Thermally conductive silicone composition
The thermally conductive silicone composition with tailored filler and polyorganosiloxane components addresses inefficiencies in pre-cured pads by offering extrudable materials that enhance thermal conductivity and EMI attenuation, improving sensor assembly efficiency and reducing costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DOW SILICONES CORP
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-25
AI Technical Summary
Existing pre-cured pads for addressing heat and electromagnetic interference (EMI) crosstalk in miniaturized autonomous driving sensors are inefficient, wasteful, and costly due to pick and place assembly, necessitating a need for extrudable materials with high thermal conductivity and EMI attenuation.
A thermally conductive silicone composition comprising specific ratios of zinc oxide, alumina, aluminum, and magnesium oxide fillers, along with polyorganosiloxanes and hydrosilylation catalysts, providing an extrudable formulation with enhanced thermal conductivity and EMI attenuation.
The composition effectively dissipates heat and mitigates EMI crosstalk, ensuring efficient and cost-effective assembly in miniaturized sensors.
Smart Images

Figure CN2024140181_25062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Thermally Conductive Silicone CompositionBackground of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a thermally conductive silicone composition that exhibits electromagnetic attenuation. Autonomous driving uses radar sensing to detect proximity of vehicles, road signs, and other objects of interest. As they become further miniaturized, constituent heat generating components of the sensors are forced closer to each other, resulting in disadvantageous crosstalk. Pre-cured pads can be used to address this problem, but they require pick and place assembly, which is inefficient, wasteful, and costly. Therefore, there remains a need for extrudable materials with high thermal conductivity to dissipate heat generation, and electromagnetic attenuation at high frequencies to mitigate crosstalk.Summary of the Invention
[0002] The present invention addresses a need in the art by providing a composition comprising
[0003] a) from 70 to 90 volume percent of filler particles comprising:
[0004] a1) from 3 to 25 volume percent of zinc oxide or alumina particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 0.1 μm to 1 μm;
[0005] a2) from 10 to 30 volume percent of alumina particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 1.1 μm to 10 μm;
[0006] a3) from 10 to 30 volume percent of aluminum particles D50 particle size in the range of from 5 μm to 60 μm; and
[0007] a4) from 20 to 40 volume percent of alumina or magnesium oxide particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 60 μm to 150 μm;
[0008] b) from 1 to 7 volume percent of a first polyorganosiloxane functionalized with at least two Si-H groups;
[0009] c) from 5 to 20 volume percent of a second polyorganosiloxane functionalized with at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups;
[0010] d) 1 to 10 volume percent of one or more treating agents of Formula 1:
[0011] where each R1 is independently C1-C6-alkyl; and R2 is C1-C16-alkyl, vinyl, or the following fragment:
[0012] where each R3 is independently C1-C6-alkyl; R4 is C1-C6-alkyl or vinyl; Y is O or CH2-CH2; and x is from 20 to 200; and
[0013] e) a hydrosilylation catalyst.
[0014] The composition of the present invention provides an extrudable formulation with desirable thermal conductivity with sufficient EMI attenuation to mitigate crosstalk.Detailed Description of the Invention
[0015] The present invention is a composition comprising, based on the volume of the composition:
[0016] a) from 70 to 90 volume percent of filler particles comprising:
[0017] a1) from 3 to 25 volume percent of zinc oxide or alumina particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 0.1 μm to 1 μm;
[0018] a2) from 10 to 30 volume percent of alumina particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 1.1 μm to 10 μm;
[0019] a3) from 10 to 30 volume percent of aluminum particles D50 particle size in the range of from 5 μm to 60 μm; and
[0020] a4) from 20 to 40 volume percent of alumina or magnesium oxide particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 60 μm to 150 μm;
[0021] b) from 1 to 7 volume percent of a first polyorganosiloxane functionalized with at least two SiH groups;
[0022] c) from 5 to 20 volume percent of a second polyorganosiloxane functionalized with at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups;
[0023] d) 1 to 10 volume percent of one or more treating agents of Formula 1:
[0024] where each R1 is independently C1-C6-alkyl; and R2 is C1-C16-alkyl, vinyl, or the following fragment:
[0025] where each R3 is independently C1-C6-alkyl; R4 is C1-C6-alkyl or vinyl; Y is O or CH2-CH2; and x is from 20 to 200; and
[0026] e) a hydrosilylation catalyst.
