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The miniaturization of electronics has opened up a new market for
lightweight corrosion resistant plastic products. Miniaturization
leads to excessive heat build up in the product, which in turn reduces
the product service life severely. Metal parts are heavier as well
as prone to corrosion. Plastics products having relatively good
thermal conductivity can fulfill the requirement for this new class
of products. These thermally conductive polymer products are made
from the blend of metallic fillers along with the base polymers.
Two major types of metallic fillers have so far succeeded in the
development of thermally conductive polymers. Graphite fibers and
ceramic fillers like Boron Nitride or Aluminum Nitride are more
commonly used. While fibers provide different conductivity in the
matrix (more in the fiber direction) the ceramic fillers provide
more uniform thermal conductivity across the matrix of the components.
These fillers inherently have excellent thermal conductivity and
therefore can impart some thermal conductivity to the plastics compound
in which they are blended. However, both of them can impair the
mechanical properties when incorporated at a higher level. A compromise
between mechanical properties and thermal conductivity has to be
attained.
Several internationally reputed compounders like Cool Polymers,
LNP, RTP, Polyone etc are developing engineering plastic as well
as PP, ABS conductive compounds. Thermally conductive compounds
containing metal fillers exercise more stress on processing equipment.
All these equipment parts are required to be more rugged compared
to the normal machinery. All the suppliers of thermally conductive
compounds can guide the prospective moulders on the equipment to
be used for processing of thermally conductive polymer compounds.
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