Features of Thin Graphite Sheet
- Excellent thermal conductivity of 480–1950 W/m·K in-plane.
- Ultra-thin 0.017 mm – 0.5 mm thickness fits compact high-power electronics.
- Flexible pyrolytic graphite sheet, easy to cut and trim.
- Thermal diffusion and EMI shielding for electronics
- Low thermal resistance comparable to high-performance thermal grease.
- No pump-out under thermal cycling for long-term reliability.
- Easy die-cut customization for various complex component shapes.
Your Reliable Thin Graphite Sheet Supplier
Thin Graphite Sheet is a flexible, ultra-thin, high-thermal-conductivity graphite heat spreader, also known as a pyrolytic graphite sheet or graphite heat spreader. It is suited for heat dissipation in high-power electronics such as CPUs, LEDs, and 5G modules. It offers the dual benefits of EMI shielding and lightweight design, but is not recommended for applications requiring electrical insulation. Please verify thickness, dimensions, adhesive backing, and die-cutting requirements before placing an order.
As a professional graphite sheet manufacturer, GALLOP offers custom graphite sheets, thermal graphite sheets, and OEM services. We conduct over 30 quality tests to ensure batch consistency and meet RoHS/UL94 V0 standards. We recommend prioritizing suppliers that provide thermal simulation and rapid prototyping to minimize your product selection risks.
High thermal conductivity graphite sheet for electronics, flexible and lightweight thermal graphite sheet, good EMI shielding, easy to cut and die-cut, stable under thermal cycling, custom graphite sheet available from manufacturer.
Ultra-thin graphite sheet, pyrolytic graphite sheet with highly oriented thermal graphite film, 1600 W/mK in-plane conductivity, low thermal resistance like grease, lightweight specific gravity 2.3, graphite heat spreader for compact electronics.
Flexible graphite sheet made from expanded natural graphite, high chemical resistance, compressible and conformable, temperature range from cryogenic to 450°C oxidizing, low-cost graphite sheet for gaskets and seals, in-plane conductivity 150–400 W/m·K.
Product Specification
| Specification | Details |
| Material Types | Synthetic Graphite, Pyrolytic Graphite, Natural Graphite |
| In-Plane Thermal Conductivity | Synthetic Graphite:480-1950 W/m-K Pyrolytic Graphite:Up to 1950 W/m-K Natural Graphite:150-400 W/m-K |
| Thickness | 0.017 mm – 0.5 mm; custom thicknesses available |
| Density | Approx. 2.3 for synthetic and pyrolytic graphite |
| Maximum Operating Temperature | Up to 400–450°C in oxidizing environments, depending on material |
| Inert/Vacuum Temperature | Up to 2500°C for natural graphite |
| Carbon Content | ≥99% for natural graphite |
| Moisture Content | <1% for pyrolytic graphite |
| Surface Options | PSA Adhesive, Insulating Film, Plain Graphite |
| Size | Custom sizes available |
| Converting Options | Slitting, Cutting, Die Cutting, Laminating |
| Compliance | RoHS; UL94 V-0 for applicable grades |
What is Thin Graphite Sheet?
A thin graphite sheet is primarily a synthetic graphite thermal sheet. It is manufactured by graphitizing a polymer film at high temperatures, producing a highly oriented thermal conduction structure. As an ultra-thin graphite heat spreader, it rapidly dissipates heat from hot spots across a flat surface, making it suited for compact, high-power electronic devices; however, it is not appropriate for applications requiring electrical insulation. If your project requires a custom graphite sheet or die-cutting, we recommend first specifying the thickness, dimensions, and adhesive backing requirements to minimize trial-and-error during the selection process.
How Does Thin Graphite Sheet Work?
The heat dissipation mechanism of a thin graphite sheet is straightforward. It is made of a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite film, with carbon atoms arranged in a highly ordered manner within the plane. Heat is primarily conducted rapidly in this direction via phonons, allowing in-plane thermal conductivity to reach 480–1950 W/m·K, approximately 3 to 4 times that of copper. In contrast, thermal conductivity in the thickness direction is notably lower, so heat naturally spreads across the surface rather than penetrating the material directly.
