PCB Conformal Coating and Potting Services by Suntronic Inc.

PCB CONFORMAL COATING AND POTTING SERVICES

BY SUNTRONIC

WHAT IS PCB CONFORMAL COATING? • Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are part of several commercial and industrial electronic devices, and thus are exposed to different work environments. They may be subjected to environmental hazards such as chemicals, moisture, fungus, dust, as well as pressure and temperature fluctuations, and vibrations.

• All these factors may have a severe impact on PCBs and affect their performance. To avoid this, conformal coating is performed on the printed circuit board.

• Suntronic Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) specializes in a broad range of PCB conformal coating services that help protect your PCBs from a wide range of harsh environments and extend their shelf life.

ACRYLIC PCB CONFORMAL COATINGS At Suntronic Inc., we work with acrylic PCB conformal coatings. Acrylic films offer good protection from different types of contaminants. The following characteristics of these coatings make them an ideal choice for all types of PCB applications.

• Acrylic coatings are easy to apply, remove, and dry quickly.

• Their curing time is under 30 minutes, which makes them an ideal choice for rapid production.

• When applied, the coating forms a tough and durable layer over electronic components, which protects them from moisture, fungus, and corrosion.

• Acrylic conformal coatings can protect PCBs from humidity and different sources of moisture such as water sprays, rain, salt water sprays, or seawater exposure.

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ACRYLIC PCB CONFORMAL COATINGS • They have a larger shelf life than other conformal coatings.

• This coating is also known for its excellent abrasion resistance.

• This coating forms a transparent layer of electronics and is easy to repair.

• They assure the best dielectric strength, which makes them strong enough to withstand static discharge, which would otherwise impair the functioning of PCB. • Acrylic conformal coatings are more economical than many other types of coatings.

• This coating conforms to IPC-CC-830 and MIL-I-46058C standards.

• It is UV traceable, which makes it suitable for inspection purposes.

APPLICATION METHODS Our conformal coating services are well-known for accuracy and consistency. At Suntronic, we employ the different methods to apply a conformal coating over PCBs: • Manual Spraying • Automated Spraying • Dipping

APPLICATION METHOD – MANUAL SPRAYING • In this technique, the coating is applied using a handheld spray gun or an aerosol can.

• Our experts generally employ this technique for low-volume production or prototypes.

• This technique helps assure consistency and quality across all boards, where it is applied.

• It is not recommended for large volume applications because it may produce bubble-like defects on the surface of the PCB.

APPLICATION METHOD – AUTOMATED DISPENSING • An automated spray system or a programmed system is used to apply the coating.

• This spray system is positioned on a conveyor and features a spray head, which applies the coating on the PCB that comes before it.

• This system can be easily programmed for selective spraying of coatings in some areas.

• It can be used for line spraying, curve spraying, spot coating, and many more.

• Our experts generally prefer automated dispensing because it can be applied on dense and complex circuit boards.

• A system can be used to evenly coat the edges of the PCB.

APPLICATION METHOD – DIPPING • The board is dipped into a container filled with conformal coating liquid up to a certain level.

• The component is dipped horizontally, vertically, or at an angle to produce complete coverage.

• The board can be automatically or manually dipped to assure a consistent coating.

• We can make a partial or complete submersion depending upon your application requirement.

• The board is removed from the coating and excess coating is dried.

POTTING • Potting, also known as embedment, is another technique used to protect your PCB from external elements.

• In this process, the PCB is encased in a shell or pot to protect it from different elements.

• The process begins when a substrate is placed within a pot.

• A liquid compound is poured over this substrate till it is completely filled and then covered.

• The liquid compound hardens and forms a protective cover over the device.

• This liquid and pot forms the part of the device.

• Potting is generally used for high volume PCB production.

POTTING AND CONFORMAL COATING – A FEW SIMILARITIES ANALYZED • Both these techniques are employed to protect the device from external factors.

• They use similar organic polymers to accomplish the device protection goals.

• They protect the PCB from vibrations and failing in challenging environments.

• Potting and conformal coating both protect PCBs from corrosion as well as various major and minor impacts.

• They increase the electrical performance of your PCB. • Each method offers distinct advantages, and must be chosen in appropriate applications.

POTTING AND CONFORMAL COATING – ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES DISCUSSED • Both these techniques are employed to protect the device from external factors; however, they differ in terms of their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Potting • It offers protection against thermal, chemical, as well as various types of physical risks including condensation, vibrations, and shocks.

• Potting compounds are available in VOC-free options.

• Potting offers excellent performance for high-volume and high-speed work in industrial environments.

POTTING AND CONFORMAL COATING – DIFFERENCES ANALYZED Disadvantages of Potting • It is difficult to rework or inspect the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).

• It is a time consuming process due to two-part mixing and heating.

• Added thickness and weight of the potting compound may cause design issues.

• Advantages of Conformal Coating • Conformal coating offers protection from various low-level issues such as dust, moisture, salt spray, and corrosion.

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POTTING AND CONFORMAL COATING – DIFFERENCES ANALYZED Advantages of Conformal Coating • Conformal coating is applied as a thin layer and is lightweight, and these features offer excellent design flexibility.

• The coating induces no stress on PCBs. • The conformal coatings possess a long lifespan.

• Conformal coatings are available in VOC-free or low VOC options.

POTTING AND CONFORMAL COATING – DIFFERENCES ANALYZED Disadvantages of Conformal Coating • Conformal coating is not suited for applications, wherein the PCBs may be exposed to heavy duty threats.

• Some conformal coatings may contain VOCs within them, although they are becoming a rarity now.

The choice of the right technique will depend on your application requirements. Our experts will guide you through the right selection.

INDUSTRIES SERVED At Suntronic, we provide PCB conformal coating and potting services to our clients across these industries.

• Medical • Oil and Gas • Industrial Controls • Semiconductor • Military • Telecommunication • Scientific Instrumentation

WHY CHOOSE SUNTRONIC AS YOUR PCB CONFORMAL COATING AND POTTING SERVICES PARTNER? At Suntronic, we provide PCB conformal coating and potting as a part of our PCB assembly service. The following features of our services are well-appreciated by the clients.

• We offer customizable, case-to-case variations to ensure compatibility of conformal coating and potting with your application requirements right from prototypes to bulk volumes.

• Our quality control, engineering, production, and customer service teams work closely with you to deliver the best products for your needs.

• We deliver the most in-depth engineering services to our customers including guidance for product conformal coating compatibility in the design and development stages.

SUNTRONIC INC Get in Touch with Us: • Address: 1250 N. Bowser Rd, Richardson, Texas 75081 • Phone No: (972) 231-9098 • Email Id: info@suntronicinc.com • Website: https://suntronicinc.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/suntronic-incorporated/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suntronic.Incorporated/