I have been asked to apply a really thick layer of conformal coating to my printed circuit board. What are the problems with this approach?
Applying conformal coating really thick is not a good idea especially if you exceed the recommended thickness from the manufacture.
There are several reasons for this but the two key ones are:
- Applying a thick coating can cause long-term reliability issues. This is because the conformal coating can crack and craze in the long-term. It can also possibly cause damage to the PCB due to Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) mismatch between components and the coating.
- Defects like bubbles can occur when applying really thick conformal coating layers.
If in doubt, more is not better. Conformal coatings are not designed as encapsulates and potting compounds. The IPC and mil spec recommend certain thicknesses such as 30-150um for acrylics. It’s a good idea to keep within these tolerances and use conformal coating thickness measurement systems to check.
For further information on Coating Thickness application issues or other areas please contact us here at +44 1226 249019 or email sales@schservices.com
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Are the Conformal Coating Masking Boots ESD safe?
The short answer is no for our standard boots! The good news is we can make the same boots in ESD safe material for you.
Click conformal coating masking boots FAQs for further questions or conformal coating masking boots for general information.
Or, contact us here at +44 1226 249019 or email sales@schservices.com
Conformal Coating Masking Boots FREE TRIAL
SCH has worked hard to develop conformal coating masking boots at an affordable price. We now find that
- We can reduce the costs of the conformal coating masking process by as much as 80%
- Reduce the number of errors in processing by making the masking job much easier and reducing problems like leaking tape is a thing of the past
- Reduce the time for masking and de-masking by as much as 80% by simplifying the process
Don’t believe us?
We are happy to provide a free trial of our masking boots so you can test it for yourself. We can then work out your Return on Investment. All we ask is you pay for the carriage of the parts and we will refund this cost against an order if successful.
Can I horizontally dip my printed circuit board in conformal coating and achieve a good finish?
Dipping PCBs in conformal coating
The answer is yes.
In fact we can dip your PCBs at any angle you choose. The key is control of the dipping depth and being able to hold the PCB. If we can achieve both successfully then it is perfectly possible to horizontally dip PCBs using automated batch dip coating machines such as the DS101 dip system.
There are many factors to consider such as the size of the board, the depth of dipping allowed, the type of conformal coating to be used, how to hold the PCB and the masking & components on the board that must be considered.
However, SCH regularly use this technique to minimise costs for customers. We can develop the fixtures to support the PCBs as well as design for multiple dipping of the boards.
Click conformal coating dip system FAQs for further questions
Try our different conformal coating dip system pages to see if they meet your needs:
- Bench top conformal coating dip system
- Floor standing conformal coating dip system
- Inline conformal coating dip system
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I would like to order some conformal coating masking boots. What do I do?
Conformal Coating Masking Boots on a circuit board before coating
There are two realistic options for getting accurate quotes and designs made for custom boots.
These are:
- Supply a sample of the PCB along with a masking diagram so that we know what needs masking.
- Supply photos of the PCB along with exact dimensions of the components or the component codes . You can get this from the component supplier.
With this information we will then check against stock and quote you a price. Please remember we want to get this right so we cannot guess. We will make the boots to a very high tolerance and need to get the measurements correct.
Click conformal coating masking boots FAQs for further questions or conformal coating masking boots for general information.
Or, contact us here at +44 1226 249019 or email sales@schservices.com
Conformal Coating Masking Boots FREE TRIAL
SCH has worked hard to develop conformal coating masking boots at an affordable price.We now find that
- We can reduce the costs of the conformal coating masking process by as much as 80%
- Reduce the number of errors in processing by making the masking job much easier and reducing problems like leaking tape I thing of the past
- Reduce the time for masking and de-masking by as much as 80% by simplifying the process
Don’t believe us?
We are happy to provide a free trial of our masking boots so you can test it for yourself. We can then work out your Return on Investment. All we ask is you pay for the carriage of the parts and we will refund this cost against an order if successful.
Click Conformal Coating Masking Boots FREE TRIAL and try the boots today.
Dont know where to start in Conformal Coating? then start here….
Conformal coating processing can be tricky and confusing. It can also take a lot of time to process. We know as our website has over 500 pages of information to digest!
So, we have created a start-up page that allows people who don’t quite know where to go first the chance to review a few points and then find the right information quickly. After all, navigating through a complex topic like conformal coating can be daunting.
Don’t let it be!
Click Start Here for Conformal coating and make life easier.
Want help in Selecting a Conformal Coating Material. Then use our New Technical Bulletin
Choosing the right conformal coating material for your process can be difficult. You need to consider several factors which if you are lucky will all add up to at least one material choice. If not, then compromises are required.
Factors to be considered are:
- Temperature Operating Range
- International, Customer or National Standards
- Environmental Considerations
- Chemical Resistance
- Requirement to Rework the Conformal Coating
- Application Process Considerations
- Curing the conformal coating
- National, State, Regional Legislation and Insurance
- Supplier Performance
- Price
Each of these factors is examined briefly in our new Technical Bulletin How Select a Conformal Coating Material. It is written to allow an insight into the complexity of selecting a conformal coating material and gives you everything you need to ask to ensure you get it right.
