A process of making a reworkable thermal interface material is described.
The reworkable thermal interface material is bonded to a die and a heat
sink. The reworkable thermal interface material includes a phase-change
polymer matrix material. Other materials in the reworkable thermal
interface material can include heat transfer particles and low
melting-point metal particles. The phase-change polymer matrix material
includes a melting temperature below a selected temperature and the heat
transfer particles have a melting temperature substantially above the
selected temperature. The heat transfer particles act as a spacer limit,
which holds the thermal interface material to a given bond-line thickness
during use.