[0027] The composition comprises from 70 or from 75 volume percent to 90 or to 85 volume percent of four classes of thermally conductive fillers. First thermally conductive fillers are alumina or zinc oxide fillers having a D50 particle size in the range of from 0.1 μm to 1 μm or to 0.7 μm. The volume concentration of the first thermally conductive fillers is in the range of from 3 volume percent to 25 or to 20 volume percent, based on the volume of the composition.
[0028] Second thermally conductive fillers are alumina fillers having a D50 particle size in the range of from 1.1 μm or from 2 μm to 10 μm or to 7 μm or to 4 μm. The volume concentration of the second thermally conductive fillers is in the range of from 10 or from 12 volume percent, to 30 or to 27 volume percent based on the volume of the composition.
[0029] Third thermally conductive particles are aluminum particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 5 μm or from 9 μm or from 15 μm to 60 μm or to 50 μm or to 45 μm. The volume concentration of the third thermally conductive fillers is in the range of from 10 or from 12 volume percent, to 30 or to 27 volume percent based on the volume of the composition.
[0030] Fourth thermally conductive particles are alumina particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 60 μm or from 65 μm to 150 μm or to 130 μm. The volume concentration of the fourth thermally conductive fillers is in the range of from 20 volume percent to 40 volume percent based on the volume of the composition.
[0031] The first polyorganosiloxane is a polyorganosiloxane functionalized with at least two Si-H groups. In one embodiment, the first polyorganosiloxane is represented by the compound of Formula 2:
[0032] where each R5 is H or methyl; the sum of p + q is in the range of from 2 or from 3, to 500 or to 200 or to 100 or to 50, and wherein q is from 0, or from 2, or from 3 to preferably 100 or to 50 or to 20 or to 10 or to 5; with the proviso that when each R5 is methyl, q is at least 2.
[0033] In one embodiment, the second polyorganosiloxane is represented by the compound of Formula 3:
[0034] where s is in the range of from 2 or from 10 or from 40, to 800 or to 500 or to 200, or to 100.
[0035] In one embodiment, the composition comprises a combination of filler treating agents of Formula 1a and Formula 1b:
[0036] where R2 is C1-C16-alkyl or vinyl; R4 is methyl or vinyl; and x is in the range of from 20 to 200. In the case where more than one treating agent is used, the total volume percent of treating agents is preferably in the range of from 1 to 10 volume percent based on the volume of the composition.
[0037] Examples
[0038] Preparation of Master Batches
[0039] Two master batches were prepared, Master Batch 1 (MB-1) and Master Batch 2 (MB-2) .
[0040] MB-1 was prepared by adding a compound of Formula 3 (s= 53, 64.45 g, ) , n-decyltrimethoxysilane (5.92 g) , and a compound of Formula 1b, x = 30 (29.63 g) to MAX200 cup. The ingredients were mixed at 1500 rpm for 30 s in a FlackTek Speedmixer, then mixed with a spatula, then mixed once again at 1500 rpm for 30 s with the speedmixer.
[0041] MB-2 was prepared by adding a first compound of Formula 2 (p = 9, q = 4, 0.91 g) , a second compound of Formula 2 (p = 23, q = 2, 17.27 g) , and tris [ (1, 1-dimethyl-2-propynyl) oxy] methylsilane (2.5 wt%in Formula 3 compound, s = 53, 1.82 g) to a MAX100 cup. The mixing was carried out as described for MB-1.
