Solving thermal management challenges in a minimum space
Electronic equipment needs an efficient means of managing and dispersing
heat as systems continue to shrink in size.
Heat is a killer for electronic systems. As applications get thinner and lighter, this statement has
never been more true, yet space and weight restrictions – especially in portable mobile devices –
mean that conventional solutions may not be feasible. But it’s not just consumer products such as
smartphones, tablets and cameras that are at risk. Communications infrastructure equipment cram
more and more complex electronics systems into a small space; electric (Eco) and hybrid cars require
long-lasting, lightweight batteries; the advent of the smart factory (Industry 4.0) calls for greater
levels of monitoring and control; solar panels (ironically) need to be able to cope with constant
exposure to the sun; modern medical devices must be able to be worn comfortably.
All these examples require heat to be transferred or dispersed effectively, using a minimum amount
of space. Pyrolytic Graphite Sheet (PGS) is a new, ultra-light graphite interface film material,
developed by Panasonic, which has a thermal conductivity up to five times greater than copper. It is
pliable enough to be cut and folded into complex three dimensional shapes then simply stuck onto
the heat source to diffuse the heat or provide a path for heat to flow to a cold wall.
What is PGS?
Pyrolytic Highly Oriented Graphite Sheet is made of graphite with a structure that is close to a single
crystal. It is produced from polymeric film using a heat de-composition process. The hexagonal
crystal structure of graphite is arranged uniformly in a horizontal 2D structure see figure 1 (PPT slide
6).
Fig 1.
