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Conformal Coating Types: Resources and Guide to Get Started

Conformal coatings provide electrical insulation and protect electronic components from environmental risks such as corrosive or chemical exposure. There are five types to consider: acrylic, silicone, epoxy, urethane, and Parylene. Choosing the correct one is critical. Each has different properties, benefits, and drawbacks, and the material you choose will affect many aspects of the and, consequently, the manufacturing process.

This guide provides resources to understand which conformal coating type is best for your requirements with an overview of each material and the processes that will be affected most by your decision.

As you read this guide, keep the following questions in mind:

What environmental threats will be in the operating environment?

What type of conformal coating standards does the material need to meet?

Is a particular coating thickness required in the project specifications?

Are simplicity and cost priorities, or is reliability most important? Is it a combination?

The answers to these questions will provide the context you need to understand which coating will best fulfill the purposes of your project.

PCB coating engineers discussing materials

Conformal Coating Types

Each conformal coating type has a unique chemical composition that leads to distinct properties. The coating materials vary in cost and influence your choice in the application process. Additionally, a coating’s properties can affect procedures such as removal or repair. For example, a robust, chemically-resistant coating may be harder to remove. Each type is summarized below.

Acrylic PCB Coating

Acrylic Conformal Coating

Acrylic films are generally the easiest to apply and work with throughout the coating process. For example, acrylic removal is relatively easy. These coatings are a transparent, robust, affordable option for moisture protection, fungus resistance, acid/base protection, and dielectric strength.

Notable Acrylic Properties

  • Clear protective coating
  • Relatively short drying times
  • Good electrical and physical properties
  • Low moisture absorption

Acrylics are one of the simplest coating types to apply, and the films dry quickly. Application methods include brush, spray, and dipping. The simplicity of the coating process and the ability to use less expensive application methods make acrylics a good solution for applications that require lower manufacturing costs and less manufacturing time.

 

Silicone PCB coating

Silicone Conformal Coating

Silicone films protect components and can act as a shock and vibration absorber to relieve parts from physical stress. Silicones perform well in extreme temperatures, remaining stable at -65°C to 200°C, and are resistant to ultraviolet and ozone degradation.

Notable Silicone Properties

  • Good humidity and moisture resistance
  • Low toxicity
  • Easy to apply
  • Easy to repair

Silicone can be applied with dipping and spraying methods or simple flow coating. Silicone is reasonably easy to repair and, due to its excellent heat cycling performance, is appropriate for automotive, aerospace, and industrial environments. However, moisture may permeate through the coatings, and can exhibit poor mechanical strength.

 

Epoxy PCB Coating

Epoxy Conformal Coating

In addition to safeguarding components with resistance to abrasion, corrosion, harsh chemicals, oil, and thermal shock, epoxy coatings serve various purposes. For example, thermally conductive epoxy protects printed circuit boards with components that may give off heat. Meanwhile, flame-retardant epoxy is helpful for fire hazard protection.

Notable Epoxy Properties

  • Very robust, difficult to remove
  • Excellent chemical and abrasion resistance
  • Very rigid conformal coating
  • High dielectric strength

Epoxies are easily applied and may be a two-part compound or a single compound to be cured with UV or heat exposure. Dip-coating, brush, or spray methods are suitable for epoxy application. Film shrinkage also may occur during polymerization, potentially causing issues during the coating process, and the toughness and durability of epoxy may damage products if rework or removal is necessary.

Read a more comprehensive guide about epoxy coatings

Urethane PCB Coating

Urethane Conformal Coating

Urethane coating material forms tough, hard coatings with strong solvent and abrasion resistance. These sturdy films serve as a barrier to air-borne contaminants and may be a good option for mitigating the growth of tin whiskers.

Notable Silicone Properties

  • Moisture and oil resistance
  • Fungicidal
  • Good flexibility
  • Class F temperature rating (160°C/320°F)

Urethane films can be applied by dipping, spraying, or brushing, and curing is required to finalize the coating after application. Curing may take an hour to several days, adding another step to the polyurethane coating process.

Read a more comprehensive guide about urethane coatings

Parylene Coating vs. Conformal Coating

Unlike acrylics, epoxies, urethanes, and silicone coatings, Parylene is deposited through chemical vapor deposition (CVD). This vacuum deposition process requires specialized equipment that may have limited capacity, raising cost and production time challenges. Additionally, due to the CVD method, Parylene coats anything it touches in the coating chamber, typically requiring a masking process. On the other hand, Parylene films do not require curing, and unlike other coating methods, the CVD process does not entail any VOCs, solvents, catalysts, or disposal. If reliability is a priority over cost and efficiency, Parylene is a good choice. It is also possible to find Parylene coating suppliers that specialize in mass production and cost-effectiveness, such as HZO.

ACRYLIC (AR) COATING PROPERTIES
Low moisture absorption
Relatively short drying times
Clear protective coating
Good electrical and physical properties
Typically brushed, sprayed, or dipped
EPOXY (ER) COATING PROPERTIES
Very robust
Excellent chemical and abrasion resistance
Very rigid conformal coating
High dielectric strength
Typically brushed, sprayed, or dipped
SILICONE (SR) COATING PROPERTIES
Good humidity and moisture resistance
Low toxicity
Easy to apply
Easy to repair
Typically brushed, sprayed, or dipped
URETHANE (UR) COATING PROPERTIES
Moisture and oil resistant
Fungicidal
Good flexibility
Can be thinned to achieve a chosen viscosity
Typically brushed, sprayed, or dipped
PARYLENE (XY) COATING PROPERTIES
Biostable, biocompatible
Excellent chemical resistance
Superior conformality
Exceptional corrosion resistance
Applied by chemical vapor deposition (CVD)

Conformal Coating Method

If you have chosen your material, the next step is to select from the available application methods.

