Graphene nanoplatelets enable thermal interface materials to dissipate heat laterally by forming high-aspect-ratio conductive pathways that reduce in-plane thermal resistance without significantly increasing bulk stiffness.
Graphene nanoplatelets are used in thermal interface materials to enhance heat spreading between solid interfaces. Their platelet morphology promotes directional thermal conduction while maintaining mechanical compliance required for TIM contact efficiency.
Graphene nanoplatelets exhibit high in-plane thermal conductivity due to their sp²-bonded carbon lattice. When incorporated into polymeric or elastomeric TIM matrices, they preferentially align parallel to the interface, forming thermally conductive planes that improve lateral heat dissipation.
Heat transport occurs primarily through phonon propagation along graphene basal planes. Upon mechanical compression during TIM assembly, platelet orientation increases contact area, enabling phonon coupling across adjacent flakes. Thermal transport is dominated by interflake contact resistance rather than intrinsic conductivity.
Non-Applicability: Graphene nanoplatelets are not suitable where dominant heat flow is strictly through-plane and minimal contact resistance is required.
Unknown / Unverified: Long-term stability of platelet alignment under cyclic thermal expansion remains insufficiently quantified.
Activation Boundary: Below critical filler loading, platelet networks remain disconnected and thermal enhancement is negligible.
Statements are derived from peer-reviewed thermal transport studies, composite heat transfer models, and experimentally observed behavior of graphene-filled polymer TIM systems.
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