[0042] General Procedure for Preparation of Examples and Comparative Examples
[0043] MB-1 was added to a MAX100 cup followed by addition of fillers. The addition of each filler was followed by mixing at 1500 rpm for 30 s with the speedmixer, then mixing with a spatula. After the completion of filler addition and mixing, MB-2 was then added with mixing under the same conditions. Finally, platinum-based catalyst of 1, 3-diethenyl-1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethyldisiloxane complex encapsulated with acrylic resin in vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (prepared as described in US 4, 766, 176) was added with mixing. The ingredients and volume percents are shown in Tables 1-3. The ingredients are listed in order of addition.
[0044] In the following tables, ZOCO refers to Zoco 102 ZnO with a D50 of 0.12 μm (Zochem) ; AZ2L refers to AZ2L-75 Al2O3 with a D50 of 2.8 μm (Nippon Steel Chemical) ; A-SF-20 refers to A-SF-20 Al2O3 with a D50 of 21.7 μm (Chalco) ; TCP-20 refers to TCP-20 Aluminum with a D50 of 20.0 μm (Toyal) ; X81-40 refers to X81-40 Aluminum with a D50 of 41.3 μm (Toyal) ; DAW-90 refers to DAW-90 Al2O3 with a D50 of 93 μm (Denka) ; DAW-70V refers to DAW-70V Al2O3 with a D50 of 71.1 μm (Denka) ; DAW-120 refers to DAW-120 Al2O3 with a D50 of 125.3 μm (Denka) ; DMG-120 refers to DMG-120 magnesium oxide with a D50 of 120 μm (Denka) ; AA-04 refers to AA-04 Al2O3 with a D50 of 0.5 μm (Sumitomo Chemical) ; and Pt refers to the platinum catalyst. Table 1 illustrates the ingredients weights (g) and volume percent of materials used in the comparative example formulations.
[0045] Table 1 -Comparative Example Formulations
[0046] Tables 2 and 3 illustrate the ingredients weights (g) and volume percent of materials used in the example formulations.
[0047] Table 2 illustrates the ingredients weights and volume percents of materials used in the example formulations.
[0048] Table 2 -Inventive Example Formulations
[0049] Table 3 -Inventive Example Formulations
[0050] Measurement of extrusion rate
[0051] Extrusion rate measurements were carried out using a Nordson EFD Ultimus I Dispenser. The dispenser was first powered on, then dispense time was adjusted to 3 s, and the pressure adjusted to 0.34 MPa. The air valve was then opened at the wall, and the optimum adapter assembly was attached to the cap end of the syringe. One 3-s cycle was dispensed into an aluminum tray to wet out the nozzle. Next, the aluminum tray was zeroed out. Three 3-s cycles were carried out and the results were averaged. Extrusion rate (g / min) was calculated by multiplying the numbers by 20, and the volumetric extrusion rate (mL / min) was calculated by dividing by the material density.
[0052] Measurement of thermal conductivity
[0053] Bulk thermal conductivity (TC) was measured using the transient plane source method with a TPS 2500S Hot Disk unit equipped with a 5465 Kapton-lined thermal sensor (3.189 mm disk radius) . Samples were loaded into two MAX10 cup caps, flattened, then covered with a Kapton film. The planar sensor was then sandwiched between the film-covered caps. For samples with thermal conductivity in the range of 1-2 W / m·K, the power output was set to 150 mW and the measurement time was set to 5 s. For samples with thermal conductivity higher than 5 W / m·K, the power output was set to 400 mW and the measurement time was set to 5 s. After measurement was completed, curve-fitting was carried out with the time correction and temperature drift compensation options enabled to calculate TC.
