Patent ID: 8048322

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a thermal interface material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a carbon nanotube array formed on a substrate, the carbon nanotube array comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes and a plurality of interstices between the adjacent carbon nanotubes; (b) filling a liquid state first base material into the interstices; (c) curing the first base material by cooling the first base material to room temperature to solidify the first base material, thereby achieving a carbon nanotube/first base material composite; (d) dripping a liquid state second base material onto a surface of the carbon nanotube/first base material composite, the first base material melting due to a temperature of the liquid state second base material being higher than a melting point temperature of the first base material, and the liquid state first base material flowing out of the carbon nanotube/first base material composite until the carbon nanotube array is substantially submerged in the second base material; and (e) curing the second base material by cooling the second base material to room temperature to solidify the second base material, thereby achieving a thermal interface material.