# Ag Microparticle/Au Nanoparticle Thermal Interface Materials Sintered at Low Temperature and Pressure

## TL;DR

This paper presents a low-temperature method to create strong thermal interface materials using silver and gold particles, but higher sintering temperatures increase thermal resistance.

## Contribution

A novel low-temperature sintering method for Ag/Au-based TIMs with mechanical strength exceeding military standards is introduced.

## Key findings

- Most materials showed mechanical strength above 6 MPa, meeting military standards.
- Higher sintering temperatures improved mechanical properties but increased thermal resistance.
- The 2:1 LC formulation was the most effective among tested TIMs.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
Silver- and gold-based thermal interface materials (TIMs) are made by low-temperature sintering, where nearly all investigated materials demonstrated a mechanical strength higher than the 6 MPa required by the military standards (MIL-STD-883K);A beneficial impact of increased sintering temperature on the mechanical parameters of the sintered joints was observed, but it also resulted in a significant increase in the material’s thermal resistance.

Silver- and gold-based thermal interface materials (TIMs) are made by low-temperature sintering, where nearly all investigated materials demonstrated a mechanical strength higher than the 6 MPa required by the military standards (MIL-STD-883K);

A beneficial impact of increased sintering temperature on the mechanical parameters of the sintered joints was observed, but it also resulted in a significant increase in the material’s thermal resistance.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Materials composition requires further research in order to improve thermal performance, where mechanical parameters are satisfactory.

Materials composition requires further research in order to improve thermal performance, where mechanical parameters are satisfactory.

This article describes the preparation of thermal interface materials (TIMs) based on silver microparticles and gold nanoparticles, fabricated via low-temperature sintering, and evaluates their mechanical and thermal properties. The characterization involved several techniques, including shear strength testing, metallographic analysis, and thermal resistance measurements. A comparative analysis of the key material properties, namely thermal and mechanical performance, was conducted. The results identify the 2:1 LC formulation—comprising silver microparticles, gold nanoparticles, glycol, and ethanol at a weight ratio of 2:0.01:7:5—as the most effective among the tested TIMs. Furthermore, a positive correlation between increased sintering temperature and enhanced mechanical properties was observed.