NEW Humiseal Databook for facts & figures on Conformal coat processing

Download the Humiseal databook for free from SCH’s website. This 30 page book provides tips on conformal coating processing, material selection, cleaning and reliability and equipment.

Click here to find the Humiseal Conformal Coating Handbook in SCH’s Technical Library.

Aeroqual solvent monitoring removes headache from Conformal coating process

Monitoring solvents with the Aeroqual range of Exposure Monitors affords early detection of the presence of unwanted and harmful solvent emissions in the workplace such as conformal coating fumes.

A range of options is available, to suit every requirement, from single workstation to multiple lines. SCH can offer help and support in ensuring you meet your health & safety obligations when using solvent based conformal coatings.

Solvent Exposure Monitoring and Testing

Aeroqual manufactures a wide variety of application specific gas sensors and sensor modules. These are all designed for use in ambient air and are capable of measuring a range of different gases.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Detection

The sensor can be used for a wide variety of volatile organic compounds including solventsand gases from conformal coatings with particular sensitivity toward oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds.

Click here for Aeroqual details.

 

Spray Conformal Coating successfully

Spraying Conformal Coating

SCH provide Technical Bulletins, training and FAQs on the full range of issues regarding conformal coating spraying.

The FAQs target issues such as how to spray PCBs with coating without ruining the board being spraying onto meeting ESD requirements and How to set up a conformal coating spray facility?

SCH also have a dedicated training room where techniques for conformal coating spraying can be taught.

Using this facility candidates get complete hands-on experience with the systems and processes without disturbance to production with a full range of systems available to ensure the best learning environment.

Conformal coating systems in the training facility include UV conformal coating curing, conformal coating dip, conformal coating spraying, manual conformal coating inspection and the new ACCIS Automated Conformal Coating Inspection System. Further, processes such as viscosity measurement, masking, de-masking, coating thickness measurement and solvent exposure monitoring can all be undertaken to give the maximum experience to the candidate.

Conformal coating spray application is one of the widest used methods in the electronics industry. Methods include conformal coating aerosols, spray booths and selective spray robots.

Conformal Coating Aerosols are suitable for very low volume application where invsetment in equipment is prohibitve. Conformal Coating Spray booths become economic when volume use of aerosols reach > 10 aerosols per month giving a return on investment relatively quickly. Selective spray robots may become cost effective where volume is high and detailed and compelx masking is required.

 Click for further information.

Solvent monitoring of Conformal coating

The SEA range of Exposure Monitors for providing early detection of the presence of unwanted and harmful solvent emissions in the workplace such as conformal coating fumes.

A range of options is available, to suit every requirement, from single workstation to multiple lines. SCH can offer help and support in ensuring you meet your health & safety obligations when using solvent based conformal coatings.

Solvent Exposure Monitoring and Testing

Aeroqual manufactures a wide variety of application specific gas sensors and sensor modules. These are all designed for use in ambient air and are capable of measuring a range of different gases.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Detection

The sensor can be used for a wide variety of volatile organic compounds including solventsand gases from conformal coatings with particular sensitivity toward oxygenated hydrocarbon compounds.

Aeroqual Technology

Aeroqual uses an exclusive Gas Sensitive Semi-conductor (GSS) sensor technology that provides a quick response, long life, wide operating temperatures and excellent sensitivity.

Click for further info on Aeroqual.

Subcontract Conformal Coating – The conformal coating service second to none

SCH Technologies Ltd is the UK’s leading subcontract Conformal Coating service provider.

SCH Services offers you a highly competitive alternative to in-house conformal coating processing with a proven track record as a conformal coating subcontractor. Utilising all methods of conformal coating application including semi automated conformal coating dipping, conformal coating batch spraying, Certonal dip coating and selective / robotic conformal coating

SCH use a range of conformal coating materials including Humiseal, Certonal, Dow Corning, Electrolube & Peters. All conformal coating materials are applied to customers required specifications.

Click for further information on the conformal coating service.

Removing Conformal coating from PCBs -stripping successfully!

Removing & stripping conformal coating materials like Humiseals acrylic’s 1B31 & 1R32 and polyurethane’s 1A33 is made easy using the WS100 Wet Stripping System.

 Removal of unwanted conformal coating from a PCB can be a simple process but depends on what conformal coat is to be removed or stripped from the PCB, the area of c0nformal coating to be removed on the PCB, where the conformal coating is and the type of components on the board.

Removal of unwanted conformal coating from a PCB can be a simple process or a very messy difficult job. It depends on what coating you need to remove, where the coating is and the type of components on the board.

 

The simplest coatings to remove are the acrylics. They have little chemical resistance and therefore are the easiest to remove with stripping fluids like Humiseal’s 1080. These coatings generally re-dissolve back into solution so a combination of soaking and gentle mechanical abrasion works well.

 

The simplest process for local area rework around a device for instance is a cotton bud soaked in stripping fluid and then rubbed gently across the area to be removed which will dissolve the coating. If the coating is fresh, it comes off in a matter of seconds whereas if the coating is old, having been coated many years ago, then it could take a little longer and patience is required!

 

If the area to be removed is larger or the whole board is to be stripped then submersion in a tank correctly selected stripping fluid and abrasion using a soft bristle brush will also dissolve the coatings. A word of warning must be given here. First, when submerging in a stripping material check there are no compatibility issues with the PCB. Stripping fluid could attack components and or writing on the boards occasionally although for acrylic coatings the 1080 stripper is not too aggressive.

 

The other issue that can be a major headache with full stripping of a board is that because the coating re-dissolves into the stripper, there will now be coating residue all over the PCB even where you didn’t want it. This can be a real problem with certain components such as low profile connectors! To remove these residues you will need several tanks of stripping fluid and the PCB will need to be fully rinsed in each, gradually flushing the residue out of the wrong areas. Once completed the PCB should then be cleaned in a cleaning system to remove any unwanted ionics.

 

These two processes also work for coatings such as polyurethanes and silicones although since they have chemical resistance they are tougher to remove. Correct stripping solution selection is critical and this is why Humiseal have several stripping products including 1063 for polyurethanes.

Click for further information on conformal coating removal.

Subcontract Conformal Coating Service – PCBs conformally coated for you

SCH Technologies Ltd is the UK’s leading subcontract Conformal Coating service provider.

SCH Services offers you a highly competitive alternative to in-house conformal coating processing with a proven track record as a conformal coating subcontractor. Utilising all methods of conformal coating application including semi automated conformal coating dipping, conformal coating batch spraying, Certonal dip coating and selective / robotic conformal coating

SCH use a range of conformal coating materials including Humiseal, Certonal, Dow Corning, Electrolube & Peters. All conformal coating materials are applied to customers required specifications.

Click for further information.