Does unused thermal paste deteriorate?

[Angilion]

I have a box of stuff, like I'm sure many people here do. Amongst the unused tubes and sachets of the cheap silicon thermal paste that I've had free with various coolers and never used, there's a slightly-used tube of Arctic Silver's Ceramique, from a couple of years ago. It's the usual syringe-style little tube. I used a little for my CPU cooler and the cooler on my old graphics card, at least a year ago, probably more like 18 months.

So...is the Ceramique that's still in the tube, unused, still good to use or should I bin it and buy some fresh for my new kit (hopefully a new CPU, maybe a new graphics card cooler)?

 

[locutus12]

ive got a tube of arctic silver 2 here, had it for 5 years, still works fine

 

[slap ed]

i wondered that myself good answer

 

[cobxx]

Doubt it considering the materials used in them. As long as they are kept away from air so they can't be oxidised (even though most use metal oxides anyway) it should be fine. I got some old school ceramique somewhere which I still use, so I hope not!

 

[A.N.Other]

Arctic silver pastes will separate out over time. Just squeeze a bit out onto tissue - if it looks OK, it probably is.

 

[manveruppd]

I heard you're supposed to shake the tube before use, as the silver particles tend to sink to one end. Not sure about the validity of that advice though.

 

[Rick_Barnes]

it cant hurt to shake it....


unless you leave the top off lol

 

[GGP]

I remember reading somewhere to put arctic silver in the fridge with the opening downwards (closed, obviously...) in a plastic bag. Did this and did not observe any changes after 3 years.

Günther

 

[Plasmoid]

I read somewhere that the Arctic Silver stuff at least, seperates out a little but still operates with little difference.

Some vigorous shaking or the fridge trick should solve it though.