Does thermal compound age?

[Birger]

I just ordered an Athlon XP 2400+ and a Spire WhisperRock IV CPU cooler/fan and since I already got some Artic Silver 3 I didn't care about ordering any thermal compound. But now my brain has started to wonder. Wonder if thermal compound age with time?

I have some Artic Silver 3 left since a couple of months back and I would really like to know if my Artic Silver is as good now as it were when it was new?

And if someone of you knows something about a thermal compounds "ageing", how long can I have it before it becomes too old? 6 Months, 10 years?

Hmm, excuse me if I'm bad on the English language, hopefully you understand me at least.

 

[Soulkeeper]

well it ages when it is out of the tube or smashed on a cpu core with the inherent heat, but i doubt you will notice any drying or anything while it is in the tube
should be good for a few years atleast

i wouldn't worry unless it is so thick you can't smear it across the heatsink

 

[BlackMountainCow]

I borrowed some AS3 from a friend and he had it for a year now ... all fine and good!