Nexus regularly examine’s an important issue in thin film coatings that is relevant to users, suppliers and distributors alike.
The articles will come from both Nexus and guest writers to offer a range of challenging view points.
Recent Articles
- NEW! How does Parylene material differ from liquid conformal coating and where to buy it
- Why use acrylic conformal coating to protect a circuit board assembly from the environment?
- Why is it harder to mask and de-mask Parylene on a circuit board assembly compared to traditional liquid conformal coatings?
- Why are polyurethane conformal coatings used for protecting electronic circuit boards and in which sectors?
- Factors to consider when setting up a conformal coating production line for printed circuit boards
- How was the Molecular vapor deposition (MVD) technology for protecting electronic circuit boards developed?
- What sectors are polyurethane conformal coatings used to protect electronic circuit boards?
- The ABCs of Parylene coating for electronic circuit boards
- Do you need UL qualification for your conformal coating?
- What is the different technique for cleaning a circuit board before conformal coating application?
- How do I selective apply my conformal coating without using masking?
- How do I spray coat my printed circuit board with conformal coating?
- The science behind fluoropolymer coatings for protecting electronic circuit boards
- Why use Parylene to protect printed circuit boards?
- How do I dip coat my circuit board with conformal coating?
- Outsourcing your conformal coating project – The key points
- How do I measure conformal coating thickness?
- Five important facts about silicone conformal coatings
- Do you need mil spec qualification for your conformal coating?
- Five important facts about polyurethane (UR) conformal coatings
- Why I have to clean my circuit board before conformal coating?
- What are conformal coating masking boots?
- Why use plasma cleaning in cleaning circuit boards?
- The science behind Molecular vapour deposition (MVD) in protecting circuit boards
- How do I brush coat my conformal coating?
- Five important facts about acrylic conformal coatings?
- What is Parylene?
- Five key facts about plasma cleaning for conformal coating processing
- What application methods are available for applying conformal coating?
- Why use conformal coating to protect a printed circuit board?
- What is Molecular Vapour Deposition (MVD)?
- What sectors are fluoropolymer coatings used?
- How do you remove Parylene completely from a printed circuit board?
- Five key facts about plasma coating on printed circuit board assemblies
- A superior coating solution for LEDs using a novel new process
- Five facts about you should know about Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)
- The ABCs of plasma cleaning and activation of printed circuit boards for conformal coating processing
- Coating LEDs with a hybrid ALD / CVD Process
- Five key facts about ultra-thin nano-coatings used in electronic protection
- Three key points you should know about conformal coating before deciding to use the material
- Three key facts you should know about conformal coating masking boots versus masking tapes
- Things you should know about Parylene
- Key points for conformal coating masking
- How can plasma treatment help my conformal coating process?
- Key cost drivers: Parylene versus liquid conformal coatings
- Where to start when selecting a conformal coating application process
- Why selecting a conformal coating can cost you a fortune!
- The critical areas of designing for conformal coating
- Molecular Vapour Deposition – Could this outperform Parylene?
- The Rise of the Hybrid Conformal Coating Process
- What is Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)?
- Staff and their affect on conformal coating production
- Conformal Coating Troubleshooting: Capillary Flow Defects
- Conformal Coating Materials and How they affect Production
- Surface Modifiers: Are they a viable solution in conformal coating Processing?
- Machines in Conformal Coating and How they affect Production
Click on the articles above or check out our list below.
New! How does Parylene material differ from liquid conformal coatings and where can you buy it?
Parylene is very different to typical liquid conformal coatings like acrylic, epoxy, silicone and polyurethane resin based materials.
When you buy Parylene it is a white powdered dimer.
This powder cannot be applied to circuit boards in its current state. The dimer requires specialist Parylene equipment that uses a Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) process. That is the dimer is placed inside the machine, a vacuum created and the dimer is then transformed to a gas vapour by being heated up.
Click here to read more about Parylene
Why use acrylic conformal coatings to protect a circuit board assembly from the environment?
There are many reasons for an acrylic conformal coating being the most popular protective film for electronic circuit boards in the world.
