Frequently Asked Questions about Conformal Coatings

1.

A conformal coating is a protective coating or polymer film with a thickness of 25-75µm (50µm typical) that "fits" the circuit board topology

Conformal coating is a breathable protective layer that will protect the PCA's particular environment by filtering airborne contaminants and maintaining long-term surface insulation resistance, but will also allow any trapped moisture in the board to escape

The concept of conformal coating for electronic products was originally proposed and developed through research decades ago to meet the demanding requirements of the military

2.

Conformal coatings come in a variety of forms

From a chemical standpoint, standard chemistries for conformal coatings include acrylics, urethanes, silicones, synthetic rubbers, and UV-cured acrylic urethanes

3.

• Insulation properties allow to reduce the spacing of PCB conductors

• Can help eliminate the need for complex, sophisticated enclosures

• Provides extended service life through the following means
.

1.
Protection from moisture, chemical and physical attacks

2.
Protection from thermal changes and shocks

3 Protection from vibration and mechanical shock

4.
How to apply the conformal coating?

How the conformal coating is applied largely depends
.

1.
Preferred application method

2.
Existing equipment (immersion/spray equipment, curing equipment, etc.
)
.

3.
Board design/complexity/mask requirements

4.
Desired quantity/cycle time
.