To choose the best method, consider:

R

THROUGHPUT REQUIREMENTS

R

REQUIRED PERFORMANCE

R

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT

R

SUBSTRATE COMPLEXITY

Brush coating is the easiest and cheapest application method and requires minimal maintenance. Equipment is less costly, and there may not be as much masking needed due to the controlled nature of this technique. However, the quality and results of the brush conformal coating procedure are operator and tool dependent and may therefore vary in quality and conformability. Contamination issues may also be a concern.

ADVANTAGE
Straightforward and low startup costs
Suitable for low-volume, high-mix production
Suitable for rework or touchup application
Can protect against airborne FOD
Very good for small parts where masking needs are challenging
DISADVANTAGE
Difficult to control the material thickness
Easy to create voids and bubbles
The brush can be the cause of residual FOD (bristles)
Operator experience dependent
Part to part variability

The spray coating technique can be manual or automated, and faster than brush coating. Spraying can produce consistent results, provided several parameters (pattern, solvent dilution, nozzle pressure) are correctly combined. However, PCB spray methods entail more masking time than brushing methods. Spraying is less expensive than other methods, but humidity and temperature conditioning are required and factor into startup costs.

ADVANTAGE
System not complicated
Reasonable implementation cost
Aerosol is suitable for rework
Angled sprya may provide a better coating on high topography assemblies
DISADVANTAGE
Need to contain excess over-spray or any harmful vapors
Material wastage/loss in the process
Usually much higher in VOCs as dilution is needed for spray
Thin material may require multiple coat/cure cycles to get desired thickness

Like spraying, the dipping may be automated or manual and is an effective way to coat components that are not too irregular or bulky in shape. The dip coating method completely encapsulates electronics and can be an efficient, low-cost process for high-volume applications. With proper implementation, dipping produces repeatable film thickness and uniform coverage. However, to avoid contamination, the material in the coating dipping machine must be purged and replaced periodically, increasing cost and complexity.

ADVANTAGE
System not complicated
Relatively not expensive
Reused material/process savings
DISADVANTAGE
Open to environmental impacts – temperature/humidity
Material viscosity must be monitored
Coating reservoir can become contaminated

Of the coatings listed, Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used exclusively with Parylene coatings. The CVD process is performed under vacuum, with specialized equipment that includes a coating chamber. All surfaces can be coated evenly regardless of chamber position, and the coating deposits the same relative thickness on the objects being coated. This vapor phase coating process also leads to pinhole-free coatings, absent of defects. Masking and demasking are typically required, but no curing is necessary.

ADVANTAGE
Uniform coverage on all surfaces
Excellent material properties
No harmful vapors during process
DISADVANTAGE
Batch-mode
Material/equipment can be expensive
Requires specific processes for rework
Conformal coating wet coating thickness gauge

Coating Thickness Measurement

Coating material impacts thickness due to different material properties. For example, Parylene can pass IPC CC-830C at 50% film thickness of other coating types, while other coatings must be applied in thicker layers to meet standards adequately. Accurately meeting the requisite thickness is crucial. If the coating is too thin, components remain vulnerable to the environment. However, if it is too thick, the insulating properties of the coating may render specific parts non-functional.

HOW TO MEASURE CONFORMAL COATING THICKNESS:
Several methods measure conformal coating thickness, including:

  • Manual measurement
  • Measuring Wet Coating with a coating thickness gauge
  • Measuring Dry Coating

Conformal Coating Inspection

After the coating process is complete, components should be inspected for criteria based on customer requirements and coating standards. The conformal coating type may influence the inspection process, as different materials may be chosen to meet various standards and thicknesses and may need to meet varying levels of reliability.

Read the IPC A 610 Standards for Conformal Coating Inspection

QA employee inspecting a PCB

Conformal Coating Masking and Demasking

Masking prevents coatings from being applied to components that need to be uncoated to function (for example, connectors). Successful masking entails selecting the correct masking materials, tailoring the masking process to the coating application process, and choosing the best masking techniques. After the coating application is complete, the masking is removed with the demasking process. Masking and demasking can be more complex and critical with certain coating materials. Additionally, some application methods require more masking and demasking time than others. Therefore, the best masking processes are tailored to the material.

Read a comprehensive guide about masking

Conformal Coating Removal

It is necessary to remove coating from time to time due to poor adhesion, wrong choice of materials, repairs, or other reasons. Removal can add cost and complexity to the coating process, and the type of coating you choose will influence which removal methods are best.

TECHNIQUES INCLUDE:

  • Peeling
  • Chemical Solvent
  • Grinding and Scraping
  • Thermal
  • Micro Sandblaster

Read an in-depth guide to conformal coating removal and understand how the coating type may affect this process.

Conformal coating removal equipment

Curing

Conformal coating curing is a process that causes cross-linking so that the film can reach its optimum properties. Curing is distinct from conformal coating drying, when a coated component is fit to be handled. Coating types require different drying and curing methods, with one exception. Due to its CVD coating process, Parylene does not require drying or curing.

METHODS INCLUDE:

  • Moisture
  • Conformal coating UV cure
  • Oxidative
  • Heat
  • Catalytic cure mechanisms
  • Condensation

Conclusion

This guide has touched on the concepts you need to understand to get started, but has only scratched the surface of all you need to know. We recommend “Coating Materials for Electronic Applications: Polymers, Processing, Reliability, Testing (Materials and Processes for Electronic Applications,” written by James Licari as an excellent in-depth resource. Additionally, you can browse our resource center and read more, download a technical paper, or listen to one of our engineers speak about coatings in an on-demand webinar.