NMIC Ships 10,000th Aluminum Diamond Heat Spreader for GaN Devices

Nano Materials International Corp. (NMIC) banner - RF Cafe

-- Orders accelerate as customers validate product’s ability to
reduce device junction temperature by 25% and meet cost
objectives while decreasing system weight.

TUCSON, AZ (February 6, 2012) -- Nano Materials International Corp. (NMIC) today announced that it has shipped its 10,000th aluminum diamond metal matrix composite (MMC) heat spreader for use in gallium nitride (GaN) RF power transistors and Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs). The achievement is a significant milestone for acceptance of NMIC’s aluminum diamond MMCs and for manufacturers of defense and commercial RF power amplifiers who must dissipate the heat generated by high-power-density GaN devices. Orders for NMIC’s aluminum diamond MMCs have continuously increased as tests by GaN device, power amplifier, and system manufacturers have validated the benefits of the technology and as NMIC has optimized its processes so that it adds minimally to the cost of each device.

Nano Materials International Corp. (NMIC) - RF Cafe

Nano Materials International Corp. (NMIC) - RF Cafe

NMIC’s MMCs are the result of more than a decade of research and development dedicated to producing a material that helps GaN device manufacturers dissipate the heat from their products. Rapidly removing heat is essential for GaN devices to deliver their rated RF output power, as the inability to do so requires them to be “backed-off” to lower power levels.

NMIC’s MMCs have demonstrated their ability to reduce device junction temperature by about 25% beyond what can be realized using conventional heat spreader materials or material combinations. They exploit the inherent thermal conductivity of industrial-grade diamond, which at greater than 1200 W/mK is higher than any substance on Earth. NMIC’s patented process combines diamond and aluminum particles to form an MMC with thermal conductivity greater than 500 W/mK, more than twice that of its nearest competitor. The MMCs are also up to 10 times lighter than conventional heat spreader materials such as copper-tungsten and copper-molybdenum.

[borders/inc-300x250.htm]This attribute is especially appealing in applications such as Active Electronically-Steered Array (ASEA) radars, in which hundreds or thousands of GaN MMICs are used, as pounds can be shaved from the overall system. In addition, the MMICs are extremely strong, stable during temperature cycling, and have a coefficient of expansion that matches silicon carbide (SiC), the most common transistor substrate compound used by GaN device manufacturers.

About NMICNano Materials International Corp.
NMICNano Materials International Corp, headquartered in Tucson, AZ, is dedicated to the development and commercialization of products based on aluminum diamond metal matrix composites (MMCs) that offer the best properties for removing the heat generated by microwave power transistors and laser diodes, and to development of transparent ceramics (Spinel) for ballistic windows and other applications. The company operates in a 42,000 sq. ft. facility that incorporates production, scale-up, application development, and technical support.

Contact
More information about NMIC aluminum diamond MMCs can be obtained from the company’s Web site, www.nanomaterials-intl.com or by calling (520) 574-1980.

Posted 1/16/2013

Webmaster:

Kirt Blattenberger,

BSEE - KB3UON

RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a nice lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...

All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images and text used on the RF Cafe website are hereby acknowledged.

My Hobby Website: AirplanesAndRockets.com

My Daughter's Website: EquineKingdom