Acrylic conformal coatings have the following features:
- Acrylic coatings provide an excellent barrier to moisture and humidity providing one of the highest levels of protection possible
- They are one of the lowest cost coatings to purchase
- They have minimal chemical resistance making it ideal for reworking and removal
Click here to learn more
Why is it harder to mask and de-mask Parylene on a circuit board assembly compared to traditional liquid conformal coatings?
There are four key reasons why Parylene masking and de-masking is more difficult compared to liquid conformal coatings.
These are:
- Parylene is a vapour. When you are masking against a gas rather than a liquid then there is more of a challenge. So you need to provide a much better barrier with the masking process compared to the liquid coatings.
- Parylene is immersion. Most liquid conformal coatings are sprayed and so the capillary is less compared to immersion in a limitless supply of materials.
Click here to read more
Why are polyurethane conformal coatings used for protecting electronic circuit boards and in which sectors?
The majority of conformal coatings used in the world to protect electronic circuit boards are made from organic based resins.
These organic conformal coatings can be further subdivided into resin types.
Click here to read more about polyurethane conformal coating
Factors to consider when setting up a conformal coating production line for printed circuit boards
The conformal coating production line, whether it is an operator manually brush coating printed circuit boards (PCBs) or an inline robotic spray coating process is typically made up of several stages.
Click here to continue reading about Factors to consider when setting up a conformal coating production line for printed circuit boards
How was the Molecular vapor deposition (MVD) technology for protecting electronic circuit boards developed?
Nexus has been examining Molecular Vapor Deposition (MVD), a new novel coating technique that may be able to offer superior protection to electronic circuit boards compared to the standard coating technologies like conformal coatings and Parylene.
The MVD process is a hybrid ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) / CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) technique that uses multiple layers of ultra-thin coatings with differing properties to build a completely protective coating.
What sectors are polyurethane conformal coatings used to protect electronic circuit boards?
Polyurethane conformal coatings are used in nearly all sectors where electronic circuit boards are used.
The ABCs of Parylene coating for electronic circuit boards
Parylene is a conformal coating that can be applied to electronic circuit board assemblies that is deposited as a gas in a vacuum chamber.
It is a completely different process to the normal liquid conformal coatings that are applied by alternative methods such as dip, brush and spray.
This difference means Parylene offer advantages and disadvantages in comparison.
Click to read more about the ABCs of Parylene coating for electronic circuit boards
Do you need UL qualification for your conformal coating?
What is UL and how does it relate to conformal coating?
UL stands for Underwriter Laboratories. They are a global safety certification body for consumer electronics.
When a conformal coating states that it has a UL qualification, it means that the material has been independently tested by UL in one of their laboratories and passed a particular standard.
UL carry out the testing. It is independent. There is no self-certification available.
UL qualified conformal coatings are used in all areas of electronics protection including aerospace, industrial controls, automotive and telecommunication sectors.
Click link to learn more about UL qualification for confomal coating
What are the different techniques for cleaning a circuit board before conformal coating application?
Cleaning circuit boards before conformal coating is a huge topic by itself. This is because cleaning circuit boards can be challenging.
However, successful cleaning of electronic circuits can be achieved by a variety of techniques.
The main methods of cleaning can include:
• Aqueous wash
• Semi-aqueous wash
• Solvent & chemical wash
• Plasma cleaning
The key to success in cleaning circuit boards is similar to the success made with conformal coating. You need to match the cleaning process, the cleaning materials and the circuit board together.
If you do this then this will give you the best results for cleaning the circuit board assembly.
Click to read more about the different techniques for cleaning a circuit board before conformal coating application
How do I selective apply my conformal coating without masking?
Selective spraying of conformal coating using an automated robot system is one of the widest used application methods in high volume processing.
The principle is that the conformal coating is applied selectively by a small spray gun to the circuit board to the areas requiring coating only.
The selective process deliberately does not apply the conformal coating to areas that normally require masking such as connectors and other components.
This selective application of the conformal coating to the circuit board can avoid using a time consuming masking process and costs can normally be reduced.
How do I spray coat my printed circuit board with conformal coating?
Batch spraying of conformal coating on printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA) is one of the most widely used techniques in low and medium volume production processing.
