Replacement for foam that has turned to dust

[hayheather]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm in the middle of repasting my old laptop in an effort to lower temps. Along the edges of the heatsink there is (was) some of that grey foam to try to make the heatsink more airtight. The moment I touched it, it turned into dust. I'm cleaning it off but I'm wondering if anyone has some good ideas for something to replace it? It would have to be nonconductive, compressible, and have a less horrible adhesive if it is self-adhesive. 

 

Thank you!

 

 

picture of same model heatsink for reference. Notice the horrific foam/dust/goop on the copper fins on the left side of the picture.

[emosun]

Id just put it back together without it. More airflow = good not bad

[191x7]

5 minutes ago, hayheather said:

Hello everyone,

 

I'm in the middle of repasting my old laptop in an effort to lower temps. Along the edges of the heatsink there is (was) some of that grey foam to try to make the heatsink more airtight. The moment I touched it, it turned into dust. I'm cleaning it off but I'm wondering if anyone has some good ideas for something to replace it? It would have to be nonconductive, compressible, and have a less horrible adhesive if it is self-adhesive. 

 

Thank you!

 

 

picture of same model heatsink for reference. Notice the horrific foam/dust/goop on the copper fins on the left side of the picture.

If you mean this bubblegum-looking stuff, that's called thermal pads and they have to be there, also you have to use the same thickness as the originals, maybe a bit thicker would work but slimmer won't.

Thermal pads aren't expensive, you get them in sheets and cut them yourself.

[Needfuldoer]

Look for some self-stick weatherstripping at the hardware store. They sell rolls of the stuff for sealing drafty windows and doors. You can probably find something about the right size and cut it to fit if you really want to.

 

That foam isn't critical, it's just there to help keep airflow moving the right direction. (So the fan can't suck warm air from near its own exhaust side.) The laptop should work just fine without it.

[hayheather]

13 hours ago, 191x7 said:

If you mean this bubblegum-looking stuff, that's called thermal pads and they have to be there, also you have to use the same thickness as the originals, maybe a bit thicker would work but slimmer won't.

Thermal pads aren't expensive, you get them in sheets and cut them yourself.

I was refering to the grey open cell foam on the right side of the picture. It's a little hard to see. Someone else suggested weatherstripping though so I think I might try that

 

[191x7]

44 minutes ago, hayheather said:

I was refering to the grey open cell foam on the right side of the picture. It's a little hard to see. Someone else suggested weatherstripping though so I think I might try that

 

This that I marked in red?

 

Alluminum tape could do, kapton tape could do, nothing would also do...