Click Technical Bulletin How Select a Conformal Coating Material to download the PDF to understand what we can offer you.
Or, contact us here at +44 1226 249019 or email sales@schservices.com
What information do I need to provide to get a conformal coating quotation for subcontract service?
When deciding to look at outsourcing your conformal coating process there are fundamental questions you need to answer and information to be provided to allow us to provide an accurate quote.
Questions to be answered include:
- Do you require the circuit boards to be cleaned or is this a no clean process?
- What are your expected volumes of PCBs to be processed?
- What turnaround time do you require on the service?
- What conformal coating material do you want applied?
- Do you have photos and /or masking drawings of the PCBs?
- How big are the PCBs for costing purposes?
- Do you have a particular coating process you prefer to be used?
- Do you have any masking requirements before coating application?
- What conformal coating standards do you require the PCBs to be inspected to?
- Are there any materials on the PCB such as silicone RTV that can cause problems when processing?
- Are there any special requirements?
These are the basic questions and each of them will lead to further questions. As with many projects, many answers are unknown and SCH can help develop the conformal coating process with you.
Take a look at our conformal coating services introduction to understand what we can offer you.
Or, contact us here at +44 1226 249019 or email sales@schservices.com
Ten Reasons to use Parylene Conformal Coatings on your Circuit Boards
- Parylene coatings are completely conformal to the surface of the PCB. This means that they have a uniform thickness and are pinhole free. As a result, component configurations with sharp edges, points, flat surfaces, crevices or exposed internal surfaces are coated uniformly without voids. This provides the best protection possible, can make the circuit board “waterproof” and is impossible to achieve with liquid conformal coatings.
- Parylene coatings are chemically and biologically inert and stable and make excellent barrier materials.
- Parylene conformal coating has excellent electrical properties: low dielectric constant and loss with good high-frequency properties; good dielectric strength; and high bulk and surface resistance.
- Parylene is completely transparent and can be used to coat optical elements like LEDs without changing the properties of the device.
- Parylene complies with USP Class VI Plastics requirements
- Parylene conformal coating is both MIL-I- 46058C and IPC-CC-830B listed.
- Parylene has achieved FDA approval of when used on devices and is well-documented.
- Parylene has good thermal endurance: Parylene C performs in air without significant loss of physical properties for 10 years at 80°C and in the absence of oxygen to temperatures in excess of 200°C
- Parylene coating completely penetrates spaces as narrow 0.01mm (10 microns)giving you a complete coverage of a circuit board.
- Parylene is unique in being created directly on the surface at room temperature. Room temperature formation means the conformal coating and the parts are effectively stress-free.
For further information on Parylene Coatings click
- Why use Parylene Conformal Coating to protect my electronic circuit board
- Parylene and Liquid Global Conformal Coating Services
- Parylene Coating Equipment
- Parylene Application Process
Or, contact us here at +44 1226 249019 or email sales@schservices.com
Do I need ESD Masking Boots for my Conformal Coating Process
ESD protection issues in any electronic manufacturing process are very important. After all, there is little point applying conformal coating if the printed circuit board is damaged by electrostatic discharge in the process.
However, like all considerations in ESD its a matter of balance and a return on your investment. SCH make a range of ESD safe masking boots including custom designs. But, they cost more than the standard boots due to the more expensive resin requirements. So, if you can justify the costs versus the potential risk of ESD damage then we can supply the boots to meet your needs.
Conformal Coating Masking Boots on a circuit board before coating
SCH has worked hard to develop conformal coating masking boots at an affordable price.
We now find that
- We can reduce the costs of the conformal coating masking process by as much as 80%
- Reduce the number of errors in processing by making the masking job much easier and reducing problems like leaking
- Reduce the time for masking and de-masking by as much as 80% by simplifying the process
Don’t believe us?
We are happy to provide a free trial of our masking boots so you can test it for yourself. We can then work out your Return on Investment. All we ask is you pay for the carriage of the parts and we will refund this cost against an order if successful.
For further information on our range of Conformal Coating Masking Materials click
Or, contact us here at +44 1226 249019 or email sales@schservices.com
Six Reasons to use Acrylic conformal coating to protect your circuit boards
- Acrylic conformal coating materials provide a protective non conductive dielectric layer that is applied onto the printed circuit board assembly to protect the electronic assembly from damage due to moisture.
- They reduce fungus growth on the circuit board in the long-term.
- They prevent dust, contamination and any foreign debris falling onto the unprotected surface. This, stops corrosion occurring in harsh or extreme environments.
- Conformal coating also can prevent damage from rough handling during installation and the lifetime of the product
- There is some evidence that the conformal coating can aid in the reduction of mechanical and thermal stresses on the components and circuit board itself during service.
- The coating can help to increase the dielectric strength between conductors enabling the design of the PCB to be more compact and small.
Click Why use conformal coating to protect my electronic circuit board for further information on this topic or review our Acrylic Conformal Coatings from MG Chemicals.
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Conformal Coating 