The main advantage of the parallel plate method is that it represents how a TIM would perform in the application, where it would be compressed between a heat source and a heat sink. The measurements are also highly accurate as thermocouples are used to measure the temperature difference. Thermocouples are widely used due to their range of applicability and precision. Lastly, this equipment has the capability of measuring a wide range of TIMs including gap pads, gels, tapes, greases, and phase change materials. The primary drawback to this method is that it is a time consuming test, ranging from minutes to over an hour in order to reach steady state. Although it is a lengthy test, Chomerics views the steady state component as a highly important aspect as this is indicative of the material in the application. Due to the test set-up, this is a destructive test method as the sample cannot be reused. A potential drawback for some materials is the sample size, where it must be cylindrical in shape and make full contact with the top and bottom aluminum calorimeters.