In practical applications, this graphite heat spreader is attached directly above hotspots on CPUs, power modules, or LEDs to rapidly disperse concentrated heat, increase the effective heat dissipation area, and reduce local temperatures. With a thickness of only 0.017 mm – 0.5 mm, it is well-suited for integration into compact, high-power electronic devices. For you, if your product has noticeable localized hotspots but lacks the space for thicker metal heat sinks, a thin graphite sheet offers a lightweight solution for lateral heat distribution.
Thin Graphite Sheet: Compliance & Quality Assurance
GALLOP, as a graphite sheet manufacturer, offers a full range of thin graphite sheets that are RoHS and UL94 V0 compliant. We can also provide documentation such as REACH and CMRT, ensuring that exports to the U.S., EU, and Asia will generally not encounter compliance issues. Strict quality control backed by optical thickness sorting and 100% automated visual inspection ensures batch-to-batch thickness variation within ±0.01mm.
If your end products are intended for the European or U.S. markets, we recommend requesting that your supplier provide RoHS and UL94 reports, along with test data from the most recent batch, for your confirmation before placing an order. If you require custom graphite sheets or die-cutting services, please provide us with your drawings in advance.
Applications of Thin Graphite Sheet
Consumer Electronics & Mobile Devices
Smartphones, tablets, and laptops have packed internal spaces, yet the heat generated by CPUs and 5G chips continues to rise. The role of a thin graphite sheet here is to quickly spread heat across the device, ensuring a more consistent casing temperature and preventing localized hot spots. If your product is pursuing an ultra-thin and lightweight design, this graphite heat spreader can help you save significant structural space and reduce the risk of post-sales issues caused by overheating.
LED Lighting & Display
When a thermal graphite sheet is adhered to the back of an LED chip or driver, heat is dissipated more evenly to the aluminum substrate or housing. Choosing the right graphite sheet for heat dissipation can notably extend your product’s warranty period and, in turn, reduce customer complaints.
Automotive Electronics & Battery Thermal Management
Automotive ECUs and LED headlights are becoming more powerful, and their operating environments are already hot. Thin graphite sheets can help these modules distribute heat evenly across their surfaces, reduce localized hot spots, and ease the burden on the thermal management system. If your project is seeking automotive certification, using this material for auxiliary heat dissipation can speed up the testing process and reduce the overall weight of the unit.
Telecom & 5G Infrastructure
Equipment such as 5G base stations, optical modules, and servers consume a lot of power, so heat dissipation is critical. Graphite heat sheets can be placed between heat-generating components and adjacent heat-dissipation structures to distribute heat over a larger surface area, reducing thermal resistance at the contact point. They also provide some EMI shielding.
Aerospace & Avionics
Avionics equipment has strict weight and reliability requirements, with limited space for heat dissipation. Pyrolytic graphite sheets are lightweight and remain stable across a wide temperature range, making them suited for use in satellites and avionics modules.
Medical Devices & Imaging
Thin graphite sheets can adapt to irregularly shaped surfaces to dissipate heat from sensors or processing chips without adding significant weight. Medical cameras, ultrasound probes, and portable monitors require quiet, compact cooling solutions. You can choose custom graphite sheets that, when die-cut, conform directly to your device’s structure, reducing assembly steps.
How to Choose the Right Thin Graphite Sheet?
Thermal Conductivity Requirements
When selecting a thin graphite sheet, first consider the thermal conductivity and the area of the heat source. Within the range of 480–1950 W/m·K, higher values result in faster lateral heat diffusion but also higher costs. For high-power devices such as CPUs and GPUs, it is recommended to choose a pyrolytic graphite sheet with a thermal conductivity of 1000 W/m·K or higher. For LEDs or power modules, a mid-range thermal graphite sheet is sufficient. The actual contact thermal resistance is more critical than the material’s nominal value.
