What is the correct way to apply thermal conductive gel?

Do you still have no idea about the correct way to apply thermal conductive gel?

Whenever we apply thermal conductive gel to electronic devices, we are always unable to apply thermal conductive gel correctly because there is too little information about applying thermal conductive gel, which leads to poor thermal coating of the electronic devices, either too little application leads to lack of thermal function, or too much application leads to Too much thermal conductive gel leads to the overflow of thermal conductive gel.

What are the popular methods of applying thermal conductive gel on the market today? 

Some people now squeeze a little thermal conductive gel on the surface of the electronic device, and then use the heat sink pressure to squeeze the thermal conductive gel to apply, another part of the people are using tools, such as scrapers, finger covers or directly apply with their bare hands, but many people operation, will easily lead to not evenly coated, thus leading to impurities attached to it.

But now it's all solved. We've compiled a lot of information on applying thermal conductive gel and finally filtered out the correct way to apply it.

How does thermal conductive gel work?

thermal conductive gel based on polysiloxane, supplemented by high thermal conductivity filler, the nature of non-toxic, tasteless and non-corrosive, silicone paste filler is a finely ground powder, silicone oil to ensure a certain fluidity, filler can fill the tiny gap between the CPU and the heat sink to ensure thermal conductivity, because of the low sensitivity of silicone oil to temperature, low temperature does not thicken, high temperature will not become thin, and not The thermal conductive gel is used to fill the gap between the heater and the heat sink to improve the heat dissipation effect.

For more thermal conductive gel product details, please click <Here>

The best way to apply thermal conductive gel

The main role of thermal conductive gel is to fill the gap between the electronic device and the heat sink, so the thinner you apply it, the better the effect is. Many people think that the more you apply, the better the heat dissipation effect. Electronic devices coated with a thick layer, the thicker in fact, the worse the thermal conductivity, but also may appear bubbles, which will lead to affect the thermal conductivity.

When applying thermal conductive gel, it is best to use a tool to apply it. When operating, put some thermal conductive gel on the edge of the electronic device, and then use a scraper to apply it evenly in one direction several times over, as long as the processor surface are covered by thermal conductive gel on average.

It is best not to apply thermal conductive gel by hand, because it is easy to use your hands to cause uneven application, and I believe no one wants to get their hands covered with thermal conductive gel.

Several ways to apply thermal conductive gel：

1.Five-point method

By applying five points of thermal paste on the electronic device, and then using the pressure of the radiator to spread the thermal paste, the thermal paste can be spread to the greatest extent. This method is better than the one-point method.

2.One point method

Put a drop of thermal paste on the center of the electronic device, and then use the pressure of the radiator to disperse it. This seems to prevent excessive use of the thermal paste. The disadvantage is that the thermal paste cannot completely cover all corners.

3.X method

In the center of the electronic device, draw an X-ray with thermal paste, and then use the pressure of the radiator to evenly disperse it. This method can ensure that most of the area of the electronic device is covered by the thermal paste

4.Rotation method

On electronic devices, use the thermal paste to rotate and extrude the thermal paste, and then use the pressure of the radiator to squeeze it away, so that the thermal paste can cover the electronic device to the maximum extent. The disadvantage is that it is easy to cause the thermal paste to overflow

Applying with an applicator

Use a tool such as a thermal conductive gel spatula, card or cardboard as the application tool and apply the thermal conductive gel to all corners, taking care that the thermal conductive gel does not leak into other areas.

What should I pay attention to when applying thermal conductive gel?

1. You need to be careful when applying thermal conductive gel, after all, applying thermal conductive gel is still a delicate job, if you are not careful, thermal conductive gel may leak outside the electronics, resulting in other electronic parts that do not need heat dissipation being covered.

2. It is not good to apply too full, and it is not good to apply too little. If the electronic device is not applied completely, it will affect the overall performance of thermal conductive gel.

3. To buy the right thermal conductive gel, cohesive too high or too low thermal conductive gel is not good, only cohesive moderate thermal conductive gel is suitable for coating to play the best thermal conductivity performance.

4. Do not buy inferior thermal conductive gel, the performance of inferior products is not guaranteed.

If you need to know more about thermal conductive gel, please click <Here> to contact us

Why do I need to apply thermal conductive gel evenly?

Thermal conductive gel is applied to the electronic device, processor heat dissipation, fill the gap between the cpu and the heatsink to make the two more closely contact for heat dissipation

Air is a bad conductor of heat, if the heat sink and CPU can not completely contact, then it will lead to poor heat dissipation, so you need thermal conductive gel to exclude the air, thermal conductive gel itself has good thermal conductivity, the role is to assist in heat dissipation

Will too much thermal conductive gel damage the electronics?

Heat transfer from the CPU to the fins of the heatsink has to go through many links, because the middle part of the CPU cover to the heatsink is not tightly connected, so the heat dissipation effect is not very good, applying thermal conductive gel can effectively solve this problem.

Although thermal conductive gel has a thermal conductivity, but the more thermal conductive gel is not applied, the better. thermal conductive gel is actually less thermal conductivity than metal materials, especially compared to heat sinks made of copper and aluminum.

Therefore, the heat dissipation of electronic devices, in fact, the main use of metal heat sink mainly, thermal conductive gel as a supplement, so the application of thermal conductive gel should be as thin as possible as evenly as possible, after the installation of the heat sink need to pan so that thermal conductive gel fully fill the gaps, so that the heat sink can be better conduct heat.

Conclusion

In the end, we got a result that the best way to apply thermal conductive gel, by far, is to apply it with a tool, this method will prevent the occurrence of uneven application of thermal conductive gel and leakage problems.

If you are still applying thermal conductive gel with your bare hands, we strongly recommend that you change this operation immediately and apply thermal conductive gel with a tool instead.

In conclusion, we have come to the conclusion that the best way to apply thermal conductive gel is to use a tool to apply it, which prevents uneven application and leakage of thermal conductive gel.

If you are still applying thermal conductive gel with your bare hands, we strongly recommend that you change this operation immediately and apply thermal conductive gel with a tool instead.