Dual UV Conformal Coating Benefits over Traditional Solvent-base Coating
What is Dual UV Conformal Coating?
Dual UV conformal coating is a type of protective coating applied to electronic circuits and components to provide insulation and protection from environmental factors such as moisture, dust, chemicals, and temperature variations. The “dual UV” aspect refers to the curing process of the coating, which involves two stages of ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.
Manufacturing industries are increasingly adopting UV dual cure coatings due to several compelling advantages that align with modern production goals, regulatory requirements, and sustainability initiatives.
Advantages of Dual UV Curing Conformal Coating over Traditional Solvent Base Coating
Dual UV conformal coatings offer several benefits over traditional solvent-based coatings, making them a preferred choice in various applications. Here are the key advantages:
PCB coating Solvent type VS UV type Typical Properties
At present, most of the solvent-coating adhesives in the market have 30-80% volatile components during the curing process. These components are organic volatiles that are harmful to the environment and the human body.
PCB coating Solvent type VS UV type Storage condition
Coating Type | Flash point | VOC | Flammable and combustible | Transport vehicle | Dangerous goods |
Solvent coating | ≤20°C | Lot | Yes | Limited | Yes |
GLUDITEC UV Dual Cure Conformal Coating | ≥93°C | None | No | Common, No limitation | No |
PCB coating Solvent type VS UV type Application advantage
Item | UV Curing | Solvent Base |
Appearance | Fluorescent transparent liquid | |
Solid Content | 100% | 40%~80% |
Curing Mechanism | UV & Moisture Dual Curing Way | Heat or room temperature cure |
Curing Energy | 1200mJ/cm2 | 60°C @20mins or more than 1 hour |
Curing Time | In 40 seconds | |
Temperature (°C) | -50~150 | -50~125 |
Application Method | Brush, DIP, Automatic Spraying/ Coating System | |
Applying Area | Selective Coating or Full board Coating | |
Protection Level | UV cross-linking reaction to form a dense coating layer with perfect protection level | Solvent volatilization physical reaction to form a coating layer |
Conclusion
In conclusion, UV dual cure coatings offer significant advantages over traditional solvent-based coatings across multiple facets of manufacturing. In terms of efficiency, UV coatings drastically reduce curing times to less than a minute depending on the lamp’s light intensity, compared to the 15-30 minutes required for heat curing of solvent coatings at 60-80°C. This rapid curing capability not only speeds up production but also enhances throughput.
From a process perspective, UV coatings provide versatility by allowing the selection of products with appropriate viscosities to achieve the desired film thickness, ensuring consistent and high-quality application. Furthermore, UV coatings are environmentally friendly, non-flammable, and safe to transport, store, and use without any special qualification restrictions. In contrast, the production, transportation, storage, and use of solvent-based hazardous chemicals are subject to stringent regulatory requirements due to their potential risks.