[0054] Measurement of EM attenuation
[0055] EM attenuation was measured on a Rohde & Schwarz ZVB 20 Vector Network Analyzer connected to two Rohde & Schwarz ZVA-790 millimeter wave converters in the frequency range of 60 to 90 GHz. Each sample was loaded into a 2-mm thick sample holder for waveguide-to-waveguide measurements. The filled sample holder was placed between two waveguides and secured tightly. For each sample, three replicates were tested and the mean of these three measurements over the specified frequency range was reported. The scattering parameters S11 and S12 were obtained from the measurements, which were then used to calculate the reflection%and EM absorption in Table 4. The definitions and calculations of the EM attenuation properties found in Table 4 are as follows:
[0056] EM attenuation at 85-90 GHz (dB, sample thickness = 2 mm) is the absolute value of averaged S12 for 2-mm thick sample over a frequency range of 85-90 GHz; EM absorption = 10 x log ( (1-R%) / T%) / d; Reflection% (R%) = 10 (S11 / 10) ; T%= 10 (S12 / 10) ; A%= 1-R%-T%; where R%is the reflection percentage, T%is the transmission percentage, A%is the absorption percentage, d is the sample thickness.
[0057] “EM absorption at 60-90 GHz” is calculated based on the equation above and averaged over a frequency range of 60-90 GHz.
[0058] The Extrudability (Extrudable? ) , thermal conductivity (TC) , EM attenuation at 85-90 GHz in dB (EMatt) , EM absorption at 60-90 GHz in dB / cm (EMabs) , Reflection percentage at 60-90 GHz (R%) are illustrated in Table 4. The letter N indicates that the sample was not extrudable at a rate > 3 mL / min; the letter Y indicates that the sample was extrudable at a rate of > 3 mL / min.
[0059] Table 4 -Electromagnetic and Extrudable Properties of Samples
[0060] The samples of the present invention are all extrudable materials with sufficiently high TC to dissipate heat generation with sufficient EMI attenuation to mitigate crosstalk.
Claims
1.A composition comprisinga) from 70 to 90 volume percent of filler particles comprising:al) from 3 to 25 volume percent of zinc oxide or alumina particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 0.1 μm to 1 μm;a2) from 10 to 30 volume percent of alumina particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 1.1 μm to 10 μm;a3) from 10 to 30 volume percent of aluminum particles D50 particle size in the range of from 5 μm to 60 μm; anda4) from 20 to 40 volume percent of alumina or magnesium oxide particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 60 μm to 150 μm;b) from 1 to 7 volume percent of a first polyorganosiloxane functionalized with at least two Si-H groups;c) from 5 to 20 volume percent of a second polyorganosiloxane functionalized with at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups;d) 1 to 10 volume percent of one or more treating agents of Formula 1:where each R1 is independently C1-C6-alkyl; and R2 is C1-C16-alkyl, vinyl, or the following fragment:where each R3 is independently C1-C6-alkyl; R4 is C1-C6-alkyl or vinyl; Y is O or CH2-CH2; and x is from 20 to 200; ande) a hydrosilylation catalyst.2.The composition of Claim 1 wherein the first polyorganosiloxane is represented by the compound of Formula 2: where Y is O; each R5 is H or methyl; the sum ofp + q is in the range of from 2 or from 3, to 500 or to 200 or to 100 or to 50, and wherein q is from 0, or from 2, or from 3 to preferably 100 or to 50 or to 20 or to 10 or to 5; with the proviso that when each R5 is methyl, q is at least 2; and the second polyorganosiloxane is represented by the compound of Formula 3:where s is in the range of from 2 to 800.3.The composition of Claim 2 which comprises:a1) from 3 to 20 volume percent of zinc oxide or alumina particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 0.1 μm to 0.7 μm;a2) from 12 to 27 volume percent of alumina particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 2 μm and 7 μm;a3) from 12 to 27 volume percent of aluminum particles D50 particle size in the range of from 9 μm to 50 μm; anda4) from 20 to 40 volume percent of alumina or magnesium oxide particles having a D50 particle size in the range of from 70 μm to 130 μm.4.The composition of Claim 3 wherein the one or more filler treating agents is a combination of filler treating agents of Formulas 1a and 1b: where R2 is C1-C16-alkyl or vinyl; R4 is methyl or vinyl; and x is in the range of from 20 to 200.5.The composition of Claim 4 which comprises from 75 to 85 volume percent of the thermally conductive filler particles.