What Is PCB Assembly Conformal Coating？
PCBA Conformal Coating refers to the coating process, such as applying conformal coating on printed circuit board surfaces with a relatively thin thickness of 50um~90um. PCB Potting involves PCB Plotting, such as filling a plastic box containing a PCB Assembly with resin to seal the PCB and its components. Potting primarily focuses on filling, while Coating is mainly for surface application
What Is PCB Potting？
PCB potting and PCB Plotting is a process that involves filling liquid potting materials (such as epoxy resin, polyurethane, silicone, etc.) into the housing or specific areas of PCB assembly containing electronic components and circuits, allowing them to cure and form a protective PCB Plotting layer. Its primary purpose is to enhance the reliability, protection, and long-term stability of PCB assembly.
PCB Potting, the material used for gluing was dark, and occasional bubbles may not be visible. Now, when making a product, transparent glue is used, making it easier to detect bubbles Vacuum pumping and other methods are used, but bubbles cannot be avoided
Note that the temperature of the PCB Assembly before the can glue should be roughly consistent with the temperature of the glue
Generally, PCBs that require sealing need to be heated in a drying oven (at 50 ℃ for about 5 minutes) first
Another phenomenon where bubbles appear is due to the residue of FLUX.
PCB baking is to completely evaporate the surface moisture
The temperature of the glue is usually 45 ℃ (of course, this is my previous experience in making washing machine boards)
Natural air drying takes 4-8 hours, depending on the type of glue
What is the difference between PCB Plotting and Conformal Coating?
Although both PCB Plotting and conformal coating can protect PCBs, their purposes are also different. PCB Assembly conformal coating is a thin layer (usually 25-75 microns) applied to the surface of a PCB to prevent moisture and dust. On the other hand, PCB Plotting completely wraps PCB electronic components in thick materials to minimize environmental hazards.
The Conformal Coating is easier to rework, but it has poor protection against heavy blows or prolonged exposure to moisture spray. PCB Plotting is more sturdy, but it increases weight and is permanent. The choice between the two depends on the required level of protection and the operating environment.
Advantages of PCB Plotting
The advantages of PCB Plotting or sealing are not limited to basic protection. Here are some detailed benefits that make this process the preferred solution for many industries:
Enhanced durability: Encapsulated PCBs can withstand harsh conditions, such as exposure to moisture spray in the marine environment or corrosive gases in the industrial environment. This durability can extend the service life of the device by several years.
Higher reliability: By preventing failures caused by environmental factors, PCB Plotting reduces downtime and maintenance costs. For example, a study in industrial electronics showed that the failure rate of encapsulated components under humid conditions was reduced by 30% compared to unprotected components.
Compact design support: PCB Plotting can eliminate the need for bulky shells, achieve smaller and lighter designs, while still preventing environmental hazards.
Tamper proof security: PCB Plotting makes it difficult to access internal components without damaging them, thereby preventing reverse engineering. This is particularly valuable for proprietary or sensitive electronic devices.
These advantages make PCB Plotting an ideal choice for applications ranging from consumer electronics to critical systems in aerospace and medical equipment.
When should We Use Conformal Coating
Conformal coating is much popular in PCB manufacturing, even though it may not suitable for those applications which require the capacity to bear the high physical shock and intensive abrasion, it is widely used in many industries such as automotive, medical, aerospace defense, and electronics. As the conformal coating can withstand extreme temperatures, high humidity, and toxic chemicals. One other highlight of conformal coating is its flexibility that is lightweight, thinness which won’t take much space, which helps it to seize the market share of electronics. In recent years, the electronics industry is developed amazingly, which has become the top industry that uses conformal coatings the most. The conformal coating is the best choice for these mobile and handheld devices such as smartphones which require small size and lightweight.
Conclusion
Both conformal coating and PCB potting are must-have technologies if we want to lengthen the lifetime of Printed circuit board and reduce the cost caused by repair. But we really need to think carefully to select a more suitable technology for our PCB project as potting and conformal coating are complex processes, full of variables that may impact the final effect and cost. If you still have some doubts about it, you should go to consult some experts, they would make the right choice after considering all aspects of your project, application, budget, turnaround time, etc. Hitech Circuits Co., Limited is committed to offering the best one-stop printed circuit board and PCB Assembly service for our customers, our R&D team is much professional in this area with experience of over a decade, so please feel free to connect with us if you have any queries. Let’s have an in-depth conversation about your project!
