To use a thermal gap pad as a heat-conductive cushioning component, check four things in order: thickness against the real gap, hardness, how far the pad compresses at your allowed clamping force, and thermal resistance at that compressed thickness. Lixing’s pad is offered in 0.25–1.3 mm thicknesses, 5–40 Shore B hardness and 1.0–10.0 W/m·K grades, and its product page states that it absorbs mechanical vibration; confirm the cushioning in an assembly-level vibration test before release.
Benefit 1: The pad absorbs tolerance when the heat sink is clamped
When a heat sink is screwed down, the force on the chip comes from the gap variation and the clamping stroke. The Lixing thermal gap pad has a hardness of 5–40 Shore B, and the product page describes high compression under very low pressure on uneven surfaces. Where gap heights differ, the pad deforms so the die surface does not bear directly against the heat sink.
Benefit 2: A cushioning layer against vibration and shock
Automotive power devices and 5G communication equipment see vibration in transport and in service. The product page states that the material provides an excellent cushioning effect, absorbing mechanical vibrations and protecting fragile electronic components from pressure damage.
No cushioning value is published, so treat it as design margin and confirm the result in assembly-level vibration and shock tests.
Benefit 3: Heat still flows through the cushion
Thermal conductivity grades run from 1.0 to 10.0 W/m·K, so the cushioning layer is also the heat path. The catalog value does not state test pressure, thickness or method; align those conditions before comparing suppliers. For the contact side of that question, see our thermal gap pad interface contact guide.
Benefit 4: Insulation and flame rating in the same layer
The product page lists UL 94 V-0 / V-1 flame resistance, electrical insulation and a temperature range of -40°C to 200°C. When the pad sits between a live component and a metal heat sink, write these into the specification together with the cushioning need.
Benefit 5: Thickness and shape cut to your drawing
Thickness runs from 0.25 mm to 1.3 mm, with precision die-cutting to customer drawings or roll supply, and color, size and shape can be adjusted. Choose the compression stroke you need for cushioning from that range, then cut the pad to the component outline.
Where it fits
- Automotive power devices and 5G equipment, listed on the product page for thermal conduction and cushioning protection.
- CPU, GPU and thermal modules, where the pad takes up height differences as the heat sink is clamped.
- Power supplies and high-power LED lighting, linking hot parts to a metal chassis or housing.
For how the same pad routes heat from power supplies and PCBs into the chassis, read our thermal gap pad heat path design article.
Engineering note: when cushioning actually helps
Treat the heat sink as a mass m, the pad as a support layer with stiffness and damping, and the PCB as a vibrating base. The single-degree-of-freedom base-excitation transmissibility then estimates how much vibration reaches the mass:
X/Y = sqrt[(1 + (2ζr)^2) / ((1 – r^2)^2 + (2ζr)^2)], r = ω/ωn
- X: steady-state amplitude of the heat sink or module, m; Y: base amplitude, m
- r: frequency ratio; ω: excitation angular frequency, rad/s; ωn = sqrt(k/m), the natural angular frequency, with k the support stiffness (N/m) and m the supported mass (kg)
- ζ: damping ratio, dimensionless
The model shows that vibration is amplified for r below √2 and attenuated only above √2. A softer pad lowers k, which moves the natural frequency down and puts more excitation frequencies in the attenuation range. It assumes small amplitudes, steady harmonic excitation, a linear spring and viscous damping. A thermal pad is a preloaded viscoelastic material and real assemblies share load with screws or clips, so use the equation for trends only, never to predict this pad’s isolation. Source: West Virginia University MAE 340 base excitation lecture notes.
What to send with a sample request
- Gap, tolerance and allowed clamping force between component and heat sink
- Vibration or shock conditions, such as transport or vehicle mounting
- Power dissipation, required thermal grade, insulation and flame requirements
Conclusion
One thermal gap pad can carry both heat and cushioning duty when thickness, hardness and thermal grade are chosen together. Send the three items above to yw@zh-lx.com or visit the thermal gap pad product page to request samples or a specification review, then verify the result with a representative sample in an assembly vibration test.
#ThermalPad #ThermalManagement #VibrationDamping #ThermalInterfaceMaterial #PowerElectronics
