Thermally conductive resins can be used to pot a PCB unit, or encapsulate electronic components in order to transfer heat away, either to the housing or the resin itself acting as a simple heatsink. Potting a PCB with thermally conductive resin will allow the material to flow into spaces around components which would otherwise not be suitable for thermal interface materials, and can be an efficient way to manage thermal transfer over a whole unit.

The added benefit to using a thermally conductive potting compound is that it also provides additional protection to the PCB. The additional properties will vary depending on the resin chemistry selected, and application requirements but usually include some or all of the following examples; damage /shock resistance, water resistance, chemical and gas resistance as well as offering some structural support.

A good example of where the use of a thermally conductive resin can benefit over a standard thermal interface material is in an LED unit where even small increases in temperature can affect the colour, life expectancy and performance of the LED. By potting with a thermally conductive resin we can easily manage this temperature, while also offering additional properties to protect the LED PCB from corrosive elements such as rain water.

We would advise that you test any product you select thoroughly, as each application will vary from the next and figures quoted on a TDS may not match the results in the ‘real’ operating environment.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Technical Support Team, or alternately we have some great articles available:

• Thermal Management FAQ’s
• Thermal Management Technical Articles
• Thermal Management Blogs
• Obsolete products