Two-year analysis finds long-term issues with liquid metal TIMs

A two-year analysis of liquid metal thermal interface material (TIM) found that its long-term performance can suffer when it reacts with other metals, according to a report by Wccftech. The analysis was conducted by a YouTuber, whose name was not given in the source.

The report says liquid metal has been adopted by multiple companies for gaming laptops and other high-performance hardware because it transfers heat effectively. It also notes that the material is electrically conductive and difficult to apply.

According to the report, aluminum can be significantly damaged by a reaction with liquid metal. A copper heatsink, meanwhile, can develop a layer of crystals after 24 months. The source does not identify the specific products tested or provide measurements of the reported performance changes.

The findings point to different long-term effects depending on the metal involved. The report describes the analysis as lasting two years but provides no further details about its testing method.