Alphacool Eisschicht Ultra Soft Thermal Pad 3W/mk - 100x100x1.5mm, Grey (13455)

The Alphacool Eisschicht Ultra Soft Thermal Pad 3W/mk - 100x100x1.5mm is a white thermal pad of 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm with a thermal conductivity of 3.0 W/mK, one pad per pack. Its hardness is 20 Shore 00, and it can be cut to size with a pair of scissors.

Properties

• Size (L x W x H): 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm
• Thermal conductivity: 3.0 W/mK
• Hardness: 20 Shore 00
• Working temperature: 40 to 200 °C
• Color: White
• Pieces in the pack: 1

Against standard thermal pads

Alphacool calls the Eisschicht Ultra Soft its performance oriented solution in the range of thermal pads. Due to their outstanding properties, it says, they can almost be compared to a thermal paste. The pads nestle much better to components, which Alphacool says contributes to a significant improvement in cooling performance.

Is that better than standard thermal pads? The material of these pads acts similar to a thermal paste, while normal pads are only pressed together by the contact pressure. Where components are of different heights, there can be areas that stay uneven, making the pads less effective. With the ultra soft sheet this problem doesn't exist, because the material distributes itself. It thus prevents the highest components from being subjected to increased contact pressure by the cooler.

Standard pads are quite stiff, so they can also cause too much pressure on components. In the worst cases this can cause the PCB to bend and even break. Here any excess material can spread out rather than cause problems, due to the soft consistency. That is why Alphacool calls the pad not only performance oriented, but also safer.

It cannot dry out

But this is not the only advantage Alphacool names. Moreover, the special material cannot dry out. Usually the silicone in thermal pads bleeds out over time. This makes them hard, and from a certain point their performance drops rapidly. Alphacool says this is not the case here: the pads can be used over a much longer period of time without significantly losing performance. Its data sheet adds optimum air displacement with hardly any air inclusions, and extremely high durability.

A thermal pad with fabric

The heat conducting material has a consistency similar to a viscous heat conducting paste. A special fabric is embedded so that it remains stable and can be used as a pad. Alphacool says this ensures a perfect distribution of the material if the element to be cooled has an uneven shape. Examples include voltage transformers, VRam and similar electronic components of all kinds that require cooling.

Cutting to size

Cutting is no problem. To cut the pad you should definitely leave the foil on. So it can easily be cut with scissors, just as easy as cutting paper. The cut edges remain perfectly clean and do not fray.

What the job needs

The same pad is in stock in 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm

Technical data

• L x W x H: 100 x 100 x 1.5 mm
• Specific Gravity ASTM D297: 2.65 g/cc
• Thermal Conductivity ASTM D5470: 3.0 W/mK
• Hardness ASTM 2240: 20 Shore 00
• Working temperature: 40 to 200 °C
• Outgassing ASTM E595: 0.40% TML
• Volume Resistivity ASTM D257: 6.2X10 high 13 Ohm-meter
• Dielectric Constant ASTM D150: 5.5 MHz
• Dielectric Breakdown Voltage ASTM D149: over 5000 VAC
• Flame Rating UL E331100: 94 V0
• Color: white