When choosing a TIM solution, there are three features engineers must properly balance for better thermal performance. The first feature to consider is the TIM thickness. In general, thinner is better. However, if the TIM is too thin, it may have poor wet-out because it will not properly fill the surface roughness. The key feature is the TIM wet-out at the contact surface. The softer the material, the better the wet-out. Lastly, the TIM thermal conductivity (k value) should be considered. In general, the higher the thermal conductivity, the better. It should be noted, however, that as the thermal conductivity increases, the material may be harder because it has more conductive fillers inside. This will negatively impact the wet-out of the materials. The ultimate goal is to find the optimized balance of features to fit the application.