If you’re speccing thermal materials for real hardware—not slides—start with a graphite sheet. This category took off because phones got hotter, EV packs denser, and everyone wants cooler, quieter products without bulky heat sinks. Honestly, I’ve watched procurement teams swing from copper foils to graphite sheet in a single design cycle once they see the in-plane conductivity numbers.
Origin: Qiujing yiyuan, No. 189, East 2nd Ring North Road, Chang'an District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. Customization is available; the core application areas are the electronics industry, friction materials, and heat spreading.
| Spec | Typical Value (≈, real-world use may vary) |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.025–0.50 mm |
| In-plane thermal conductivity | 600–1600 W/m·K |
| Through-plane thermal conductivity | 5–15 W/m·K |
| Density | 1.0–1.8 g/cm³ |
| Operating temp | -40 to 400°C (air), up to 3000°C (inert) |
| Flammability | UL 94 V-0 option |
Materials: premium natural flake graphite → intercalation → high-temp exfoliation → calendering into graphite sheet rolls → optional lamination (PSA, PET, copper) → die-cut. Methods: continuous roll calendering for uniform density; web inspection cameras to catch pinholes. Testing: ASTM E1461 for diffusivity, D5470 for thermal resistance, IEC 60068 thermal cycling and damp heat. Service life: lab 1000 h 85°C/85%RH with ΔR_th ≈ +6%; -40↔125°C 500 cycles with no delam noted.
Advantages: huge in-plane conductivity, featherweight, flexible, EMI-friendly, and easy to die-cut. Many customers say installation is “forgiving,” which matters on fast SMT lines.
| Vendor | Conductivity | Min Thickness | Certs | Lead Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLGraphite (China) | ≈1200 W/m·K in-plane | 0.025 mm | ISO 9001, IATF 16949, RoHS/REACH | 2–4 weeks (custom die-cuts 3–5) |
| Generic importer | ≈600–900 W/m·K | 0.05 mm | Basic RoHS | 4–8 weeks |
| Reseller (EU/US) | ≈800–1200 W/m·K | 0.03 mm | ISO 9001, UL 94 docs | Stock to 3 weeks |
Bottom line: if you need a thin, high-conductivity spreader that plays well with adhesives and odd geometries, a graphite sheet is still the sensible, scalable choice.