Arctic Silver

Arctic Silver Ceramique 2

Expert rating5.7 / 10

View on Arctic SilverView on arcticsilver.com

Compound Type:: Metal-Oxide
Electrical Conductivity:: Non-Conductive

Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more

Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

Manufacturer: Arctic Silver Last updated: 2026-10-06

Where to buy

Arctic SilverGo to store

Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 Review

Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 is Arctic Silver's metal-free ceramic thermal compound, the non-conductive sibling of Arctic Silver 5.

Ceramique 2 is a safe, fully insulating ceramic paste with an old-school catch: Arctic Silver says it needs at least 25 hours and several thermal cycles to reach full performance. It uses aluminum oxide, zinc oxide and boron nitride particles averaging under 0.36 micron, contains no metal, and is neither electrically conductive nor capacitive. Arctic Silver publishes no W/mK figure, only a claim of 2 to 10C lower full-load temperatures than standard compounds. We'd pick it over Arctic Silver 5 for anyone worried about exposed contacts, but for a new build Noctua NT-H2 or Arctic MX-4 skip the break-in entirely.

Thermal Performance and Conductivity

Arctic Silver publishes no W/mK figure for Ceramique 2. Its only performance claim is "2 to 10 degrees centigrade lower CPU full load core temperatures than standard thermal compounds or thermal pads", which has no defined baseline.

In practice this is a mainstream-tier paste. It is not built to compete with Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut or Thermalright TF7 on raw transfer.

Compound Type and Composition

Arctic Silver calls the formula "Tri-Linear" ceramic: aluminum oxide, zinc oxide and boron nitride particles with an average size under 0.36 micron. There is no metal in it, which is the whole point next to the silver-filled Arctic Silver 5.

Application and Consistency

The paste is smooth and spreads easily. Arctic Silver's current retail sizes are a 2.7g syringe and a 25g syringe; at 0.003 inch thickness it rates the 2.7g syringe at about 22 square inches of coverage, which is many CPU applications. It cleans up with isopropyl alcohol or ArctiClean.

Electrical Safety

Arctic Silver states Ceramique 2 "does not contain any metal or other electrically conductive materials" and calls it a pure electrical insulator, neither conductive nor capacitive. That makes it a safe choice around exposed traces and SMD components.

Longevity and Pump-Out Resistance

Ceramique 2 needs "a minimum of 25 hours and several thermal cycles" to reach peak particle-to-particle conduction, and temperatures may drop slightly over that period. Arctic Silver says it is engineered not to separate, run, migrate or bleed. It is rated from -150C to 130C long term, with peaks above 185C. No reapplication interval is published.

Comparison to Alternatives

Against Arctic Silver 5 in our catalog, Ceramique 2 trades silver filler for full insulation and cuts the break-in from the roughly 200 hours AS5 is known for down to 25. Against Noctua NT-H2 and Arctic MX-4, it loses on convenience because those need no break-in at all.

We'd buy Ceramique 2 only if you trust the Arctic Silver brand and want a metal-free paste; otherwise NT-H2 is the easier pick.

Our verdict

Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.

Expert rating5.7 / 10

A non-metallic ceramic formula from Arctic Silver, an older but still workable option.

Best for

Builders who want a fully metal-free, non-capacitive compound
Arctic Silver 5 users looking for a safer alternative
Mainstream CPUs and GPUs where a short break-in period is acceptable

Not for

Anyone who wants full performance immediately without a break-in
Enthusiast overclocking where higher-rated pastes like Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut fit better
Buyers who need a published W/mK figure

Specifications

What these specs mean

Identity and form

Brand	Arctic Silver
Model	Arctic Silver Ceramique 2

Electrical and board risk

Paste Segment	Standard Paste

Application

Viscosity	Smooth ceramic-particle-based paste
Applicator Included	No

Cure and durability

Cure Behaviour	Needs at least 25 hours and several thermal cycles to reach full performance

Operating envelope

Min Operating Temperature	-150 C
Max Operating Temperature	130 C

Compound Type	Metal-Oxide
Electrical Conductivity	Insulating
Package Size	2.7g syringe (retail) or 25g syringe
Recommended Use	Mainstream CPU/GPU
Reapplication Interval	Not consistently published
Safety Notes	Non-metallic and non-capacitive formula, marketed as safer around exposed contacts than Arctic Silver 5

FAQs

How long does Arctic Silver Ceramique 2 take to cure?

Arctic Silver specifies a minimum of 25 hours of use and several thermal cycles before it reaches maximum performance. Temperatures may drop slightly during that period.

Is Ceramique 2 electrically conductive or capacitive?

Neither. Arctic Silver says it contains no metal or other conductive material and describes it as a pure electrical insulator.

What is the difference between Ceramique 2 and Arctic Silver 5?

Arctic Silver 5 uses silver particles and has a much longer break-in. Ceramique 2 uses aluminum oxide, zinc oxide and boron nitride, contains no metal, and needs 25 hours plus several thermal cycles.

How many applications are in a 2.7g syringe of Ceramique 2?

Arctic Silver rates the 2.7g syringe at about 22 square inches of coverage at 0.003 inch thickness. A typical desktop CPU heatspreader is a small fraction of that, so expect many applications.

What temperature can Ceramique 2 handle?

Arctic Silver rates it from -150C to 130C for long-term use, with peak operation from -150C to above 185C.