How does heat damage computer parts

[sfgiants6499]

This is a bit of an odd question but, how does heat damage computer parts like I do not think they would melt but I definitely know heat can damge the parts I just can for the life of me figure out how

 

[jay32267]

There are basically two different ways heat damages electronics.....thermal cycling and just plain "too hot".

Thermal cycling causes expansion and contraction and over time and many cycles this can cause cracks etc and eventual mechanical failure.

Just plain "too hot" causes the materials that make up the component to melt or burn. Basically you have gone beyond the physical limitations of the material...thus destroying the component.

 

[RARRAF]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUyuKqIfMN0

 

[thx1138v2]

Thermal run away occurs when a component is drawing more current than it is rated for, As the component gets hotter the resistance of the component goes up and as the resistance goes up the component gets hotter and on and on until something blows.

Also as the temperature goes up the cooling system becomes less and less effective in carrying the heat away which causes the thermal run away to accelerate.

 

[TJ Hooker]

I'm assuming you're talking about integrated circuits like a CPU/GPU? If so, outright melting/burning is unlikely. High temperatures can speed up electromigration, decreasing the lifespan of the chip. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromigration#Thermal_effects

I think high temperatures would also increase the likelihood/rate of transistor gate dielectric breakdown, also reducing lifespan. In the presence of sufficiently high voltage, this could cause failures nearly instantly.

For things like capacitors, high heat can increase the rate of dielectric evaporation (for liquid electrolytic capacitors) or dielectric degradation (polymer caps), reducing the lifespan of the capacitor.