Newport tender seeks a thermal interface tester with adjustable pressure
Image: Illustrative image: Jyothis · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Semiconductor Catapult has opened a tender, estimated at £100,000 excluding VAT, for a thermal interface material reliability tester in Newport. Its specification calls for two adjustments: how thick the material layer is between the test surfaces and how hard those surfaces are pressed together. The procurement is part of the Catapult’s work on characterising thermal interfaces for AI hardware and data centres.
Between a processor lid and a cold plate, heat has to cross both contacts as well as the material itself. A thin layer can shorten that path, while pressure can change how well the material conforms to the surfaces. The distinction is familiar from ASTM D5470, which describes how measurements at different thicknesses can separate resistance in the material from the contribution of the contacts. The tender specifies the adjustable fixture without naming D5470 as its test method.
Submissions close at 11:00 GMT on 2 December. The notice lists 5 January 2027 as the estimated start date.
Sources: Sell2Wales procurement notice CSAC2334; ASTM D5470 test method scope; image source (CC BY-SA 3.0)
