Gap Filler Liquids

(GFL)

The constantly increasing technical demands on electrical and electronic assemblies have led to major challenges in the area of thermal management. Due to the miniaturization of components and the higher performance of devices, component temperatures would increase significantly without countermeasures, which could lead to the failure of the entire assembly. In order to increase the longevity of electronic components, the heat must therefore be conducted from the heat source (electronics) to the heat sink (e.g. heat sink). Thermally conductive and electrically insulating intermediate layer materials, so-called Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs), are used for this purpose. With KERATHERM® and KERAMOLD® products, KERAFOL® offers an effective, uncomplicated and cost-effective product range for this purpose. One of the most popular product groups are the so-called Gap Filler Liquids.
Keratherm® GFL 3000 SL
Keratherm® GFL 3030

What are gap filler liquids?

an explanation

KERATHERM® Gap Filler Liquids (GFL) are highly thermally conductive and electrically insulating two-component materials based on silicone or polyurethane. Due to the good flow behavior and the “wet-on-wet” installation, even large component tolerances and gaps can be compensated and bridged, which is a great advantage, especially for sensitive electronic assemblies. Due to the low thermal resistance, the heat is transferred from the heat source (e.g. electronics) to the heat sink (e.g. heat sink) extremely efficiently.

Key Facts

to the GFLs from Kerafol®

Anwendungsbeispiel
Keratherm® GFU 15

How are gap filler liquids processed?

Application

Gap Filler Liquids from KERAFOL® are available in various containers:

In addition to manual application with pneumatic or electric dispensing guns (e.g. manufacturer/link), gap fillers can also be applied fully automatically using dispensing systems.
During application, it is always important to ensure that the two components are mixed homogeneously, which can be easily checked visually thanks to the color gradient.

Further information on dispensing technology and screen printing can be found in the section Service Kerafol.

Video: Application

Advantages

the GFL from Kerafol®

Delimitation

to other products

Gap filler liquids are cross-linking systems and therefore harden in contrast to heat-conducting pastes.
This makes them more robust and durable compared to pastes, especially under high mechanical loads such as vibrations or different expansion coefficients of the joining partners (keyword “CTI mismatch”).
After cross-linking, they have similar properties to a gap pad and take on the function of an elastomer due to their Shore 00 hardness.
The filling level and density of gap fillers is very high, and the choice of fillers is always based on the fact that they must be easy to dose.
In terms of the gap to be bridged over a certain area, gap fillers are a more cost-effective alternative than gap pads, also because the material utilization is higher (e.g. there is no material loss due to punching residues).
However, this is offset by the investment costs for a dosing system.

Keratherm® GFL 3020

Comparison

Thermal Gap Filler Liquids from Kerafol®

Applications

from Gap Filler Liquids