The diamond dust is used to "lap" the contact surfaces
of the CPU and cooler/heatsing to achieve better contact.
The best heat transfer would perfect metal-to-metal contact.
A good machinist ar lens maker could achieve this by lapping
the surfaces on an optical flat...90% contact would be good enough.
The lens maker would use diamond dust...the machinist would use
less expensive lapping conpounds. I use extra fine water sandpaper
on a formica table top.
Slashdot Mirror
The diamond dust is used to "lap" the contact surfaces of the CPU and cooler/heatsing to achieve better contact. The best heat transfer would perfect metal-to-metal contact. A good machinist ar lens maker could achieve this by lapping the surfaces on an optical flat...90% contact would be good enough. The lens maker would use diamond dust...the machinist would use less expensive lapping conpounds. I use extra fine water sandpaper on a formica table top.