8616 – Super Thermal Grease II Thermal Compound

This CPU paste mates the interface between heat sinks and heat-generating components. The grease removes any air gaps at the interface, providing a smooth path for heat to flow away from parts. The grease has excellent thermal conductivity enabling high heat transfer to heat spreaders. 8616 is a non-conductive thermal compound so users can apply it without risk of causing short circuits.

Thermal compounds like the 8616 go by many other names like pc thermal paste, GPU cooling paste and thermal grease for GPU. The soft consistency of the 8616 means users can achieve thin bond lines under compression reducing thermal resistance. Simply apply a small amount of material over the CPU or GPU and compress the heatsink to spread the paste. The grease fills small voids and imperfections along the interface to remove air voids and hotspots.

Depending on the operating environment, thermal grease can be a long-term solution to prevent overheating. High-quality grease like the 8616 does not dry out under temperatures of about 100C and remains stable for many years. The 8616 works up to 165C, well below the temperature limits of most electronics. While it is difficult to say how long applied grease will last, we recommend regular PM checks for best results.

The 8616 is durable and provides protection in harsh climates. The compound tested for 1000 hours under corrosive conditions per ASTM B117 with no washout or loss of consistency. The thermal filler is ceramic so will not corrode when subjected to moisture and salts, maintaining thermal conductivity. This property expands the scope of potential applications to include marine or energy exploration.

The 8616 has a thermal conductivity of 2 W/mk making it ideal for devices that must stay cool. Aside from the thermal conductivity, the soft texture means the grease easily compresses to thin bond lines. For best results, users must ensure they spread the grease as thin as they can and cover the entire surface between CPU and heatsink.

While some users opt to apply thermal paste along the metal base of the integrated heat spreader, most apply grease over the CPU. Several techniques exist for applying thermal compound which we demonstrate in our Tech Talk 1 video. The main objectives are to cover the entire surface of the CPU/GPU and achieve a thin bond line.

Overall, grease is a stable product with a long shelf life. Over time, it may separate slightly with some oil visible on the surface. If this happens, simply stir the oil back into the bulk until reaching a uniform consistency. Once applied, grease works for many years as long as temperature exposure is not consistently high.

While other compounds like liquid metal offer superior thermal conductivity, these products are also electrically conductive. By contrast, the 8616 is non-conductive and therefore, there's no risk of causing shorts when applying. The grease vastly improves the flow of heat between components and heat spreaders compared to air.

If there becomes a need to remove the grease, simply use some IPA and a swab or brush. The paste dissolves once in contact with the solvent and cleanly wipes away. Apply more solvent if needed to remove any residues. Do not use water as the grease is hydrophobic and non-compatible with water.

For a silicone-based paste with a higher service temperature, use 860. We carry other thermal interface materials such as thermal gels, potting compounds, adhesives and gap fillers. We also offer electrically conductive grease, dielectric grease and lubricating grease. The 8616 comes in multiple packaging options depending on the scale of your project, from syringes to large pails.

• An effective thermal transfer grease with thermal conductivity of 2.0 W/(m·K)
• Silicone-free
• Broad service temperature range of -70 to 165 °C (-90 to 329 °F)
• High dielectric strength
• Excellent corrosion resistance – passed ASTM B117 salt fog test (1,000 hours)
• Non-bleeding
• Non-electrically conductive
• Long service life