Manual brushing is just one of many methods commonly used for applying conformal coating materials to PCBs and other components. It is a hand-applied method that requires little investment into automation or equipment. With practice, it can be one of the simplest methods available, especially for small-batch production or isolated applications.
Vlad David

Recent Posts
Get the Best Results When Manual Brushing Conformal Coatings
Topics: Conformal Coatings, conformal coating application, Manual Brush
Complete Guide to Viscosity Part 2: Measurements and Devices Explained
This blog is the second installment in our two-part series on viscosity (with special consideration on adhesives and coatings).
In our previous viscosity blog, we discussed the properties of viscosity and how viscosity can be affected by temperature, the addition of dilution or thinning agents, and other similar factors.
Topics: conformal coating, viscosity
This is the first in a short series on material viscosity, in which we will review what it is and how to measure it. We will start with the definition of viscosity. Viscosity is the internal friction of moving fluid and a measurement of the resistance of a fluid deformed by shear stress. It is measured in centiPoise. The lower the number, the less viscous the material, as can be seen by this comparison chart: starting with water at 1 cPs and ending with honey at anywhere between 2,000 – 10,000 cPs.
Topics: conformal coating, Coating Application Preparation, conformal coating application, viscosity, Humiseal Blog
Ruggedization of Electronic Circuits? Encapsulation is One of The Best-kept Protection Secrets
While conformal coatings increase the lifetime of electronic devices by providing a thin barrier that strengthens their ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions, adhesives and encapsulants provide a significantly higher level of protection on the entire assembly.
The most common properties of adhesives and encapsulants include:
- 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, and
- offering thermal conductivity.
Topics: Electronic Protection, Adhesive Solutions, Vibration Suppression, Encapsulants
Improve Precision and Reduce Time When Removing Conformal Coatings
UV curable conformal coating materials such as HumiSeal UV40 are frequently used in military, aerospace and automotive applications due to superior resistance to chemicals and mechanical stress. These properties make them difficult to remove when rework under the coating is required.
There are products available for chemical removal of conformal coatings, but many are restricted by government regulation and health and safety concerns.
An effective method for localised removal of conformal coatings, allowing the rework of the components, is the powder or micro-abrasion equipment.
Topics: Micro Abrasion, conformal coating application, conformal coating removal
A Quick Guide to Understand IPC-CC-830B Qualification Standard
IPC CC-830 revision B is a conformal coating qualification standard mostly used by board fabricators, OEM design engineers, and coatings suppliers.
There are two fundamental uses of this IPC standard:
- Coatings’ performance capabilities
- Quality consistency
In this blog, we will go over some of the specifications along with tests requirements, passing criteria, and quality characteristics.
Topics: Conformal Coatings, Conformal Coating Process, Standard Qualifications, IPC-CC-830B
What is a Wet Gauge and How to Measure Conformal Coating Thickness?
The application of the conformal coating in a uniform and consistent coverage is a key challenge that defines the reliability of the finished product.
A thin coating will provide inadequate protection against corrosion or insulation between conductors. Conversely, if the conformal coating is too thick, it will increase the risk of forming other types of coating defects such as bubbles, insufficient curing, and potential cracking during thermal shock cycles.
Besides the verification of the process parameters such as coating viscosity and the application method is correctly setup, the amount of conformal coating material applied on the printed circuit boards can be measured before curing. For this, wet film conformal coating thickness gauges are used. This method ensures quality control while the coating material is still wet.
Topics: Conformal Coatings, Coating Application Preparation, Conformal Coating Process