Thickness & Space Constraints
A thickness of 0.017 mm – 0.5 mm is a key advantage, but the specific thickness should be chosen to fit your structural clearance and pressure requirements. If there are tolerance fluctuations, select a slightly thicker graphite heat spreader to fill the gaps; if the structure is very tight, use a thinner version. If you’re unsure, request a sample for testing first; this is more reliable than theoretical calculations.
Operating Temperature & Environment
Thin graphite sheets can tolerate 400°C, but stability and oxidation resistance at long-term operating temperatures are more important. If your equipment operates in a sealed, high-temperature environment, the oxidation resistance of the thermal graphite film is more vital than its short-term temperature resistance. Also verify whether chemical media or high humidity will have an impact.
Customization & Die-Cutting
The value of custom graphite sheets is in getting the shape, adhesive backing, lamination, and die-cutting right the first time, thereby reducing the need for secondary processing on your production line. Send us your drawings and assembly instructions during the selection phase, and we’ll provide recommendations for manufacturability to help you avoid issues that might otherwise surface during mass production.
A thin graphite sheet is a material with lateral thermal conductivity. It has an in-plane thermal conductivity of 480–1950 W/m·K and a thickness of 0.017 mm – 0.5 mm, and it spreads heat by covering the hot spot across its surface. A thermal pad provides normal thermal conductivity, usually 1–10 W/m·K; it can be compressed to fill gaps and often includes insulation.
Graphite addresses heat diffusion from hot spots, and thermal pads address gap filling and insulation. If your structural tolerances are large or you require electrical isolation, choose a thermal pad. If the issue is locally high chip temperatures, a thin graphite sheet has far superior heat spreading capabilities than most thermal pads. We recommend first determining your needs- vertical gap filling or horizontal heat spreading- and avoiding mixed use.
Thin graphite sheets are carbon-based materials with stable chemical properties; unlike thermal paste, they do not pump out or crack dry.
Even after hundreds of cycles between -40°C and 100°C, the change in thermal resistance is minimal. If your equipment has a design life of more than five years or if after-sales costs are high, using a graphite heat spreader is more reliable than thermal grease.
The main differences are weight and the direction of thermal conductivity. Graphite has a density of 2.3 g/cm³, compared to copper’s 8.9 g/cm³; for the same area, graphite is nearly four times lighter. The in-plane thermal conductivity of a pyrolytic graphite sheet is 1600–1950 W/m·K, which is 3–4 times that of copper. But copper is isotropic and conducts heat in the thickness direction as well, unlike graphite, with weak thermal conductivity in that direction.
Choose graphite for lateral heat distribution in lightweight, thin devices; choose copper when vertical heat conduction or structural support is required. For your product’s ultra-thin, weight-reduction design, a thin graphite sheet is more suitable. If the heat dissipation path relies on the thickness direction and space permits, a copper sheet provides a more direct solution.
On the material side, factors to consider include thermal conductivity, thickness, and degree of graphitization. In practice, the limiting factor is often contact thermal resistance. The quality of the bond between the graphite sheet and the chip or heat sink, air gaps, the thickness of the adhesive backing, and installation pressure all have a greater impact than the material itself.
Long-term performance is also affected by temperature, humidity, and oxidation. If your project’s performance falls short of expectations, first check the contact surfaces and assembly tolerances; don’t assume the material specifications are misleading. The rated values for thermally conductive graphite sheets are optimistic; the system thermal resistance is what truly matters.
If your application involves high-power devices such as CPUs, GPUs, or 5G modules, choose synthetic graphite sheets. For high-temperature sealing or low-cost applications, natural graphite sheets are more appropriate. Determine whether your need is for heat dissipation or sealing first, as the two cannot be used interchangeably.
Natural graphite sheets are made by compressing expanded graphite. They have a thermal conductivity of 150–400 W/m·K, are flexible, corrosion-resistant, and inexpensive, and are often used for sealing or low-power heat spreading. Synthetic graphite sheets, such as pyrolytic graphite sheets, are produced by graphitizing polymer films at high temperatures. They have an in-plane thermal conductivity of 480–1950 W/m·K, are specialized for electronic heat dissipation, and are thinner.
