Thermal Conductive Laminate Composition for Low Hardness Heat Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermally conductive sheets face a trade-off between thermal conductivity and flexibility due to the blending ratios of fillers and plasticizers, leading to increased contact pressure on electronic components and reduced productivity and workability.

Innovation Solution

A laminate structure with specific blending ratios of thermally conductive fillers and dispersants in acrylic binders, along with controlled hardness and adhesiveness, to achieve high thermal conductivity and low hardness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the blending ratio of thermally conductive filler is increased, then thermal conductivity is improved, but hardness increases and flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidhardness
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder system by specifying particular acrylic polymer types (polymerization degrees, glass transition temperatures, hydroxyl values) and their blending ratios to achieve the desired balance between thermal conductivity and hardness while maintaining flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system combining multiple acrylic polymers with specific properties (different polymerization degrees and glass transition temperatures) to achieve a binder that maintains flexibility while supporting high filler loading for thermal conductivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the blending ratio of plasticizer is increased, then hardness is decreased, but adhesiveness increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehardnessVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes plasticizers from the composition entirely, replacing their softening function with a carefully designed acrylic polymer system that provides the necessary flexibility and processability without the adverse effects of plasticizers on adhesiveness and productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach to controlling hardness by adjusting polymer molecular weight, polymerization degree, and glass transition temperature rather than adding plasticizers, thereby avoiding the trade-off between hardness reduction and increased adhesiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The laminate structure maintains high thermal conductivity while suppressing hardness and adhesiveness, preventing deformation and improving workability and productivity.

Implementation Method 1

The dispersant contains at least one of a linear polyester having a weight-average molecular weight from 1000 to 2500 and having phosphoric acid at a terminal and a polyester-polyether copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight from 1000 to 2500 and having phosphoric acid at a terminal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 2

The first layer is formed of a first thermally conductive composition containing at least a first acrylic binder, a first thermally conductive filler, and a dispersant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4241986B1Heat conductive member
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 KITAGAWA INDS
  • EP4241986B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4241986B1 patent drawingFigure 1B

AI summary

Provided is a thermally conductive member having both high thermal conductivity and low hardness. A thermally conductive member is a laminate provided with a plurality of layers including a first layer and a second layer stacked in contact with each other. The first layer is formed of a first thermally conductive composition containing at least a first acrylic binder, a first thermally conductive filler, and a dispersant. The dispersant contains at least one of a linear polyester having a weight-average molecular weight from 1000 to 2500 and having phosphoric acid at a terminal and a polyester-polyether copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight from 1000 to 2500 and having phosphoric acid at a terminal.