It's equally important to note that Dielectric Grease is the OPPOSITE of Electrical Grease, although they appear very similar and are both silicone greases.Įlectrical grease is no more electrically conductive than dielectric, but that's not why it improves electrical connections. The compound must have a suitable consistency to apply easily and remove all excess to leave only the minimum needed. In other words, excess grease separating the metal surfaces more than the minimum necessary to exclude air gaps will only degrade conductivity, increasing the risk of overheating. These compounds are only intended to fill the gaps that would otherwise hold air, not to create a layer between the ICM and heat sink as this would reduce conductive contact decreasing the effectiveness of the heat sink. Keep in mind that Thermal Compounds conduct heat far better than air, but far worse than metal. These compounds generally contain a conductive substance such as ceramic, metal or carbon and usually include Silicone Grease as a medium for conformability. the ability of the material to conform to irregular surfaces) are the important characteristics of thermal grease. Thermal Conductivity and "Conformability" (i.e. These small air spaces within the contact area reduce conductive heat transfer due to air being approximately 8000 times less efficient at conducting heat than, for example, aluminum which is a common heat sink material. The contact area between the heat sink and ICM has inherent surface imperfections from machining marks, casting irregularities and even invisible sub-microscopic spaces which reduce direct contact and promote air spaces. Thermal Compounds improve the efficiency of conductive heat transfer by filling minute air gaps that occur between imperfect surfaces. This conductive heat transfer is done through a thermal interface, or direct contact between the two surfaces. Thermal Grease (also called thermal gel, thermal compound, thermal paste, heat paste, heat sink paste, heat transfer compound, or heat sink compound) is used to support conductive heat transfer between the TFI ICM and the heat sink. In addition to carrying suspended heat conductive particles, Dielectric Grease fills the gaps and conforms to both the component's and the heat sink's uneven surfaces, adheres to those surfaces, maintains its consistency over the required temperature range, resists drying out or flaking over time and does not degrade with oxidation or break down over time. Silicone Dielectric Grease is typically a component of Thermal Grease due to its supportive properties. With harness connectors, it should only be used as a lubricant and sealant on the nonconductive mating surfaces of the connector. In this case, it could interfere with the electrical signals passing through the connector where the contact pressure is very low. On the other hand, this is not the case with multi-pin electrical connectors where it is not recommended to be applied to the electrical contacts. Because it is non-conductive, it can be applied to the actual contact as well because the spark plug high contact pressure is sufficient to penetrate the grease. It is formulated to withstand higher temperatures and it does not break down in the spark plug environment. When used in a spark plug boot, it seals the boot from water intrusion and prevents the rubber from sticking to the spark plug ceramic. Typically, it is used as a means of lubricating and sealing the rubber portions of a connector without arcing. It does not swell or soften rubber as may be the case with hydrocarbon based lubricants. Silicone Dielectric Grease is a waterproof, non-conductive, temperature resistive lubricant usually used for preserving rubber parts, such as o-rings.
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