Arctic Silver 2 thermal transfer rate Bogus?!?

[Flat]

Thermal conductivity for silver is 4.29 Wcm-1K-1, while Arctic Silver LLC claims that their product Arctic Silver 2 has a thermal conductivity greater than 8.0 Wcm-1K-1, so whats going on here? What other compouds could be in the grease that almost doubles the thermal conductivity? My guess is that the conductivity is increases by the micronization of the silver, but can silver in any form be greater that the quoted 4.29 ever? Is that ration of a molecular level? Someone thats a chemist, help!

Also if the micronization is the cause of the increased conductivity, then would my galium in its liquid form have expodential increase in its conductivity as is suggested by my test? (see my other post)

 

[Spoooon]

Silver can never have a greater conductivity that 4.29. Atleast, as far as I know. It's a property of the material and can't be changed short of creating a new material (ie, an alloy). I asked a friend who knows more than I do about this stuff what he thinks. When he gets back to me and if it's helpful, I'll post it.

 

[Flat]

hmmm... not saying that AC is a bad product, just seems they are exagerating claims?

 

[Nevin]

Flat-

Silver 4.29 W/cmK

Arctic Silver >8.0 W/mK

The comparison you are making is in two different units of measurement. The difference is highlighted in bold type.

Nevin House
Arctic Silver LLC

 

[Flat]

doh!

 

[dirkdaring]

Hexus.net Arctic Silver II heat test

Arctic Silver II test

 

[Mikewarrior2]

dirkdaring,

teh problem with any socket a test setup: inaccuracy, compression of results, unpredictability factor of socket-thermistor.

I've tested ASII on a p3/diode reading, and I get a 1-2C drop depending on application thickness. Even though hexus.net shows a temp drop, it may or may not be showing the full benefit of arctic silver II versus I(or compared to RadioShack grease, for that matter). It could be a 1C drop, or it could be nothing, or it could be 4-6C in core temp drop. The problem is, you don't know.


Mike