Conformal Coating Materials Overview

Type of Conformal Coating

Advantages

• is recognized for its high dielectric strength, and fair moisture and abrasion resistance.
• are easily and quickly removed by a variety of solvents, often without requiring agitation. This makes rework and even field repair very practical and economical.
• can be considered basic, entry-level protection because they are economical and protect against a broad level of contamination.

• do not protect against solvents and solvent vapors, which could result in less than ideal performance for an application that involves something like pumping equipment.
• are not the best-in-class for any characteristic except possibly dielectric strength.

• provides excellent protection in a very wide temperature range.
• provides good chemical resistance, moisture, and salt spray resistance, and is very flexible.
• isn’t abrasion resistant because of its rubbery nature, but this property does make it resilient against vibrational stresses.
• are commonly used in high-humidity environments.
• Special formulations that can coat LED lights without color shift or reduction of intensity are available and make SR conformal coatings a popular choice for applications such as outdoor signs.

• isn’t abrasion resistant because of its rubbery nature
• Removal can be challenging, requiring specialized solvents, long soak time, and agitation from a brush or an ultrasonic bath.

• is known for its excellent moisture and chemical resistance.
• It is also very abrasion-resistant.
• is commonly specified for aerospace applications where exposure to fuel vapors is a common concern.

• Like silicone, full removal generally requires special solvents, long soak time, and agitation with a brush or an ultrasonic bath. 

• is usually available as two‐part compounds and creates a very hard coating.
• provide very good humidity resistance and are not generally permeable, unlike traditional conformal coatings.
• They also have high abrasion and chemical resistance.

• Typically, they are very difficult to remove once cured and are not as flexible as the other materials.
• Epoxy coatings are common in potting compounds, which in contrast to conformal coatings, completely cover the electronics in a solid and level layer of material.