-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueIPC APEX EXPO 2024 Pre-show
This month’s issue devotes its pages to a comprehensive preview of the IPC APEX EXPO 2024 event. Whether your role is technical or business, if you're new-to-the-industry or seasoned veteran, you'll find value throughout this program.
Boost Your Sales
Every part of your business can be evaluated as a process, including your sales funnel. Optimizing your selling process requires a coordinated effort between marketing and sales. In this issue, industry experts in marketing and sales offer their best advice on how to boost your sales efforts.
The Cost of Rework
In this issue, we investigate rework's current state of the art. What are the root causes and how are they resolved? What is the financial impact of rework, and is it possible to eliminate it entirely without sacrificing your yields?
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Electrolube’s Nano-Coating Alternative to 3M Novec 2702 Gains Additional Traction
April 20, 2020 | ElectrolubeEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
Electrolube, global electro-chemicals manufacturer, has recently formulated and launched a brand new conformal coating product named FPC. The product (FPC) was specially developed to resolve a number of issues experienced by a specific user of surface modifier materials.
The user in question—a large manufacturer of power distribution electronics—initially expressed an interest in Electrolube’s surface modifier materials due to longstanding and unresolved issues relating to coating coverage and connectivity. Their rationale for using a surface modifier coating as opposed to a conventional conformal coating was correct as the combination of required coating thickness (2µm) and very low film strength (abrasion resistance) can facilitate huge processing benefits. Users of surface modifier coatings can completely coat a PCB and connectors without masking as when the male and female contact surfaces are joined, the abrasion forces during insertion should cleanly remove the coating material allowing electrical contact.
The user complained however, that their experience with surface modifier materials was quite the reverse; the material would not rub off cleanly during insertion creating an additional checking and re-testing process. Inspection of the coating coverage was also very difficult due to the lack of UV trace and the user could not be confident in the integrity of coverage. These complaints were also voiced by customers in India, a lack of UV trace and problems ensuring that the material could be cleaned off easily given the volume of connectors on the PCB.
With many variations of board shape and design, as well as numerous different connector formats, a fresh approach and coating material was required. Electrolube accepted the challenge to develop a cost-effective material that would also resolve all the technical issues with connectivity and inspection being experienced.
The new, non-flammable fluorinated polymer coating—FPC—was developed and underwent a series of customer tests, including highly stringent salt mist, humidity and mixed corrosive gas testing; all tests were passed successfully. Extensive connectivity testing confirmed noticeable improvements when compared to previous results experienced by the user, while the inclusion of a UV trace meant the boards were now far easier to inspect for coverage. Overall the new FPC coating has resulted in a significant cost saving.
The improvements in performance, inspection and cost of Electrolube’s FPC coating, compared with previously used material and the results of machine trials at various companies to confirm compatibility, meant the company was able to simply switch over to FPC as a drop-in replacement. This has been replicated in additional territories including India and indeed the original 3M Novec product has now been discontinued.
Ron Jakeman, Managing Director of Electrolube, comments: "The partnership between ourselves and the customer’s engineering team is a prime example of Electrolube's dedicated approach to solving problems. With a strong emphasis on both research and collaboration, we are continually developing new products, such as the FPC coating, and always go the extra mile - not just to ensure that the product is right for the job, but to advise and help our customers choose the safest, most appropriate and economical method of application.”
For more information, please visit www.electrolube.com.
Download your free copy of Electrolube's book, The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to… Conformal Coatings for Harsh Environments, and watch the micro webinar series “Coatings Uncoated!”
About Electrolube
Electrolube, a division of H.K. Wentworth Limited, is a leading manufacturer of specialist chemicals for electronics, automotive and industrial manufacturing. Core product groups include conformal coatings, contact lubricants, thermal management materials, cleaning solutions, encapsulation resins and maintenance and service aids.
The extensive range of electro-chemicals at Electrolube enables the company to offer a ‘complete solution’ to leading manufacturers of electronic, industrial and domestic devices, at all levels of the production process. Through collaboration and research, the company is continually developing new and environmentally friendly products for customers around the world and their commitment to developing ‘greener’ products has been endorsed by the ISO 14001 standard for the highly efficient Environmental Management System in place at the company.
Electrolube is represented in over 55 countries with an established network of subsidiaries and distributors. By offering genuine security of scale and a reliable supply chain, the company is able to deliver a truly tailored service.
Suggested Items
Kimball Electronics Publishes Annual Sustainability Disclosures with its 2023 Guiding Principles Report
03/28/2024 | BUSINESS WIREKimball Electronics, Inc. published its annual sustainability disclosures in its 2023 Guiding Principles Report, themed “How We Are Winning Together The Kimball Way.”
American Standard Circuits Global Sourcing Division Opens Warehouse in West Chicago
03/26/2024 | American Standard CircuitsBob Duke, president of American Standard Circuits' Global Sourcing Division, announces the opening of a new 12,000-square-foot warehouse in West Chicago.
Altus Group Achieves Record Sales Milestone with Koh Young Europe
03/26/2024 | Altus GroupAltus Group, a leading supplier of capital equipment for the electronics industry, has announced a significant milestone in partnership with Koh Young Europe (KYE).
Dave Brooks Celebrates 25 Years at IEC USA
03/26/2024 | IECPlease join IEC (International Electronic Components) in congratulating Dave Brooks on 25 years of service and camaraderie. As one of the original members of the IEC USA team, Dave is a valuable contributor to IEC's continued success.
Bürkle North America and Schmoll Maschinen Separating After 20 Years
03/25/2024 | Burkle North AmericaBürkle North America and Schmoll Maschinen, two leading companies supplying state-of-the-art equipment to Printed Circuit Board manufacturers, have announced an amicable separation, effective April 3.