Thermal Management Disrupted: VHD Graphite Challenges Copper and Aluminium Dominance

Thermal Diffusivity Breakthrough

Green Critical Minerals Ltd (ASX: GCM) has revealed a significant advancement in thermal management materials with its VHD Graphite technology. Independent testing by the University of New South Wales confirmed that VHD Graphite achieves a peak thermal diffusivity of 288 mm²/s, substantially outperforming traditional materials such as copper (111 mm²/s) and aluminium (97 mm²/s). This breakthrough positions VHD Graphite as one of the highest-performing thermal materials available for mass-market applications, particularly in the demanding fields of artificial intelligence (AI) cooling and high-performance electronics.

Unlike thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity measures how quickly heat spreads through a material, a critical factor in preventing hotspots and improving cooling efficiency. VHD Graphite’s superior diffusivity means it can dissipate heat faster, reducing thermal throttling risks and extending component lifespan in AI processors and data centres.

Lightweight and Directionally Superior

Beyond raw performance, VHD Graphite offers remarkable weight efficiency. At just 14.3% weight efficiency, it diffuses heat 12 times faster per unit weight than copper, enabling the design of ultra-lightweight heat sinks. This is a crucial advantage for applications where weight and space constraints are paramount, such as high-performance laptops, gaming consoles, and compact AI hardware.

Additionally, the material exhibits a high degree of anisotropy, confirmed at a peak directional alignment of 25x, allowing precise, targeted heat dissipation. This anisotropic property is especially valuable in semiconductor cooling and high-density server racks, where directional heat flow management is essential.

Commercial Scalability and Market Potential

Green Critical Minerals has successfully replicated these exceptional thermal properties at pilot-plant scale, demonstrating the commercial scalability and repeatability of the VHD manufacturing process. This scalability addresses a long-standing barrier in the thermal materials market, where premium-grade graphite has been prohibitively expensive and impractical for large-scale use.

By leveraging an innovative, energy-efficient production method, GCM aims to disrupt the heat sink market dominated by copper and aluminium. The company is targeting commercialisation by the end of 2025, with immediate plans to advance into heat sink design and computational modelling to optimise real-world performance.

Implications for AI and High-Tech Cooling

The timing of this breakthrough aligns with the explosive growth in AI computing, data centres, and semiconductor industries, all of which demand more effective thermal management solutions. VHD Graphite’s combination of high thermal diffusivity, lightweight structure, and directional heat control could redefine cooling benchmarks, enabling more efficient, compact, and reliable electronics.

Managing Director Clinton Booth emphasised the transformative potential: "VHD Graphite is emerging as the logical successor to traditional materials and a disruptor to the heat sink market." Meanwhile, Head of R&D Professor Andrew Ruys highlighted the material’s ability to reduce thermal stress and improve shock resistance, expanding its applicability to aerospace and renewable energy storage sectors.

As GCM moves forward, the industry will be watching closely to see if VHD Graphite can deliver on its promise to unlock new efficiencies and cost advantages in thermal management.