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Tips for Managing Air Entrapment in Conformal Coatings

Avoid reliability issues by understanding how to manage air in your conformal coating process. These strategies can help you reduce or eliminate bubbles during application.

Q: Why is entrapped air in liquid conformal coatings a concern?
Entrapped air can lead to the formation of bubbles within the coating during the application process. These bubbles can potentially cause reliability issues with the coated product over time.

Q: Is it possible for conformal coating materials to absorb air?
Yes, it is not uncommon for liquid conformal coatings to absorb air, especially when they are kept under pressure for extended periods.

Q: Which types of conformal coatings are more susceptible to absorbing air under pressure?
Coatings that are particularly sensitive to moisture or those that are solvent-based tend to be more prone to air absorption when pressurized for a long time.

Q: If I am using large reservoirs of conformal coating, what packaging strategy can help prevent air absorption?
For larger volumes of coating, using bladder bags to package the material can be an effective way to minimize or prevent air absorption.

Q: What packaging options are recommended for smaller volumes of conformal coating to avoid direct contact with air?
When working with smaller quantities of coating, using cartridges or syringes that have a piston can help to prevent the material from coming into direct contact with air.

Q: What type of gas do many coating formulators suggest for pressurizing their coatings?
Many formulators recommend using nitrogen gas to pressurize their coatings instead of using standard shop air.

Q: What is a good practice to follow regarding the material reservoir when production is stopped for an extended period?
It is important to remember to depressurize your material reservoir at the end of the workday or during any long breaks in the production process, as failure to do so will increase the risk of bubbles in conformal coatings.