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80 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I AUGUST 2021 Last month, I started this series of columns on resins by going back to basics, questioning the core rationale for resin choice and applica- tion. I will be exploring this area in more detail over the forthcoming months, to assist you in your pursuit of steadfast circuit protection. For this month's column, let's take a closer look at the fundamental chemistries of potting and encapsulation resins, and examine how each resin type offers individual properties that can be exploited to maximise performance under a wide range of environmental conditions. When you embark on resin selection, there will be critical points that arise for effective resistance in end use environments, so let's explore these in a bit more detail. First, let's begin by looking at the archenemy of electrical and electronic devices, the dreaded "moisture." On top of producing short-circuits, moisture also causes corrosion, which leads to premature deterioration of components. So, what resin is best suited to combatting mois- ture? Polyurethane resins. ese are usually supplied as two-part products that achieve the desired cure when mixed, and provide that all- important moisture resistance, as well as excel- lent electrical insulation, flexibility, and good adhesion to most substrates, both metal and plastic. For more intensive moisture resistance, such as marine applications, there are polyurethane resin systems available that provide excep- tional resistance to seawater and temperature extremes, making them an ideal choice for marine applications such as sensor encapsula- tion. Another good example of a polyurethane Selecting Resins for Effective Resistance in End-Use Environments Sensible Design by Beth Turner, ELECTROLUBE