A number of different types of adhesives are used in the assembly of electronic components and devices. This article provides an overview of such adhesives that also have another job–they work at conducting electricity or heat. The resins or binders in these adhesives range from thermosetting to pressure-sensitive. Conductivity is obtained by the judicious choice of filler. For electrically conducting adhesives, the fillers range from silver flake to silver-coated fibers. For thermally conducting adhesives, the fillers range from aluminum oxide to boron nitride. We also discuss a specific type of electrically conducting adhesive–the z-axis film adhesive. In these adhesives, particles are oriented in such a fashion that allows conduction in the direction perpendicular to the adhesive, but not in the plane of the adhesive.
