Conformal coating protects printed circuit boards (PCBs) from heat, moisture, dust and other environmental factors by applying a thin insulating film. It prolongs the life of electronic products by preventing damage from extreme temperatures, corrosion and physical stresses. While conformal coating was once only used in military and medical devices due to high costs, it is now commonly used in consumer electronics thanks to more affordable materials and processes. The coating is applied through brushing, dipping or spraying and then cured in an oven.

1. Protecting Electronic Components In Extreme
Temperature Conditions – Miracle Electronics
When your appliances are being used in extremely hot environments, they could be at danger to
get heated up and damaged. Although PCBs within the appliances are designed to withstand a
good amount of heat, when the temperatures rise beyond certain limits, damage is definite.
This is why cost-effective heat management is a priority for PCB manufacturers and providers of
electronics manufacturing services from India.
One of the most effective ways to protect a PCB is to apply conformal coating. This is a thin film
that can insulate your circuit boards from external heat, as well as the heat that the product
produces while performing. It is a protective non-conductive dielectric layer that is applied onto
the PCB assembly to protect it against damage from not only heat, but also many other
elements like moisture, dust, corrosion, contamination, fungus, salt spray, and other harsh
environments. It also protects damage from rough handling, installation, and other kinds of
stresses. All the circuitry and components within the PCB are thus protected against all kinds of
solvents and abrasion. Therefore, in every way, conformal coating prolongs the life of the
product. Furthermore, conformal coating also increases the dielectric strength between
conductors, thus making the PCB small and compact.
Conformal coating, when applied, is visible as a clear and shiny material. The texture could be
hard or slightly rubbery. When viewed under UV light, the coating could appear greenish white
in colour. This characteristic helps to easily inspect the coating when required.

2. Earlier, conformal coating was applied only to military and medical products because of the high
expenses involved in the process of manufacturing, which ultimately increased the cost of the
product. But today, the coating is seem to be applied in all kinds of consumer electronics
products, with the development of better and less expensive materials and processes.
How is the coating applied?
Preparation – Before coating a PCB, it must be thoroughly cleaned and de-moisturized within 8
hours of the coating. This could be done in an oven with a temperature set between 88 and 98°C
for 4 hours. All elements like terminal pins and connectors are masked off or removed.
Procedure – The coating is applied on the surface by brushing, dipping, or spraying. To coat with
paraxylene, chemical vapour deposition is used. Once coated, the coating is cured using an
oven.
Post coating – After being coated, the masking is removed and the removed parts are
reassembled. Then, the board undergoes complete testing to ensure functionality of the board.
While conformal coating is extremely useful for PCBs and the electronic devices, it has been a
cause of worry for the environment. This is because the materials used in conformal coating are
not environment-friendly, and are also a cause of concern for the human health. Moreover, most
solvents have volatile organic compounds that evaporate at room temperature. Furthermore,
these compounds cause the formation of ozone and smog, which have significant effects on the
growth of plants. The materials also cause air pollution and irritation. Thus, this is a matter of
serious damage to all. However, looking at all of this, non-volatile organic compounds have been
developed and are now used for conformal coating, which makes the PCBs safe for all.
So now, don’t let extreme temperatures damage your products and electronic components!
Keep them cool, and hire the most reliable electronics manufacturing services from India from
Miracle Electronics.