Conformal coating collaboration proves productive

Electrochemicals specialist Electrolube is partnering with key dispensing equipment manufacturers to ensure that its two-part (2K) conformal coatings enable customers to obtain optimum results.

Electrolube’s systems are specifically designed to combine the protection and properties of a resin with the straightforward application of a conformal coating without the use of harmful solvents. But while its coatings continue to receive acclaim from the electronics industry, customers frequently enquire about the dispensing process.

Throughout the development of the 2K range, Electrolube has worked closely with coating machine manufacturers to ensure that formulations are optimised for application using commercially available dispensers. Included among these is PVA’s two-component spray valve VPX-2KS, which has proved successful with Electrolube’s 2K500 — a two-part polyurethane conformal coating system that provides a wide operating temperature, maintains clarity after prolonged exposure to UV light and features good thermal shock and abrasion resistance.

Electrolube’s conformal coatings team, comprising Jade Bridges, Joel Shenton and Phil Kinner, recently joined PVA’s Shane Plasse and Matt Lilla at PVA’s Boston headquarters to further improve and refine the 2K application process.

At one point during the technical collaboration, an opportunity arose to test a new process for a customer who needed to apply a 2K coating of just 70 µm thickness. This is considerably thinner than the recommended 200 µm for 2K coatings and was dictated by the 100 µm clearance between the board and its housing.

Due to the low flow rate and metal valve construction, the combined PVA/Electrolube team decided that a simple valve block heater would provide a further level of control over the process. After several iterations, the heater was able to supply sufficient heat to enable a controlled application of this unusually thin film, meeting the customer’s target specification precisely. As well as providing good control of material flow, this arrangement also resulted in improved edge definition and easier regulation of dispensing starts and stops.

“While our core business is the development of pioneering circuit protection materials and associated products, we are of course acutely aware that their ultimate success relies heavily on those all-important downstream processes — particularly dispensing,” said Phil Kinner, global business/technical director, Coatings Division at Electrolube.

“I believe this recent collaborative exercise with PVA has been highly productive and successful, illustrating quite clearly our aim to provide a complete customer service that covers not just the formulation and supply of materials, which we frequently tailor to specific customer needs, but also the methods of applying them.

“We are currently in discussion with additional dispensing equipment manufacturers and will be reporting on dispensing trials over the coming months.”