Blog

Encapsulating for PCBs: How to Choose the Right Method

Posted by Vlad David on Feb 20, 2024 12:09:20 PM

If you're familiar with HumiSeal through our blogs, you know we are big fans of conformal coatings. This is for good reason; with advancing conformal coating technology, innovative LED and UV curable coatings offer incredible protection for a large range of applications.

Conformal coatings are just one method of circuit board protection available to engineers. Those involved with PCBs may be familiar with the terms encapsulation. Encapsulation is a tremendously powerful method to secure and protect PCBs by submerging them in a protective material. In many cases, this is more desirable than selectively applying conformal coatings.

Read More

Topics: Encapsulants, Protection for PCB

Prevent Conformal Coating Bubbles by Fixing Common Application Errors

Posted by Dan Griffin on Jan 31, 2024 10:34:28 AM

Bubbles. They can be a real challenge in any adhesive or coating, but they are particularly undesirable when covering electronics and printed circuit boards (PCBs) with fluid conformal coating material. The technical support engineers at Humiseal have over five decades of experience in support of PCB manufacturers. They report that bubbles within the finished film are the most commonly reported technical issue they receive.

In this brief article, we will discuss many of the causes as well as many potential solutions to the problem of entrapped bubbles.

Read More

Topics: Conformal Coating Troubleshooting, bubbles

Toluene-Free Conformal Coatings: Alternatives to Aromatics

Posted by Dan Griffin on Dec 20, 2023 11:28:35 AM

Toluene and Xylene: solvents that have shown value and utility within the adhesives and coatings industries for decades. However, they often serve as a double-edged sword, offering superior solvent and drying capabilities but accompanied by some negative health and environmental impacts.

Read More

Topics: Aromatic Free, toluene

Developing Conformal Coatings for the 21st Century: An Ever-Changing Landscape

Posted by David Greenman on Nov 29, 2023 3:49:37 PM

Before we look at conformal coating in the 21st Century, it is worth looking at how our industry has changed since the 20th Century and the effect these changes have had on reliability. 

30 years ago, we had:

  • Through-hole PCAs with axial components and wide conductor spacing (see fig. 1)
  • Round axial components that were easy to conformably coat
  • Wide conductor spacing (causing a few problems with dendritic growth)
  • Leaded solder
  • The widely adopted practice of cleaning before conformal coating

Fig. 1

Now move forward 30 years. In that time, surface mount components have been developed that are predominantly square with sharp edges, conductor spacing has been reduced, and packing densities have increased to levels never dreamt of in the past (see fig. 2). 

Read More

Topics: Conformal Coatings, Sharp Edge

Tired of Masking Conformal Coating Applications?  Try Selective Dip Coating Instead

Posted by David Greenman on Nov 21, 2023 3:02:41 PM

When conventional coating methods such as hand spray, total dipping or robotic selective coating don’t provide the protection required, there is always selective dip coating.

What is selective dip conformal coating?

Selective dip coating is a process whereby the substrate rather than globally immerised in the coating, is discreetly coated in desired locales.  The technique in one form or another, has been around for over 25 years and is used with both classic solvent-based coatings and 100% UV cure conformal coatings.

Read More

Topics: Conformal Coatings, Humiseal, Selective Dip Coating, Electronic Protection

Ruggedization of Electronic Circuits? Encapsulation is One of The Best-kept Protection Secrets

Posted by Vlad David on Oct 25, 2023 12:54:46 PM

It's no secret that conformal coatings increase the lifetime of electronic devices by providing a thin barrier that strengthens their ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions. That said, a lesser-known truth is adhesives and encapsulants provide a significantly higher level of protection on the entire assembly.

Why is that? Well, adhesives and encapsulants promote assembly protection by:

  • creating environmental seals that protect against moisture and corrosion
  • providing high-temperature resistance
  • increasing shock and vibration-dampening
  • generating strong bonds to a variety of substrates
  • maintaining low shrinkage
  • offering thermal conductivity

Bury it in

Read More

Topics: Electronic Protection, Adhesive Solutions, Vibration Suppression, Encapsulants

Counterfeit Conformal Coatings: A Real Problem with Real Consequences

Posted by Chase Corp Editor on Oct 5, 2023 11:58:19 AM

Counterfeit conformal coatings have infiltrated the electronics industry, posing a significant threat to device reliability. These counterfeit coatings may look like genuine products, but they lack the quality and protective properties required for electronic applications. Here are some reasons why counterfeit conformal coatings are causing failures:

Read More

Topics: Conformal Coatings, counterfeit

Sharp Edge Coverage: Solving 3 of the Biggest Problems Facing Modern Conformal Coating Application

Posted by Dan Griffin on Sep 21, 2023 10:40:43 AM

Conformal coatings have a long and storied history with printed circuit boards. A good conformal coating protects PCB components from moisture, corrosion, contaminants, and additional PCB threats like vibration and thermal shock. Coatings are a complicated science, and there isn’t one best coating or application method for every job. These choices are dependent on the design, use case, and assembly of the PCB. For instance, manual brushing PCB coating material is a slow, tedious process; but for small batch applications, it’s quite cost-effective.

Regardless of the chosen method, there are fundamental application errors that can occur, leading to defects forming in the coating which ultimately limit the functional service life of the PCB.

Read More

Topics: Conformal Coatings, Protection for PCB, Conformal Coating Troubleshooting

Maximum Durability and Flexibility: UV550 LED-Curing Conformal Coating

Posted by Dan Griffin on Jul 31, 2023 11:49:08 AM

Conformal coating technology is on a continuous path of improvement, and we're excited to say the latest step on that path just happened. UV550 is the most recent innovation from HumiSeal, continuing the trend of industry-defining capabilities in the conformal coating space. This is to be expected from the original inventors of conformal coating material. But what sets UV550 apart from the rest?

Let's discuss how the ever-changing requirements of the automotive and white market space fueled the thresholds this uv-curable material attains, especially with regard to its durability under the most extreme thermal and mechanical cycling conditions.  

 

Read More

Topics: UV Curable (Type AR/UR), Conformal Coatings, UV Curing, UV550

UV Curable Conformal Coatings: THIN IS IN!

Posted by Dan Griffin on Jul 12, 2023 2:29:52 PM

HumiSeal development specialists have been designing high-performance, UV-curable conformal coatings for approximately three decades. Compared to legacy solvent-borne and silicone technologies, UV- curable coatings provide some unique properties that can be of great value such as- 

  • Nearly instantaneous, consistent curing 
  • Superb moisture and environmental protection
  • Little or no VOC content

These coatings also lend themselves well to high-speed and high-volume applications due to manufacturing advantages such as- 

  • Minimal WIP due to immediate cure capability 
  • Low material cost due to 100% solids chemistry
  • Smaller manufacturing footprint due to much smaller curing equipment
 
Read More

Topics: UV Curable (Type AR/UR), conformal coating, conformal coating application, UV Curing

Subscribe Here!

Recent Posts

Request FREE Sample

Posts by Topics

See all

Subscribe Here!

Recent Posts

Posts by Topics

See all