Gallium/Indium/Tin alloy (Ga68.5/In21.5/Sn10) is a eutectic liquid metal known for its exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity, non-toxicity, and ability to remain liquid at near-room temperature. As a replacement for toxic mercury in thermal and electrical systems, this alloy offers a unique combination of fluidity, stability, and versatility for high-tech engineering and cooling applications.
Material Overview
This eutectic alloy, often called Galinstan, melts at approximately −19 °C and remains stable up to about 1300 °C under inert conditions. It exhibits metallic conductivity, with values exceeding 3.4×106 S·m−1, and high thermal conductivity (~27–35 W·m−1·K−1). Recent first-principles studies show that Sn and In co-doping in gallium enhances the density of electronic states at the Fermi level, improving both electrical and thermal conductivities while maintaining ductility (Xiong et al., 2025). The alloy’s low vapor pressure and chemical inertness make it ideal for use in sealed electronic and microfluidic systems. Moreover, its self-healing and non-corrosive nature enable long-term stability, distinguishing it from mercury and alkali metal-based fluids (Rehman et al., 2024).
Applications and Advantages
Ga–In–Sn alloys are widely applied in energy storage, soft robotics, microelectronics cooling, and thermal interface materials. Their high fluidity and wetting behavior allow precise contact with microstructures for efficient heat transfer. Experiments on flow and heat-transfer characteristics demonstrate convection coefficients exceeding 7×104 W·m−2·K−1, making the alloy a superior coolant for high heat-flux devices (Xu et al., 2023). When integrated with ceramic fillers like AlN and silicone matrices, Ga–In–Sn–based greases exhibit enhanced heat dissipation and reduced contact resistance by up to 50 % compared to traditional thermal pastes (Han et al., 2018). Additionally, the alloy’s self-healing and flexible properties make it a promising candidate for next-generation flexible batteries and soft electronics. Its low toxicity and recyclability support environmentally responsible design in advanced thermal management systems.
Goodfellow Availability
Goodfellow supplies Gallium/Indium/Tin (Ga68.5/In21.5/Sn10) alloy in high-purity form suitable for research and industrial applications. Available in various volumes and packaging options, this liquid metal alloy can be customized for electronic cooling, flexible circuitry, and energy storage technologies.
Explore Gallium/Indium/Tin Ga68.5/In21.5/Sn10 and other advanced materials in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.
References
- Xiong, B., Huang, H., Xue, Y., Wang, S., Fang, C., Abadikhah, H., Wang, F., & Hao, L. (2025). First principles calculations of thermodynamic and conductivity properties of Ga–In–Sn alloys. AIP Advances, 15(9), 095110. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0282139
- Rehman, W. U., Manj, R. Z. A., Ma, Y., & Yang, J. (2024). The promising potential of gallium-based liquid metals for energy storage. Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications. https://doi.org/10.1002/cplu.202300767
- Xu, J., Cheng, K., Ha, C. S., Liu, Z., He, S., Yan, T. Y., Qin, J., & Liu, X. (2023). Experimental study on flow and heat-transfer characteristics of Ga–In–Sn alloy in a round tube applied for high heat flux device cooling. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 41, 101805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2023.101805
- Han, L., Huiqiang, L., Zuoye, L., & Sheng, C. (2018). AlN/Ga-based liquid metal/PDMS ternary thermal grease for heat dissipation in electronic devices. Rare Metal Materials and Engineering, 47(9), 2450–2456. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1875-5372(18)30207-8
- Plevachuk, Y., Sklyarchuk, V., Shevchenko, N., & Eckert, S. (2015). Electrophysical and structure-sensitive properties of liquid Ga–In alloys. International Journal of Materials Research, 106(2), 170–176. https://doi.org/10.3139/146.111151