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56 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2021 Welcome to the first of my new series on encapsulation resins. I am going to focus on the all-important subject of resin selection, types of chemistries available and their properties, application, mix and cure. First, though, let me introduce myself. I'm Beth Turner and have worked for Electrolube for five years, start- ing as a member of the Global Technical Sup- port Team. I've spent my career as a research and development chemist working on adhe- sives, resins, and conformal coatings at Apollo Chemicals before moving to Electrolube, and have previously worked on specialist projects, including bio-functional nano-coatings and coatings affording protection to electronics in harsh environments. When it comes to the choice and appli- cations of resins, there's a great deal to talk about, and over the forthcoming months, I hope to provide some useful tips and design advice that will help in your quest for reliable circuit protection. For this resins series, I will start by reviewing some fundamentals that will help circuit designers understand some of the essential properties of resins before deciding which is most suitable for the task at hand. Selecting the Correct Resin For Your Application Choosing the correct encapsulation resin is possibly the most critical aspect of the design process. It is imperative to understand where and how the finished unit is going to be used and what performance criteria are expected of it. It is best practice to draw up a list of the ambient or standard operating conditions that the unit will be exposed to, and then list what the extremes of those operating conditions are likely to be. Resins—Fundamental Considerations for Circuit Designers Sensible Design by Beth Turner, ELECTROLUBE