• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
 
SCH
 
Technologies
 
is
 
a
 
Trading
 
Name
 
of 
 
SCH
 
Services
 
Limited
 
Newburgh
 
Building,
 
McLintock
 
Way,
 
Barnsley,
 
South
 
Yorkshire.
 
S70
 
6BF
 
Tel:
 
+44
 
(0)1226
 
297711
 
Fax:
 
+44
 
(0)1226
 
297733
 
www.conformalcoating.co.uk
 
SCH
 
Technologies
 
are
 
ISO9001
 
and ISO14001 certified
 
Technical Bulletin April 09
Conformal Coating Curing and Drying
One of the final processes after conformal coating application but possibly before inspection is the dryingor curing of the conformal coating material. Curing and drying are distinctly different processes inconformal coating and are defined for ease of understanding.
Conformal Coating Curing and Drying Definitions
The difference between drying and curing areimportant in processing.Drying is where the coating is fit to be handled afterapplication of conformal coating. Curing is where theoptimum properties of the conformal coating arereached for full performance protection.Actually, there are three stages that are useful toconsider. These are:1.
 
Tack free
– This is where the coating is dry enoughto handle CAREFULLY.2.
 
Fully dried
– the conformal coating and PCB canbe handled normally but the coating is not fullycured.3.
 
Fully cured
– Conformal coating has reached itsoptimum properties.For all three stages, it may be that air drying at roomtemperature achieves the state required for theconformal coating.Alternatively, accelerated heat or moisture must beapplied, or the application of UV light may be neededto achieve the desired result.
Do I Need to Cure the Conformal Coating?
Curing implies that the optimum properties of theconformal coating are met, such as theelectrical & physical characteristics, and that theconformal coating does not impede theoperation of the printed circuit board (PCB).A conformal coating could be applied to a PCBand after a period of two hours and look fullycured. However, this may not be the case.For instance, if a solvent based conformalcoating is applied to a PCB and allowed to airdry at room temperature, although the boardmay be fit to handle, there would almostcertainly be trace solvents after that period inthe film which have not evaporated.Also, with polyurethane conformal coatings, theyhave a characteristic of cross linking to give thechemical resistance they tend to be required forin the field. This cross linking can take days atroom temperature, depending on the conformalcoating chosen,
The question to ask then is a fully cured PCB withoptimum properties required at each stage ofthe electronics manufacturing process and alsoin the period before service, where it may beheld in storage or stock?
If the answer is no, then it’s unnecessary to fullycure. However, if the conformal coating affectsthe electrical output of a device that needs tobe calibrated on the PCB and the output varieswith curing then not fully curing beforecalibration could be a problem!
 
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...