Alternative for foam that has become powdery
Alternative for foam that has become powdery
Hello everyone, I'm in the middle of repasting my old laptop in an effort to lower temps. Along the edges of the heatsink there is (was) some of that grey foam to try to make the heatsink more airtight. The moment I touched it, it turned into dust. I'm cleaning it off but I'm wondering if anyone has some good ideas for something to replace it? It would have to be nonconductive, compressible, and have a less horrible adhesive if it is self-adhesive. Thank you! picture of same model heatsink for reference. Notice the horrific foam/dust/goop on the copper fins on the left side of the picture.
These bubblegum-like materials are known as thermal pads. You need to match their thickness to the originals, though a slightly thicker option might be better. They’re affordable, available as sheets, and you can cut them yourself.
Check the hardware store for self-adhesive weatherstripping. They carry rolls for sealing windows and doors. You might be able to get the correct size and cut it yourself if you need. This foam is optional—it mainly helps maintain proper airflow direction. (So the fan won’t pull warm air from its exhaust side.) Your laptop should function without it.
I was talking about the gray open-cell foam on the right side of the image. It’s a bit difficult to see clearly. Another person recommended using weatherstripping, so I’m considering trying that instead.