Different methods of transfering heat..

[EricZ]

What are the common methods of transferring heat from a led mounted on a metal pcb to an aluminum heatsink? I have heard about thermal paste and thermal tape. Are there different heat transfer abilities between the two? Does the tape serve as an adhesive too?

 

[yellow]

expensive (and useless --> cost wise and mouting wise): thermal glue

best: thermal paste + screwing the base to the aluminium thermal/mounting plate
imho best method overall.

tape: works with computer chips, so ...
no real experience with that. Somehow think thats not ideal in handling, modding at later time, ...

 

[bshanahan14rulz]

I agree with Yellow on this one. If I were to rank them, this is how I'd rank 'em: Thermal grease and pressure > thermal paste > thermal tape > that white goop that they use at kd/dx

The tape is an adhesive, but not quite what you would be thinking when you think tape. Think of a gummy sheet of tacky gel with bits of diamond and ceramic dust embedded in it. Comes on a clear plastic backing. Comes in different thicknesses, great for its reworkability, but lacking in performance. the 3m stuff I got is better than the white gunk it replaced, but I would still pick thermal grease and mechanical pressure to any adhesives.

 

[Walterk]

Soldering the led without star on the copper heatsink.
But some skills preferred.

 

[saabluster]

Best to worst. Thermal paste Thermal epoxy Thermal tape

 

[Curt R]

We solder a brass screw onto the thermal pad of the SST-50 and SST-90 and then use thermal paste when
screwing the LED into the heat sink. Seems to work well.

Curt