CONFORMAL

COATING
ON PRINTED
CIRCUIT BOARDS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Conformal Coatings - Different Types

2. Why Use Conformal Coatings?

3. Limitations of Conformal Coatings

4. The Conformal Coating Process

5. Selecting a Suitable Conformal Coating

6. Tests for Conformal Coatings

Pg. 2
INTRO

Users of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs)

expect their boards to work even under
the most stringent environmental
conditions. One way manufacturers
do to this is by placing a polymer film
or conformal coating over the board
during the assembly process. The
conformal coating acts as an electrically
insulating layer, preventing humidity and
contaminants from reducing the levels of
surface insulation resistance on the PCB.

Pg. 3
CONFORMAL COATINGS,
DIFFERENT TYPES [1]
Manufacturers can select from a large variety of conformal coatings, depending on their
special application and the required functionality of the electronics. It is possible to
segregate them on five main categories based on their chemical makeup:
• Urethane Resin
• Epoxy Resin
• Acrylic Resin
• Silicone Resin
• Parylene Resin

Resin Type Composition Advantages Disadvantages

Urethane Single/ - High Chemical Resistance - Difficult to Remove
Two Part - Good Humidity Resistance - Risk of Peeling
- Resistance to Mechanical - Long Cure Times
Wear - Rework with Soldering
Iron Leaves Brown Tint
Epoxy Two Part - High Resistance to - Difficult to Remove
Abrasion & Moisture - Shrinks During Curing
- High Chemical Resistance - Rework or Repair
- Good Humidity Resistance Requires Burning Through
- Performs Excellently in with Soldering Iron
Harsh Environments
Acrylic Single Part - Easy to Apply & Remove - Low Resistance to Solvents &
- Easy to Rework or Repair Chemicals
- No Shrinkage During Curing - Low Resistance to Abrasions
- Affordable - Not Suitable for Harsh
Environments
- Not Suitable for High-
Temperature Applications
Silicone Single Part - Good for Extreme - Very Difficult to Remove
Temperatures - Requires Strong Chemical
- Excellent Corrosion & Strippers and Harsh Abrasion
Humidity Resistance for Removal
- Good Adherence to Most - Only Local Repairs Possible
Parylene Single Part - Very Good Solvent & - Difficult to Remove
Vapor Extreme Temperature - Removal Requires Abrasion
Resistance - Chemical Vapor Deposition
- No Curing Time Necessary Requires Special Equipment
as Coating Forms at Room - Not Suitable for Long-Term
Temperature Outdoor Exposure
- Colorless & Transparent
Pg. 4
 WHY USE Although there are many
CONFORMAL reasons for using conformal
coatings on PCBs, the most
C O AT I N G S ? common ones are:
• Offers Total Protection: Conformal
coatings protect both the components
and the surface of PCBs. Apart from
being heat-resistant, specific coatings
also resist several types of chemicals
and solvents used in the industry. Left
uncoated, the PCB and its parts could
succumb to corrosion damage.
• Prevents Corrosion and Arcing: With
conformal coatings, a designer can have
closer spacing between neighboring
conductors and component pads. This is
because the layer of conformal coating
prevents dust and chemicals from falling
on the PCB, which may bridge the gap
between two active conductors and
pads. On an uncoated PCB, the particles
would lead to arcing and corrosion.
• Slows Tin Whisker Growth: Growth of tin whiskers is a common phenomenon and a big
headache for electronic engineers using densely populated PCBs. Tin whiskers create
shorts between adjacent conductors. Conformal coating on PCBs improves the
dielectric properties and slows down the growth of tin whiskers.
• Easy to Apply: Conformal coatings can be brushed or sprayed on PCBs. Some PCBs
can also be coated by dipping them in the liquid coating. While a single layer may be
enough for most general applications, PCBs to be used in harsher environments may
have the conformal coating sprayed or brushed on them in multiple passes to create a
thicker protective layer.
• Saves Materials and Cost: Additional housing and enclosures may not be required for
preventing damage to PCBs, provided they are protected by conformal coatings. This
not only saves on material cost, but also reduces assembly times. In the long run,
coated PCBs require lower instances of repairs and maintenance, leading to more
savings in time and labor.
• Protects Intellectual Property: Although most conformal coatings are colorless and
transparent, it is possible to convert them into colored and opaque coatings. This has
the advantage of hiding sensitive information such as markings, labeling, and
component numbers on the board from prying eyes—helping to protect the Intellectual
Property of the PCB owner.

Pg. 5
L I M I TAT I O N S O F
C O N F O R M A L C O AT I N G S
While conformal coatings offer several advantages, they also have
limitations. For instance, conformal coating will seal-in any contaminant
on the PCB’s surface. Also, the surface tension of liquid conformal
coatings can prevent the coating from covering sharp spikes or edges
on components. Even if the coating on a flat surface is adequate, sharp
edges or spikes will have a much thinner coating on them, and in specific
cases, the coating may not be present there at all, due to an effect known
as edge crawling.

Although it is possible to minimize the effects of edge crawling by

adjusting the viscosity of the conformal coating, manufacturers will
obtain better results by avoiding or cropping sharp solder spikes
altogether, and by using components with a more rounded cross-section.

THE CONFORMAL COATING

PROCESS
Whether using brushing, dipping, or spraying to apply the conformal
coating on a PCB, it is necessary for the manufacturer to follow these
steps before the application:

• Clean the board thoroughly

• Remove terminal pins and connectors, and apply protective covering
on exposed mating terminals
• Apply the conformal coating
• Cure the coating according to the type of coating selected
• Remove protective covering from the mating terminals, and re
assemble the removed parts
• Fully test the board for functionality [2]

SELECTING A SUITABLE
CONFORMAL COATING
Conformal coatings should have a long bath life, low drying or curing
temperatures, short drying times, and adhere well to all PCB surfaces.

Drying times are defined as:

Pg. 6
CONFORMAL COATING ON PRINTED CIRCUIT
BOARDS

• Dry-to-Touch Time — Time for the

coating to be tack free to the touch
• Dry-Through Time — Time for all solvent
to evaporate throughout the coating
layer
• Cure Time — Time for the conformal
coating to cross-link by using heat, UV
rays, moisture, or catalyzed curing. This
establishes the chemical resistant nature
of the conformal coating

TESTS FOR
CONFORMAL
C O AT I N G S
The latest standards for testing conformal
coatings are IEC 61086-1/2/3, UL 746E, REFERENCES
and IPC-CC-830. According to the IEC
61086 standard, conformal coatings are 1. https://news.ewmfg.com/blog/which-
tested in three classes, with increasingly type-conformal-coating-right-my-pcb
stringent pass criteria. 2. https://www.pcbtrain.co.uk/blog/cir-
cuit-board-protection-conformal-coating
Class 1 — General Purpose 3. https://blog.dymax.com/5-reasons-to-
Class 2 — High Reliability use-conformal-coatings-on-pcbs
Class 3 — Aerospace

The standards offer criteria for testing the

conformal coatings against breakdown
voltage, insulation resistance, flexibility,
mould growth, and flammability. [3]
Have more questions? Reach out to us
for a free pre-production assembly Q&A
session with our engineers.

CONCLUSION
Solvent-based conformal coatings offer
www.aapcb.com | (800) 838-5650 |
sales@aapcb.com
excellent performance and advantages.
Ongoing developments continue to 20100 E. 32nd Pkwy. #225
improve the viability of these coatings for Aurora, CO 80011
rigorous uses.

Pg. 7