Patent ID: 6901997

Claim:
A method for facilitating the transfer of heat from an electronic component to a heat sink across an interface therebetween, the method comprising the steps: a) providing a thermal interface wafer interposable between said electronic component and said heat sink, said water comprising at least one elongate vertically-oriented strip substrate having first and second surfaces, said substrate having at least one layer of a phase-change, heat-conductive material formed upon a respective surface thereof, said heat-conductive material being formulated to enhance the heat transfer from said electronic component to said heat sink; b) interposing the thermal interface wafer of step a) between said electronic component and said heat sink such that the substrate of such wafer assumes a substantially perpendicular orientation relative said electronic component and said heat sink; c) compressively engaging said electronic component to said heat sink with said thermal interface disposed therebetween; and d) operating said electronic component such that heat is generated thereby, said heat being sufficient to cause said phase-change, heat-conductive material in step a) to transition from a solid phase to a liquid phase.