Cited
US5209967A
Cited
US5431571A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-07 | 2000-07-08 | 2001-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-07 | 2004-07-08 | 2005-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-07 | 2008-07-08 | 2009-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |