How long does liquid metal (Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut) last?

The longevity of Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut (a liquid metal thermal compound) on a laptop can vary significantly, but general recommendations and user experiences suggest a lifespan of 1 to 3 years before reapplication might be necessary.

Unlike traditional thermal pastes that "dry out," liquid metal primarily degrades in performance due to a process called gallium diffusion or amalgamation, where the gallium in the liquid metal reacts with the copper or nickel-plated surfaces of the heatsink and CPU/GPU die. This reaction forms a solid alloy crust over time, which reduces the liquid metal's thermal conductivity.

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Factors Affecting Longevity

Several factors influence how long Conductonaut will maintain peak performance in a laptop environment:

• Application Surface: Conductonaut should only be used on nickel-plated copper surfaces for the best long-term stability. If applied to pure copper or, critically, aluminum (which it will corrode), the lifespan will be drastically reduced, and damage can occur.
• Application Quality: A very thin, even film is crucial. Over-application can lead to spillage (which is electrically conductive and can short components) or "pump-out" from the die surface due to repeated heating and cooling cycles.
• Operating Temperatures: Laptops, especially gaming laptops, operate at high temperatures (often over 85∘C), which accelerates the gallium diffusion process. The harder your laptop runs, the faster the degradation will occur.
• Factory vs. User Application: Liquid metal that is factory-applied and sealed (e.g., in some high-end gaming laptops) often has better longevity and is less prone to leakage than a user-applied installation.

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When to Consider Reapplication

You should consider reapplying Conductonaut when you notice a significant rise in your laptop's operating temperatures at idle or under load compared to the initial post-application temperatures.

• General Reapplication Window: Many experienced users suggest reapplying liquid metal on high-performance devices every 1 to 2 years for peace of mind and to maintain peak thermal performance.
• Maximum Span: In more moderate use cases or with a near-perfect application on nickel-plated surfaces, some users report good performance for up to 3 years.

If your laptop starts to overheat, first check for dust buildup in the fans and heatsinks. If cleaning those doesn't resolve the temperature issue, reapplication of the liquid metal is likely required.

Source: Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Extreme Liquid Metal