Typically, using either a compressed air spray gun or an aerosol, the conformal coating is sprayed across the whole of the circuit board to provide the protection it requires.
The batch spray process can produce a high quality conformal coating finish that gives the best protection due to good tip edge coverage of components.
The science behind fluoropolymer coatings for protecting electronic circuit boards
Recently, fluoropolymer coatings are being used more often to protect printed circuit board assemblies. This is because they have very specialized properties that are very different to traditional conformal coatings and these properties are being utilized highly effectively.
To understand these properties you have to understand what a fluoropolymer coating is made of.
Typically, the coating is comprised of fluorocarbons and characterized by carbon-fluorine bonds.
Why use Parylene to protect printed circuit boards?
Parylene is a conformal coating film that is applied using a specialised vapour deposition application process.
This means it is very different to all of the other liquid conformal coatings available on the market
How do I dip coat my circuit board with conformal coating?
Dip coating is a traditional conformal coating application method that has been used to conformal coat circuit boards for a very long time.
The printed circuit board (PCB) is dipped into a tank of conformal coating liquid. This can be complete submersion or partial dip.
The board can be dipped vertically, horizontally or at another angle. The board can be dipped manually or automatically.
The board is removed from the coating and the excess conformal coating drains away.
NEW! Outsourcing your conformal coating project – The key points
So, you are considering outsourcing your conformal coating or Parylene process to a subcontract supplier.
What’s the next step?
Assuming you have decided this is the right choice then the next task is to choose the right service provider.
This can be as difficult as selecting the right PCB manufacturer or laminate provider. There are good contractors and there are others. There are small providers and there are large-scale turnkey solutions.
The obvious answer is “the right one for me” but how do you ensure that you make the right decision?
How do I measure conformal coating thickness?
May 30, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
Measuring the exact thickness of your conformal coating across the whole of a circuit board is not simple.
In fact, due to the geometry of the components and the fact that the coating is measured in microns, it makes this task almost impossible.
However, what you can do is measured the thickness of the conformal coating in a few key places and use the thickness information found to infer how the coating coverage is for the rest of the board.
This is how nearly all companies measure conformal coating thickness.
To read more, click here about how to measure conformal coating thickness.
Five important facts about silicone conformal coatings
May 25, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
- Silicone (SR) conformal coatings are inorganic materials. They are polymers in which atoms of silicon and oxygen alternate in a chain. They differ to the organic polymers like the acrylics and urethanes.
- The silicone coatings normally have a very wide temperature range of operation compared to the other conformal coatings. Typical range can be -55°C to +200°C (-67°F to +392°F). Like the organic coatings (acrylics and urethanes) they have good moisture protection. They also have good chemical resistance to polar solvents.
Click to learn more about the five important facts about silicone conformal coatings
Do you need mil spec qualification for your conformal coating?
May 23, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
The Mil Standard (MIL-I-46058C) is a US military conformal coating standard.
It has been inactive for new designs since November 1998.
However, the standard is still widely used for independent certification of conformal coatings.
This means that an independent test house will test the conformal coating. It is not self-certified.
Click to learn more about mil spec qualification for your conformal coating
Five important facts about polyurethane (UR) conformal coatings
May 18, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
There are five important facts about polyurethane (UR) conformal coatings.
One is polyurethane (UR) conformal coatings generally provide good humidity & moisture protection although not always as good as the acrylics. However, it normally is enough to protect the circuit board.
Click to learn more about polyurethane conformal coatings
Why I have to clean my circuit board before conformal coating?
May 16, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
The cleaning of a printed circuit board (PCB) before conformal coating application is normally done for two key reasons:
These are:
- Contamination removal
- Process improvement
They have different effects on the lifetime of the circuit board but can be equally important.
Click to learn more about how to clean circuit board before conformal coating
What are conformal coating masking boots?
May 11, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
Masking boots are formed shapes used to cover components before conformal coating.
They are made to replace tape and dots in the conformal coating masking process for both Parylene and liquid conformal coating processes.
Using masking boots in protecting printed circuit boards (PCBs) from conformal coating application errors can be a lower cost, more reliable solution to using tapes.
Click here to learn more about Conformal coating masking boots
Why use plasma cleaning for cleaning circuit boards?
