High thermally conductive graphene film as thermal strap and heat spreader for radar and laser applications

Research Project, 2018 – 2019

As a general trend, electronic devices continue to become more compact, more function and more powerful. This increase in power usually leads to higher heat fluxes and makes it challenging to maintain temperatures at the optimal level during operation. The goal of the project is to develop graphene films to balance the high in-plane thermal conductivity and excellent flexibility for thermal strap and heat spreading plate in radar and laser application. It is supposed that graphene film can replace the part of Cu and Al heat spreader/thermal strap by providing higher thermal conductance and lighter weight. At the same time, the graphene-based materials also keep same mechanical strength as the metals. Major benefits of the new graphene material are European manufacture and supply chain, easing procurement, opening competitiveness in the existing market and improving access to new markets. This proposal involves SAAB, Smart High-Tech AB (SHT) and Chalmers University of Technology. SHT will be the project coordinator and develop the graphene film with superior in-plane thermal conductivity and flexibility for thermal strap and heat spreading application. Saab will be responsible for a broad technical market survey on graphene film application, a mock-up and provide a platform for prototype testing. Chalmers will characterize the material to understand how the physical and chemical properties influence the thermal and mechanical properties. This project is an 18-month FoI-litet project starting from 2018-05-30. The project will put the emphasis on technological development on graphene film process, balancing its favourable thermal and mechanical properties, market survey, project dissemination and exploitation.