Cleveland, OH USA (March 1, 2006) - Laird Technologies Thermal Product business unit (formerly known as Thermagon), a leading supplier of thermal management solutions, today introduced the T-gard™ 5000—a thermally conductive, low-cost, film-based electronic insulator for switching-mode power supply (SMPS) devices used in telecommunication and computer networking products. T-gard 5000 is available for volume distribution immediately.
For Laird Technologies Thermal Products, a unit of Laird Technologies, the innovative T-gard 5000 strengthens the company’s success in the established market for thermally conductive insulator materials. Based on Laird Technologies’ expertise in high-volume manufacturing, T-gard 5000 offers SMPS manufacturers a solution that is both superior to fiberglass insulation in dielectric strength and consistency as well as less expensive than competing film-based products.
“Laird Technologies’ manufacturing scale and our industry-recognized leadership in thermal interface materials positions us to quickly and efficiently enter a new market with an economical and superior alternative to other technologies,” said Michael Dreyer, vice president and general manager of Laird Technologies Thermal Products. “Furthermore, Laird’s acquisition of Thermagon in 2004 provided us with materials and technology advantages unrivaled in the industry.”
Thermally conductive insulators used on discrete electronic power components require a material that is able to both insulate electrically and conduct heat at the same time. Moreover, the material must provide mounting stability during SMPS manufacturing and assembly to prevent cut-through damage, which leads to electrical shorts.
“We saw the need for a lower-cost alternative to the insulators used in the 800-plus watt networking system power supplies, so we leveraged our extensive compound performance experience to develop an insulator with exceptional thermal performance and dielectric strength,” noted Robert Kranz, global product manager for Laird Technologies Thermal Products. “We believe our polyimide film-based solution is a far superior alternative to traditional fiberglass-based insulators.”
T-gard 5000 is a ceramic-filled silicone conformal coating on a high-temperature polyimide film, providing higher electronic insulating and thermal conductivity qualities than fiberglass-based insulators. This more flexible film-based insulator, while thinner and less expensive than fiberglass, offers superior cut-through resistance.
T-gard 5000 is priced from 1.5 to 4.5 cents per TO-220 part, depending on purchase quantity.
About Laird Technologies
Laird Technologies is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of electromagnetic interference [EMI] shielding, telematics, thermal management and wireless antenna solutions for the telecommunications, data-communications, computer, general electronics, network equipment, aerospace, defense, automotive and medical equipment industries.
For additional information or the name of your nearest Laird Technologies’ representative:
Laird Technologies
Phone 1 + (800) 843-4556, 1 + (314) 344-9300
Fax 1 + (314) 344-9333
Internet www.lairdtech.com
E-mail sales@lairdtech.com