Young scientists from TSC SB RAS have secured a 1 million-ruble grant to commence production of thermal pastes for electronics
Led by Anton Reger, Ph.D. in Engineering and senior research fellow at the Laboratory of Functional Ceramic Materials of TSC SB RAS, the project was selected as one of the top 100 winners of Russia's federal youth entrepreneurship competition, Sozday NASHE (“Create Our Own”). The funding will support the development and commercialization of a family of affordable thermal pastes with different levels of thermal conductivity, manufactured using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS).
– Heat sinks are often used to dissipate heat from operating electronic components, but more often than not their cooling does not suffice, which is why thermal pastes are used. The technology we propose offers two significant advantages that can guarantee our thermal pastes to be highly thermally conductive and relatively low cost. First, it relies on recycled aluminum waste as the raw material. Second, the thermally conductive filler is produced using the energy-efficient and straightforward method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), – explains Anton.
According to the researcher, the manufacturing process begins by cleaning and shredding discarded aluminum cans and foil. The aluminum is then converted into aluminum nitride through SHS, in which aluminum burns under elevated nitrogen pressure, allowing nitrogen to react with the metal. The resulting sintered material is then crushed into a fine powder with particle sizes of 5-10 micrometers before being blended into a silicone matrix to produce the finished thermal paste.
The project team, which also includes junior researcher Pavel Vashurkin, plans to produce a range of products for different markets. The lineup will include small syringes containing up to 10 grams of thermal paste for consumer PC maintenance, as well as larger packaging of up to one kilogram for electronics manufacturers and repair centers.
The technology previously received support in 2024 through the “UMNIK-Electronics” program of Russia's Innovation Assistance Fund (FASIE). The new grant will enable the team to continue improving their technology which is aimed at creating an environmentally friendly, competitively priced Russian-made alternative to imported products.
The Sozday NASHE (“Create Our Own”) youth entrepreneurship competition is organized by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) and the Federal SME Corporation (the Federal Corporation for the Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises), with the support of the Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative Foundation (Russian: фонд “Молодежная предпринимательская инициатива”), as part of the federal project “Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship”. Winners receive grants of 1 million rubles to support implementation of their projects.
© TSC SB RAS Press Service
