Oct 29 2012
A National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) research team has developed a vapor grown carbon fiber mat (VGCF mat) which exhibits ultra-high thermal conductivity, an ideal heat spreader material for potential use in electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet computers.
Dr. Jyh-Ming Ting, the Chairman of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, pointed out that the material with VGCF has an outstanding thermal conductivity of 1950 W/m-K which is 5 times that of copper and will be the most preferable cooling material for mobile devises.
VGCF mats are suitable for high-functioning and thin electronic products which may include flat-screen TV and laptop computers, according to Dr. Ting, adding that high-density LED, Li-ion battery module are also possible applications of the material.
The theory behind the production of VGCF is simple but the technical threshold is rather high, according to Dr. Ting’s research team which is capable of carrying out the mass production of the material.
The technology has attracted attention from industry executives and AD Group, a Taiwan-based golf manufacturing company, has just signed a technology licensing agreement with NCKU and launched a new business unit to commercialize the product.
The technology transfer contract signing ceremony held on October 26 with representatives of both side, Director Mi-Ching Tsai, NCKU Research and Services Headquarters (RSH), and Bernard Cheng, the Chairman of the AD Group.
NCKU President Hwung-Hweng Hwung, a renowned hydraulic expert, hailed the groundbreaking innovation of VGCF mat: “The finding not only marks a milestone in electronic production, but also raises the visibility of Taiwan’s academic research.”
The academia-industry cooperation in NCKU has outperformed other universities in Taiwan, according to Hwung, because NCKU has great professors like Dr. Ting who focus not only academic research but also are determined to commercially realize the research results, which also helps to fulfill the social responsibility of the University.
According to the result of Industry-Academia Collaboration Performance Evaluation, initiated by the Ministry of Education in 2009, NCKU has won the 1st Place in 4 consecutive years under different categories, added Director Tsai.