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The Frequency Domain Thermoreflectance Technique for Thermal Property Measurements

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Thermal interface resistance: crossover from nanoscale to macroscale.

Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal

|December 6, 2013

Summary

Thermal interface conductivity at the nanoscale is pressure-dependent and much higher than at the macroscale. For macroscopic solids, spreading resistance typically dominates interfacial resistance.

Area of Science:

Physics
Materials Science
Nanotechnology

Background:

Recent work by Gotsmann and Lantz shows nanoscale thermal interface conductivity is pressure-proportional.
This nanoscale conductivity is significantly higher (~10^3 times) than macroscale observations for identical materials.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the transition from nanoscale to macroscale thermal interface behavior.
To identify the dominant factors governing interfacial resistance in macroscopic systems.

Main Methods:

Theoretical discussion of thermal transport across interfaces.
Analysis of the interplay between contact pressure and interface conductivity.

Main Results:

Demonstration of a crossover regime from nanoscale to macroscale thermal transport.

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Identification of spreading resistance as the dominant component of interfacial resistance for macroscopic solids.

Conclusions:

The pressure dependence observed at the nanoscale does not directly extrapolate to macroscopic scales.
Spreading resistance is a critical factor in understanding thermal management for bulk materials.