What is the definition of a proper waterproof material for electronics?

We use electronics in almost every facet of our lives. From the house to the car to the traffic to the office, school, or church. There are always one or more electronic devices helping us to make our lives a lot easier. Electronics are so important in our lives that they are fast replacing the dog (man’s best friend) as our companions. People have robotic dogs, electronic assistants, smart-talking gadgets, and so on.

Waterproofing electronic devices

The fact that they are so smart and intelligent makes us take them for granted. These devices are vulnerable to moisture and water. This is why we should always try to keep them in dry places. However, waterproof material for electronics can be used to boost many of these devices. This means that they can work in moist and damp environments. They can also survive complete immersion in certain water depths. This happens when they have been fortified with waterproofing materials. Since these digital devices are vulnerable to water, waterproof material for electronics means that they still work exceptionally even when drenched with water.

 

Why use a waterproof material for electronics?

Many electronics like smartphones or TVs usually come fully assembled with hundreds of delicate tiny chips. Many smart and intelligent electronic devices feature very powerful circuits. Why these robust and powerful devices can help change our lives, but they are very vulnerable in the presence of water. When our electronics are left in a dry environment, the flow of electricity works the way it should. But when there is an ingress of water inside the electronic product, this changes the connectivity in its different circuits. Therefore, the presence of water in electronics leads to short circuits – which leads to sustained damage to the product.

 

Waterproof material for electronics: Special compounds used for this process

A waterproof material for electronics goes a long way to ensure that its components and circuits are protected from water ingress. When it comes to this compound, there are several options available for product assemblers. These include:

Epoxy: Epoxy is a very popular waterproof material for electronics. This special chemical compound works well as a potting substance for electronics. When the epoxy is used as a potting compound, it is applied all over the PCB material. This application option is used to make sure that the electronic component is fully waterproof. It also goes on to increase the mechanical strength of the product.

 

 

Silicone: Silicone is a special waterproof material for electronics. This chemical compound works well as a conformal coating. It is also a great potting material that helps to provide adequate protection from the water ingress of an electronics product. While silicone may not be strong mechanically as epoxies, it is also a great waterproofing material. They have exceptional flexibility that helps enhance assembly efficiency.

Urethane: Urethane is another excellent waterproof material for electronics. This compound is widely used because it offers a blend between flexibility and sufficient mechanical strength.

 

Acrylic: Acrylic is another amazing waterproof material for electronics. This chemical compound can be used to waterproof PCBs. This is because it can be easily worked onto the electronic product. Additionally, it has a quick-drying texture. Thanks to its chemical formulation, it can easily resist humidity. This is why acrylics are applied as a waterproof material for electronics that are exposed to humid environments.

 

Para-xylylene: Para-xylylene is another great waterproof material for electronics. It can be applied simply inside the electronic product to provide a substantially thin layer. This layer provides a remarkable shield against any form of moisture or water. While this waterproof material for electronics is efficient, it can be a difficult process. In addition, the method of application is quite costly. This means that many electronics manufacturing brands may not choose this material.

 

Fluoropolymer: This is another great option as a waterproof material for electronics. This option comes with a nano-coat that offers a similar thickness as para-xylylene. However, the cost of applying the Fluoropolymer waterproof material is considerably lower than that of the para-xylylene.

 

How to choose the right waterproof materials for electronics assembly

While there are several waterproofing materials for protecting electronics against moisture, it is important to know what works for you. For manufacturing companies to know the right solutions for their operations, they will have to consider several parameters. It all depends on their requirements/specifications, budget, and the type of electronic product. Acrylic can be applied easily in a majority of applications – this is because it can be repaired easily and cheaply. Then again, silicone waterproofing materials are the best for manufacturers that need flexibility. In addition to water, electronic components like PCBs, need to be protected from heat and chemicals. These are some of the most toxic environmental hazards that attack electronic devices in their working environments. In this case, acrylic may not be a good coating material. This is because the material does not hold well in the presence of high temperatures.

 

Industrial processes used to shield electronics from moisture

Electronics are made up of fine, miniature elements called components. The Printed circuit Board (PCB) is one of the internal components of most electronics. These are the building blocks of every electronic product. These internal components and PCBs must be protected from moisture at all costs. This means that you need to apply the waterproof material for electronics to each product. The methods of costing electronics with waterproofing materials include potting and conformal coatings.

Methods of applying waterproofing electronics protection materials.

Potting and conformal coatings are the two most basic methods of applying waterproofing materials to electronics. In potting, the internal compose ts of electronic products like PCBs are embedded using a suitable potting material. An example of a potting material used in this scenario includes Urethane/silicone gels or epoxy resins. The conformal coating method is the other option that is commonly used. This method involves applying a thin layer of the conformal coating compound onto the surface of the PCB. While the waterproof materials used for both potting and conformal coatings are similar, each application method has its benefits.

For more about choosing a proper waterproof material for electronics, you can pay a visit to DeepMaterial at https://www.electronicadhesive.com/about/ for more info.