Cryo-GCMS Outgassing Screening: Thermal Filler Materials
A study was conducted to investigate the outgassing characteristics of four thermal filler materials. The purpose of this screening was to identify any outgassing products that might be considered reactive, specifically compounds that could result in corrosion in the systems where these materials are used. A range of compounds was observed in the sample headspaces, though most do not stand out as being known reactive species of concern. However, several halogenated compounds and sulfurous compounds- classes compounds known to facilitate corrosion reactions under certain conditions- were observed in low concentrations. The TFLEX 760 exhibited the highest total outgassing, while the GR130 had the lowest. Therm-a-Gap75 and the Si thermal grease exhibited very similar outgassing profiles. It is difficult to predict the extent to which any given compound observed in an analysis of this type might pose a risk in an actual system; factors such as temperature, system geometry, concentration, and gas conductance all play a role in the kinetics governing chemical reactions. It is recommended that the results of these analyses are shared with pertinent materials SMEs familiar with the system(s) in question to evaluate potential risks.