Hmm, zinc oxide is ZnO. Zirconia is ZrO2 though.
Silicone grease should burn with a bright yellow flame, producing white "soot", which is silica fume. If it's starved for oxygen, black (carbon) soot will also be produced.
Tim
-- Deep Friar: a very philosophical monk. Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms
Lots of things turn yellow when hot, but they don't all come in tubes marked "Heat Sink Compound".
--
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence
over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled."
(Richard Feynman)
Typically a light silicone grease or silicone oil. Both are relatively insensitive to heat issues, and don't oxidize readily. Some are volatile however, and seem to 'vaporize' off over the years. We've all seen crumbly heat sink compound...
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