WE-TGS: Graphite Sheet

Würth Elektronik's thermally conductive synthetic graphite sheet, WE-TGS, has been added to their thermal management solutions portfolio. The WE-TGS is a synthetic graphite heat spreader, which implies that most of the thermal conductivity provided by the material occurs at the horizontal or XY axis. This effect enables the final application to use even larger cooling surfaces instead of being limited by the contact surfaces of the component that needs to be cooled. The standard synthetic graphite sheet itself is composed of three main components:

• PET film: The WE-TGS is protected by two PET films that protect the surfaces of the product from scratches.
• Graphite layer: Provides heat spreading capabilities to the product. The thermal conductivity of the graphite layer will change depending on two main parameters: the thickness of the graphite layer and the density of the graphite. The thinner and denser it is, the higher the thermal conductivity.
• Acrylic layer: These layers provide electrical insulation to the product. One layer has an adhesive surface for application where the device is affected by vibration, movement, or both vibration and movement. It is recommended to add an external mechanical force, having the graphite fixed by the adhesive tape and the external mechanical force.

One of the advantages of graphite sheets is their light weight and thinness, which, combined with their high thermal conductivity, make them perfect for applications like handheld devices.

Resources

• WE-TGS Design Guideline