Samsung tired of people tearing into the Note 9 cooling, shows us exactly where the carbon is

The Galaxy Note 9’s cooling was a hot topic long before the phone was officially announced, but when it was called Water Carbon Cooling System during the release event, it really got people’s attention. Naturally, as soon as the phone reached tech reviewers and consumers, people were eager to find out exactly how it works. Multiple Note 9s gave their lives in the name of science and the consensus among the examiners was that while there was water in some form in the cooling, carbon is nowhere to be found.

Well, Samsung had seen enough guessing work and decided to set things straight once and for all. In a post on its website, the cooling system of the Note 9 is explained with visual aids and simple language.

The “Tech Lab Notes” confirm the water part of the system: it turns to steam from the processor heat, travels through the porous filler of the copper pipe and turns back to water on the other end, once it has cooled down enough.

The Carbon comes into play as a Thermal Interface Material (TIM) that sits directly on top of the chip and helps conduct heat to the copper thermal spreader. According to Samsung, the carbon fiber TIM is nine times more conductive than silicone, which is why it’s the preferred material for the job.