Thermal Paste for Automotive Electronics

ZnoNova Materials

We will lead with the constraint rather than the headline, because in automotive it is the constraint that decides everything. This paste is rated −20 to 120 °C. If your position needs 150 °C continuous, stop reading — this is the wrong material and we would rather you found that out in the first paragraph than in qualification.

What the material is

Thermal conductivity	5.3 ± 0.2 W/m·K
Measured at	10 kg load · 10 W source · 0.102 mm bond line
Surface resistivity	>10¹⁴ Ω/sq — electrically insulating despite the carbon nanotube content
Operating range	−20 to 120 °C
Oil bleed at high temperature	2.5 ± 0.2%
Shelf life	3 years

We publish the measurement condition with the number because a thermal conductivity figure without a bond line and a pressure is not a specification, it is marketing. Ask every supplier on your list for theirs and see how many can produce it.

Where 120 °C is enough — and where it is not

Cabin and body electronics — fitsInfotainment, body control, lighting drivers, telematics. Ambient-controlled positions.

Charging and DC-DC in passenger cabins — usually fitsWhere the thermal design already targets a lower ceiling.

Battery management electronics — often fitsPack electronics are typically held well below 120 °C by design.

Under-hood next to the engine — does not fitAmbient alone can approach or exceed the ceiling.

Traction inverter power modules — does not fitSiC junctions and their interfaces run far hotter. You need a sintered or high-temperature TIM.

Exhaust-adjacent sensing — does not fitNot a candidate.

Why an insulating TIM matters here

The paste contains carbon nanotubes and aluminium, yet is specified at greater than 10¹⁴ Ω/sq. The conductive filler is dispersed within an insulating silicone matrix and does not form a percolating network. For automotive boards where a conductive paste creeping across a creepage distance is a failure mode, that property is often more important than the last 0.5 W/m·K.

What we will not tell you

We will not give you a thermal impedance for your assembly. Impedance depends on your flatness, clamping pressure and bond line, and must be measured on your hardware.
We do not hold automotive qualification. There is no AEC-Q or IATF claim attached to this material, and we will not imply one. If your programme requires it, say so at the start and we will tell you honestly where that stands rather than discovering it at PPAP.
This is a paste, not a cured or phase-change material, and it is not intended for bond lines carrying mechanical load.

Questions buyers ask

Why lead with the temperature limit instead of the conductivity?

Because in automotive the ceiling disqualifies faster than the conductivity qualifies. A buyer who finds out at qualification that the ceiling is too low has wasted months. We would rather lose an inquiry in the first paragraph than waste your programme's time.

Is 5.3 W/m·K good?

Typical filled silicone greases sit around 1–3 W/m·K, so yes, at the stated bond line. Compare like with like: always ask a competitor for their bond line and pressure before comparing numbers.

Is it electrically safe next to fine-pitch components?

Surface resistivity is specified above 10¹⁴ Ω/sq. Validate against your own creepage and clearance requirements.

What about oil bleed over vehicle life?

Specified at 2.5 ± 0.2% under high-temperature long-duration conditions. If bleed onto adjacent optics or connectors is a concern in your design, raise it early.

Request a sample & full datasheet

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