Liquid Metal Pro destroyed my stock heatsink

S

sirgallium

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 30, 2006
Messages
336
I just made a quick video showing how this thermal compound dissolved and destroyed this stock Dell heatsink.

I couldn't find any results on google for it destroying any other heatsinks so I don't know how well documented this issue is, so here you can see the carnage for yourself:



For some reason when I post on here I get a lot of very negative replies so I almost didn't post this but I figured I would give it one last try. If it is still that way then I guess I will just stop posting since clearly I'm missing something about this forum that causes great incompatibility between myself and others. I'm just trying to build PCs and overclock and cool like the rest of yall. I hope everyone has a great day.
 
Have you pulled off your other heat sink to verify everything's legit? Perhaps you only have it on the copper or silver surfaced portion.

2.1 Chemical characterisation:
Alloy of the metal components gallium, indium, rhodium, silver, zinc and stannous.
http://www.coollaboratory.com/pdf/safetydatasheet_liquid_pro_englisch.pdf


Example of that gallium eating a heat sink:



This guy had an issue once water was added into the mix.


Corrosion..
 
So, what you are saying is you didn't read the instructions or warning on the website and STILL have not read them? That is probably why you got the negative responses. It is well known and stated in the instructions and website to NOT use on aluminum.
 
As others have said you need a copper or nickel plated contact surface.
 
I've had liquid metal on a 4770K for a couple years, I haven't taken the lid off to look and see if any damage has occurred, but my temps are still frosty. Is this something I need to be checking?
 
p_monks33 said:
I've had liquid metal on a 4770K for a couple years, I haven't taken the lid off to look and see if any damage has occurred, but my temps are still frosty. Is this something I need to be checking?
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Is your base aluminum?

All the liquid metal TIMs can be hard to remove fully, but it will only eat aluminum like you see above.
 
BlueFireIce said:
Is your base aluminum?

All the liquid metal TIMs can be hard to remove fully, but it will only eat aluminum like you see above.
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I have the CLU installed between the IHS and the Die, I don't know what either of those materials are on Intel chips, hopefully not aluminum though. Between the FLU, and the heatsink, I run Arctic MX4, so no worries there.
 
p_monks33 said:
I have the CLU installed between the IHS and the Die, I don't know what either of those materials are on Intel chips, hopefully not aluminum though. Between the FLU, and the heatsink, I run Arctic MX4, so no worries there.
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Die is not even metal, IHS is nickle plated copper. Had anything been Aluminum, like the IHS, you would have been thermal throttling by now from the damage. Once it starts, it can consume a whole HS very fast, no less a small IHS. You have no worries, lots of sites (and myself) use it on my delidded CPUs, you might however have trouble getting the IHS off again, as CLU goes through heat cycles it "sets" and becomes hard, I would suggest heating it if you ever try removing the IHS again and cleaning the bottom of the IHS might require lapping.
 
Thanks for the info, my temps are as cold as the day that I did the delid, my CPU was also relidded using the rocket tool, and the gel superglue, so if it ever gets hot, Im just gonna buy a new CPU.
 
p_monks33 said:
Thanks for the info, my temps are as cold as the day that I did the delid, my CPU was also relidded using the rocket tool, and the gel superglue, so if it ever gets hot, Im just gonna buy a new CPU.
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Cyanoacrylates (superglue) has a low shearing strength, and the rocket tool shears, so it should remove easy enough.
 
yeah_science_breaking_bad.gif
 
this is why thermal grizzly conductonaut has a giant friggin DO NOT USE ON ALUMINUM inside its packet. i guess Coollabratory doesn't put a big enough warning on their product?

one can actually argue that the stuff isn't 100% safe for copper or nickel plated stuff either, esp copper it will form an alloy with over time and pit the surface eventually requiring a re-application so while it does work and works great in the right applications one has to keep in mind it's potential drawbacks long term.
 
OP’s user name is Sir Gallium and he doesn’t even know gallium eats aluminum. Coincidence?!?

He read the warning, just didn’t care. Look at this video the OP made, 2:37 into the video... “It does mention that it’s not the best for aluminum” LOL:
 
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So the guy's name is SirGallium, claims to not know that his namesake is a metal that is corrosive to aluminum (this is high school chemistry basics and found in 2 seconds via google), admitted to not reading directions and ignoring GIANT WARNINGS, went so far as to create a video showing his fail, whines about negative responses to his threads, and you guys believed him?

We all got trolled, big time. LMAO.
 
CaptNumbNutz said:
So the guy's name is SirGallium, claims to not know that his namesake is a metal that is corrosive to aluminum (this is high school chemistry basics and found in 2 seconds via google), admitted to not reading directions and ignoring GIANT WARNINGS, went so far as to create a video showing his fail, whines about negative responses to his threads, and you guys believed him?

We all got trolled, big time. LMAO.
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He read the directions, he said so in his other video :p
 
OP>>> "Why would they tell me not to put this on a beer can?"
"Oh well."
 
Gallium rocks; it's just the least toxic shit you can deal with.

When you dissolve a small amount of aluminum or other similar metals in Liquid gallium, then transition it to a solid, can be spectacular, depending on metal.

Chemistry is Cool. :)
 
CaptNumbNutz said:
So the guy's name is SirGallium, claims to not know that his namesake is a metal that is corrosive to aluminum (this is high school chemistry basics and found in 2 seconds via google), admitted to not reading directions and ignoring GIANT WARNINGS, went so far as to create a video showing his fail, whines about negative responses to his threads, and you guys believed him?

We all got trolled, big time. LMAO.
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We definitely weren't trolled. He has many other threads about his builds etc lol
 
still use gold old AS5 on my own stuff and the noctua stuff for friends/family lol
 
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Guarana [BAWLS] said:
Mayo is where it's at, Bruh
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Depends on the type of cheese imo.
Blue cheese has its flavour muted by mayo and enhanced by salad cream.
All types of yum between the 2 with different cheeses :):)

Op needs to find a way to improve the disconnect between sight and action.
There may be an electronic device for that.
 
CaptNumbNutz said:
So the guy's name is SirGallium, claims to not know that his namesake is a metal that is corrosive to aluminum (this is high school chemistry basics and found in 2 seconds via google), admitted to not reading directions and ignoring GIANT WARNINGS, went so far as to create a video showing his fail, whines about negative responses to his threads, and you guys believed him?

We all got trolled, big time. LMAO.
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ya...

3142435b61094b7d9256ba11fb838f479800bacb3f5e9103ed07951817cf16a1.jpg
 
sirgallium said:
I just made a quick video showing how this thermal compound dissolved and destroyed this stock Dell heatsink.

I couldn't find any results on google for it destroying any other heatsinks so I don't know how well documented this issue is, so here you can see the carnage for yourself:



For some reason when I post on here I get a lot of very negative replies so I almost didn't post this but I figured I would give it one last try. If it is still that way then I guess I will just stop posting since clearly I'm missing something about this forum that causes great incompatibility between myself and others. I'm just trying to build PCs and overclock and cool like the rest of yall. I hope everyone has a great day.
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That's why it's good to RTFM from time to time or do the research on the exotic stuff at least (man up and do just do it lol). I haven't used this since my w/c loop back in P4 days. It was all copper but I couldn't hold the curiosity to test this stuff on a bundled Intel aluminum cooler and this stuff was wild and reaction started almost immediately.
 
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