Solvent for Thermal Compounds

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack Gillis
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Jack Gillis

I want to replace a CPU heatink on one of my machines and am almost sure
that I will have to clean off the residue of the old thermal compound
from the chip. What solvent should I use -- alcohol, acetone or some
other?

Thank you.
 
I want to replace a CPU heatink on one of my machines and am almost sure
that I will have to clean off the residue of the old thermal compound
from the chip. What solvent should I use -- alcohol, acetone or some
other?
Click to expand...


Do not use Acetone. Alcohol is a good choice when it will
cut through the compound. When it won't, use a petroleum
based solvent such as "Goo-Gone", WD40, kerosene or
gasoline. These are all safe to use on a CPU regardless of
what some superstitious users might suggest. In fact I've
used all of them myself, depending on the situation (though
I prefer Goo-Gone since it's lowest odor and handy in the
squeeze bottle).

If you meant regular Silicone, Arctic Silver, Ceramique or
similar thermal grease types of compound instead of the
(originally solid pad of) thermal interface material, it can
be wiped off with a paper towel, no solvent is needed.
 
kony, have you ever dropped a CPU in a alcohol bath or do you use wipes ot
q-tips or just cloth?
 
kony said:
Do not use Acetone. Alcohol is a good choice when it will
cut through the compound. When it won't, use a petroleum
based solvent such as "Goo-Gone", WD40, kerosene or
gasoline. These are all safe to use on a CPU regardless of
what some superstitious users might suggest. In fact I've
used all of them myself, depending on the situation (though
I prefer Goo-Gone since it's lowest odor and handy in the
squeeze bottle).

If you meant regular Silicone, Arctic Silver, Ceramique or
similar thermal grease types of compound instead of the
(originally solid pad of) thermal interface material, it can
be wiped off with a paper towel, no solvent is needed.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I've really no idea what is there now and wont until I take
the heat sink off but I suspect it is one of the pads for it is the
original installation. I will follow your suggestion.

Thanks again.
 
I want to replace a CPU heatink on one of my machines and am almost sure
that I will have to clean off the residue of the old thermal compound
from the chip. What solvent should I use -- alcohol, acetone or some
other?

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Methylated Spirit and a toothbrush :)


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kony, have you ever dropped a CPU in a alcohol bath or do you use wipes ot
q-tips or just cloth?
Click to expand...
It doesn't really matter what you use, generally I just wipe
off grease with a dry paper towel or thermal pads with some
goo-gone on the towel. If it's a really thick mess of
thermal pad goo I'll just saturate the towel, lay it on the
CPU and seal them together in a baggie for awhile (if I"m
not in any particular hurry).

Biggest PITA is when I get a box where someone overzealously
applied Arctic Silver and half the CPU is tinted silver. I
usually just use some detergent and a soft toothbrush in the
'sink for those, at least until the CPUs went back to using
heat-spreaders then I just started using alcohol on a paper
towel again.
 
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