May 9, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
Normally, conformal coatings must exhibit good adhesion to the PCB in order to be effective in the long term in protecting the circuit.
Therefore, the surface properties of the circuit board can be critical to the success of the coating adhesion.
Cleaning of circuit boards before conformal coating has taken place for many years.
Click here to read more about “Why use plasma cleaning for cleaning circuit boards?”
The science behind Molecular vapour deposition (MVD) in protecting circuit boards
The science behind Molecular vapour deposition (MVD) in protecting circuit boards
May 4, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
Nexus has been examining the new, novel technique (MVD).
This may be a coating that offers superior protection for electronic circuit boards compared to the standard coating methods like conformal coatings and Parylene but also actually be cost-effective.
The final MVD coating built up is much thinner than the other traditional coatings including Parylene.
However, its protective performance has been found to be superior to them all in most categories of testing so far.
Key performance indicators like Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR), optical clarity, temperature resistance and hydrophobicity have been found to be much better than the other coatings.
Further, the really exciting part about this technology is the cost of processing that is extremely low.
Need to find out more about MVD and protecting circuit boards? Click here.
How do I brush coat my conformal coating?
May 2, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
The application of a conformal coating using a brush to “paint” on the material to the circuit board is a common practice all over the world.
Generally, it is done as a final touch up process after the main application method is used.
However, it can also be done in mainstream production.
Five important facts about acrylic conformal coatings?
April 27, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
The majority of conformal coatings used in the world are organic coatings. The acrylic conformal coatings are part of that group.
Here are five reasons to use acrylic conformal coatings:
- Acrylic conformal coatings have excellent humidity resistance. This is the number one use for using an acrylic conformal coating.
- Solvent based acrylic conformal coatings are one of the easiest materials to apply to printed circuit boards. They are easily applied using every method including spraying, dipping and brushing.
What is Parylene?
April 25, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
Parylene is the trade name for a variety of chemical vapor deposited poly (p-xylylene) polymers used as moisture and dielectric barriers.
Although Parylene is a conformal coating it is different compared to the standard “wet” liquid conformal coatings in that it is deposited as a gas in a vacuum chamber and it is a dry process.
Five key facts about plasma cleaning for conformal coating processing
April 21, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
- Plasma cleaning can clean surfaces of the circuit board 100% to improve adhesion and surface energy of the product. Generally, conformal coatings must exhibit good adhesion in order to be effective.
- There is no single theory that describes the property of adhesion for coatings. There are several basic mechanisms for coatings that are known to define good adhesion. They are adsorption, chemical bonding, and mechanical interlocking
What application methods are available for applying conformal coating?
April 18, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
Conformal coatings can be applied to printed circuit boards (PCBs) in the production process environment in many different ways.
Listed below are the common methods of applying conformal coating materials:
Why use conformal coatings to protect a printed circuit board?
April 13, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
There are a lot of different reasons for using a conformal coating material or Parylene to protect a printed circuit board (PCB).
These reasons can include:
- Barrier protection
- High insulation protection
- High moisture and humidity protection
- Chemical and temperature resistance
- Ruggedising
- Improve dielectric properties
What is Molecular Vapour Deposition (MVD)?
April 11, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
Nexus has been examining a novel coating technique that may be able to meet all of the environmental demands for circuit board protection and actually be cost-effective.
This process is Molecular Vapour Deposition (MVD) and is brand new to the electronics coating market.
What sectors are fluoropolymer coatings used?
April 6, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens, NEXUS
I am regularly asked where fluoropolymer coatings are used? After all they are a relatively new coating type in the world of conformal coatings and printed circuit boards.
Well to be honest, fluorinated coatings are used in almost all industrial sectors.
How do you remove Parylene completely from a printed circuit board?
April 4, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens, NEXUS
Parylene is the trade name for a variety of chemical vapor deposited poly (p-xylylene) polymers used as moisture and dielectric barriers.
Although Parylene is a conformal coating it is different compared to the standard “wet” liquid conformal coatings in that it is deposited as a gas in a vacuum chamber and it is a dry process.
