Is lubricant like WD-40 a good contact cleaner?
Generally, contact cleaners contain 100% solvent, which dissolves grease, carbon deposits, and other contamination, and allows it to run off. The solvent then evaporates, leaving a clean, conductive surface behind. Aerosol lubricants, like WD-40,...
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The Ultimate Guide to Conformal Coating
Historically, the only circuit boards going through a conformal coating process were those intended for use in mission-critical applications, like aerospace. Increased popularity surrounding electronic miniaturization and wearable electronics...
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What Type of Industry Certifications Are Available for Conformal Coatings?
Certifications are used to separate conformal coatings from general purpose varnishes and shellacs. There are dozens of user and industry specifications, but the two major certifications are most commonly referenced: IPC-CC-830B / MIL-I-46058C...
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How Do You Remove Conformal Coating?
You may be required to remove a conformal coating from the PCB to replace damaged components or other types of rework. The basic methods as cited by IPC are: Solvent Removal – While most conformal coatings can be dissolved in solvent,...
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How Thick Should I Apply Conformal Coating?
Conformal coatings are generally very thinly applied, which provides the best protection possible, but minimizes heat entrapment, excess weight, and other issues. Typically, conformal coating is applied between 1 to 5 mils (25 to 127 microns)....
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How Do You Apply Conformal Coating?
Common application methods for conformal coatings: Manual spraying - For low volume production when capital equipment is not available, conformal coating can be applied by an aerosol can or handheld spray gun. This can be time-consuming and...
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Is Conformal Coating Waterproof?
Typically, conformal coatings are not waterproof. These coatings are semi-permeable, so do not fully water-proof or seal the coated electronics. They protect from environmental exposure, improving the durability of the electronic device, while...
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How do you decide on the best type of conformal coating?
Choose the coating resin based on the protective properties you need: Acrylic Resin (AR) – AR coatings are relatively economical, provide good overall protection, and are easy to apply and repair. They have high dielectric strength, and...
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Ultimate Guide to Diagnostic Freeze Spray
Diagnosing and repairing electronics can be painstaking and sometimes frustrating work. Problems can be intermittent, and the faulty area difficult to locate on the PCB. Freeze spray is an essential tool, because it helps identify faulty components,...
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Ultimate Guide to Temporary Solder Mask
What is Temporary Solder Mask? Temporary solder mask (also called “spot mask”) is used every day in the assembly of electronic circuit boards. Solder mask is engineered to protect thru-holes or “vias” in wave soldering....
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