The thermal paste (thermal grease & thermal compound) is a thermal management solution. It offers compatibility with electronic components like CPUs, GPUs, and Game Consoles. Thermal paste dissipates the heat from the components to the heatsinks. But what if we use other best alternatives to thermal paste.? Will they perform the same for heat management?
Businesses/consumers spend a lot on electronic gadgets/devices each year. But somehow they lack choosing a proper thermal interface material for cooling. Even, most people don’t know about other substitutes for a thermal paste. So in this article, we have decided to cover substitutes for a thermal paste. How will it impact the cost and performance factors positively?
Understanding Thermal Paste
Thermal Paste is a well-known name in the PC industry. It is also known by other names like “thermal grease & thermal compound”. It serves cooling operations for gaming computers, high-end workstations, and server machines. It is also used in gaming consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, and others.
A thermal paste makes an attachment between the heatsink and the electronic component. It transfers the heat generated from components to the heatsink. The heat is then thrown outside by the cooling fans. Moreover, a thermal paste also fills up the air gaps to make its functionality more effective.
Major types of thermal paste are silicone thermal paste, ceramic thermal paste, and carbon-based thermal paste. The normal lifespan of most thermal paste is 1 to 3 years. After that, it needs a proper replacement to avoid performance issues. Let’s dive into the key features of thermal paste.
– Key Features
- It features a higher thermal conductivity.
- It works under a wider temperature range.
- It is easily available & easy to apply.
- It contains low thermal resistance.
- It offers more affordable prices than others.
- It features reliable, durable, and stable operations.
Best Thermal Paste Alternatives
– Thermal Pad
Well, a thermal pad is a good alternative to thermal paste. It is a composition of silicone and other fillers like ceramic, carbon, and metallic. It works perfectly well against the heat and fills the air gaps effectively. Even though it offers less thermal conductivity than a thermal paste. Still, users prefer it due to ease of application, longevity, and non-electrical conductivity.
Moreover, a thermal pad can be cut into various sizes and dimensions as per requirement. A thermal paste provides a thermal conductivity of 5-20 W/mK while a thermal pad features 1-15 W/mK. Similarly, thermal paste offers an operating temperature of -50 to +150 degrees Celcius. Whereas, the thermal pad offers -40 to +200 degrees Celcius.
– Thermal Gel
Thermal Gel is another good substitute for thermal paste. It is a more advanced solution one can adopt for managing heat-generating elements. Not only that, but thermal gel also fills the air gaps effectively. A thermal gel is more soft and flowable than a thermal paste. So, it easily spreads on the surface of components with less chance of air bubbles.
If we talk about the thermal conductivity and operating temperature ranges here. A thermal paste is found to perform better than a thermal gel. The thermal conductivity of a thermal paste is about 5-20 W/mK while thermal gel offers 2-8 W/mk. Similarly, the operating temperature range of thermal paste is – 50 to +150 and thermal gel is –40 to +200.
Bad Alternatives of Thermal Paste
– Toothpaste
Many people think that toothpaste could work the same as thermal paste. But in reality, all these are just rumours. There is no significant proof of toothpaste acting as a heat resistance source. Toothpaste lacks base material and fillers that work against rising temperatures.
Even, it can damage electronic components if there are minerals/chemicals in toothpaste. So, reject the plan if you want to use toothpaste as an alternative to thermal paste. No irrelevant product can take place of a well-researched and quality thermal product.
– Moisturizing Creams
Another nightmare as a bad alternative to thermal paste is using moisturizing creams. They may have a resemblance in physical looks, but a lot of differences in features. A moisturizing cream doesn’t contain thermally conductive ingredients and can cause damage to components.
Once you apply a moisturizing cream to any of the electronic components. It turns into a liquid form and causes a drastic increase in temperature levels. Stay away from such experiments and always prefer a quality thermal interface material.
– Hair Waxes
The internet is full of those who use hair wax as a substitute for thermal paste and end up telling sad stories. The hair wax may work for a shorter period but is not a permanent or reliable solution. One should avoid using these types of waxes in their components.
Hair waxes contain such ingredients that could melt once they face heat. The melted liquid then evaporates in the air and leaves the surface dry. This dryness results in no passage for transferring heat and may cause overheating. The overheating of components means the end of their life.
Reasons to Use Thermal Paste Alternatives
- When you are facing issues with the availability of thermal paste.
- When you want to test out other alternatives instead of thermal paste.
- When other alternatives are more cost-effective than thermal paste.
- When other alternatives provide longer lifespans.
- When other alternatives are easy to apply/remove.
Where to Get Quality Thermal Interface Materials?
You know what? Choosing a quality thermal manufacturer is one of the most important decisions. It impacts both the performance and longevity of electronic products. When it comes to quality products/manufacturers, we always recommend JiuJi.
JiuJu has been a well-known name in the thermal industry for the last two decades. Their quality products have brought JiuJu to a new height of success. They have changed market competition by offering wholesale rates, and smooth delivery.
JiuJu has equipped its manufacturing space with top-quality machinery and a skilled workforce. Their production volumes cross the remarkable figure of 20 tons in a month. Not only that, but JiuJu has a quick response team in the customer support department.
So come up with your demand for the required products and get a quotation from JiuJu. We deal in all types of thermal interface materials with a guarantee of quality and prices. 500 plus active clients are solid proof of JiuJu’s positive market reputation.
Final Thoughts
Thermal Paste is a reliable solution to maintain the temperature of electronic components. Still, one can prefer other alternatives to thermal paste based on their requirements. The requirements may include cost-effectiveness, ease of application, and longevity. Its main alternatives are thermal pad and thermal gel only.
Other solutions like toothpaste, creams, or hair waxes are considered harmful. One should avoid experiencing such experiments. These materials will melt in front of continuous heat and will become dry at the end. This dryness could lead to overheating and components will face unbearable throttling. Even so, it can permanently damage the components.
If you want to enhance the performance of your electronic devices/gadgets/components.
Contact JiuJu’s officials to sign a deal and get quality thermal interface materials.