Five key facts about plasma coating on printed circuit board assemblies
March 23, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens, NEXUS
Plasma coating can be used for the application of a Nano-coating material onto a surface of a substrate like a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).
You can change the wetting energy of the PCBA surface to highly hydrophobic (water repellent) by applying a Nano-coating via the plasma.
A superior coating solution for LEDs using a novel new process
March 2017
Author: Dr Lee Hitchens
Why protecting LEDs with a coating is a challenge
Protecting LEDs with a protective coating is big business. The volume of manufactured LEDs globally is growing at an exponential rate and there is no end in sight.
However, the challenges to protect the LEDs themselves with the right coating are not insignificant especially in an outdoor environment.
Although there are many issues in protecting LEDS there are two key problems that really must be considered when selecting a coating.
Five key facts you should know about Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)
March 21, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens
ALD belongs to the family of chemical vapor deposition methods (CVD). It was initially developed for manufacturing nano-laminate insulators and zinc sulfide phosphor films for thin film electroluminescent displays. The unique properties of the coatings, together with the high repeatability, were the main factors leading to successful industrial production.
The ABCs of plasma cleaning and activation of printed circuit boards for conformal coating processing
March 17, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens, NEXUS
Plasma cleaning and surface activation of circuit boards is a process that is gaining more popularity in thin film applications like conformal coating due its highly effective performance on cleaning and modifying surfaces.
The reason for the increase in popularity is for two main reasons.
First, a clean circuit board surface improves the performance of the coating by ensuring no residues are present to harm the circuit in the long term.
Second, the activation of the surface can enhance the adhesion of the conformal coating.
Coating LEDs with a hybrid ALD/CVD process
March 14, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens, NEXUS
Coating LEDs to protect them is big business. The volume of manufactured LEDs globally is growing at an exponential rate and there is no end in sight.
However, the challenges to protect them are not small especially in an outdoor environment.
The LED circuits are placed in exposed areas and subjected to the full force of the elements. Then they are expected to survive for long periods of time.
Further, the protection placed on the circuits must not affect the light output of the LED (the lux) or cause heating problems due to thermal demands.
Five key facts about ultra-thin, nano- coatings used in electronics protection
March 14, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens, NEXUS
1. Water repelling (hydrophobic) Properties – An ultra-thin coating is normally hydrophobic. This is because it is normally a fluoropolymer technology. The coating does not allow the water to wet on the on the surface of the coating. It modifies the surface and changes its dyne energy. A typical conformal coating like an acrylic or polyurethane is not water repellent and water wets the surface.
Three key points you should know about conformal coating before deciding to use the material
March 7, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens, NEXUS
What is a conformal coating?
A conformal coating is a transparent varnish or paint applied to circuit boards to provide a protective film against the environment.
The coating is a thin, protective film that literally conforms to the surface of a circuit board assembly.
Applying a conformal coating may protect a printed circuit board from damage due to contamination, salt spray, moisture, water, heat, chemicals, fungus, dust and corrosion caused by harsh or extreme environments.
Three key facts you should know about conformal coating masking boots versus masking tapes
March 2, 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens, NEXUS
A conformal coating is an insulating material applied to circuit boards to protect them from the environment. However, the coating will generally damage components like connectors if allowed to get inside onto connections.
Conformal coating masking materials like tapes and boots can be used to prevent the coating penetrating into the components.
Masking tapes are wrapped around components to shield them. Masking boots are placed over components such as connectors, plugs and sockets that require protection from the conformal coating applied. Both methods can protect both simple and complex parts and components.
Things you should know about Parylene
January 2017
Author: Dr. Lee Hitchens, NEXUS
What is Parylene?
Parylene is a conformal coating that is deposited as a gas in a vacuum chamber.
It is a completely different process to the liquid conformal coatings and its properties offer advantages and disadvantages in comparison.
Parylene is a dry process compared to the standard “wet” liquid conformal coatings.
Key cost drivers: Parylene versus liquid conformal coatings
July 2016
Guest Author: Warren Boomer, Thin Film Partners
We all realize some conformal coatings like Parylene are considered high-performance solutions. The material has been in continuous use for at least 60 years and we’ve come to accept it as a superior alternative to the liquid conformal coatings.
Over the years, I’ve learned that micron-for-micron it exceeds most of the capabilities of the liquid chemistries. In almost every metric it surpasses acrylic, epoxy, urethane and silicone resins in performance.
However, in addition to better barrier protection, what sets it apart from the rest is price.
NEW Where to start when selecting a conformal coating application process
July 2016
Author: Dr Lee Hitchens, Nexus
Choosing a process for coating your circuit boards may seem simple. But, choosing the wrong process can cost a lot of money and is easy to do.
There are at least 6 different standard methods for applying coatings. This doesn’t include the specialised processes either.
Understanding which technique is the right one for your circuit board, process and company can make a huge difference to the bottom line.
Read more here.
Why selecting a conformal coating can cost you a fortune!
June 2016
Author: Dr Lee Hitchens, Nexus
Choosing a coating to protect your product should be easy. So, why does it go wrong so often?
Find out why and how to stop it happening.
The critical areas of designing for conformal coating
June 2016
Author: Dr Lee Hitchens, Nexus
Are these phrases familiar on the conformal coating production line to you?
“Who designed this process?”, “This is impossible. We can’t meet their requirements”, “How did they decide to coat this board this way?”
If so read on and prevent it happening to you.
Is molecular vapour deposition a possible replacement for Parylene and conformal coatings?
May 2016
Author: Dr Lee Hitchens, Nexus
There are many new coatings that could potentially be alternatives to the traditional liquid and Parylene materials that are currently used around the world.
Molecular Vapour Deposition (MVD) is one of these new coatings.
The Rise of the Hybrid Conformal Coating Process
April 2016
Author: Dr Lee Hitchens, Nexus
The use of a conformal coating to protect circuit boards is a well documented technique and have been used for many years.
recently, the new nano coatings (ultra thin fluoropolymer based materials) are being investigated to be included in the IPC test methods.
Nexus takes a look at the opportunities of combining the two coatings – A hybrid conformal coating process.
What is Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)?
April 2016
Author: Dr Lee Hitchens, Nexus
ALD is a mature coating depositing nanometer thick films through a chemical vapour deposition process.
It deposits extremely conformal, pinhole free material. But what are the advantages and disadvantaged of this material.
Nexus reviews the material as a thin film technology.
Staff and their affect on conformal coating production
How do staff interaction with the production process and affect the results?
When considering staff we are talking about everyone involved in the process. That is operators, technicians, supervisors and process engineers.
For staff then there are three key areas.
These can be considered as training, operation and troubleshooting.
Nexus takes a look at each of the areas individually.
Conformal coating troubleshooting: capillary flow defects
Capillary flow (or scavenging) in the conformal coating process is where the material pulls (runs) away from certain areas of the board.
This leaves areas of thick and thin coating.
Conformal coating materials and how they affect production
How does the coating material itself influence the quality of the conformal coating production process.
In fact, there are many ways that the coating interacts with the process and understanding these factors will help improve your process.
Surface modifiers: Are they a viable solution in conformal coating processing?
The next generation of fluorochemical “thin film” polymner coatings that have been entering the conformal coating market in the last few years are making traction in the Electronics Industry as a potential alternative to traditional conformal coatings.
Nexus take a look at what they actually do and the pro’s and con’s of these materials versus traditional coatings and where and when you could use them and rely on them to give you the right type of protection.
Machines in conformal coating and how they affect production
Nexus has highlighted six critical areas that affect coating production and reduce performance on the line.
These are the machines, materials, staff, process control, upstream processes and customer requirements.
The first critical area are the machines themselves.
Choosing a conformal coating material and avoid production problems
Selecting a conformal coating material is a complicated and involved process usually balancing a number of tradeoffs and compromises.
This is because there is no such thing as a universally applicable conformal coating.
Follow these guidelines in your conformal coating production process and you will remove or minimise most of your problems immediately.
Choosing the right valve for a selective robotic conformal coating application process.
Guest Publication by SCH Technologies
When choosing a robot selective coating system you need to consider the right system and valve combination for the material and circuit board combination.
This is the final stage in ensuring that the right tools are there to allow the process engineers to set up the right process and the technicians can operate a successful conformal coating process.