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62 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2023 electric vehicle, is to make the vehicle as light as possible. Electronic design engineers are feeling the pressure to minimize their elec- tronics through a finer pitch on the board. In ADAS, as well as other applications, the toler- ance to failures is extremely low, which means the electronics on the board will require a high level of protection against environmental influ- ences like humidity, condensation, thermal changes, corrosive gases, and other contami- nants. But not only is it important to protect the electronics against the environment, it is also necessary to insulate the different com- ponents on the board from each other. A high dielectric strength material, capable of resist- ing a greater voltage before it breaks down, is of crucial importance. Conformal coatings can deliver on these chal- lenges. Not only do they provide a strong pro- tective barrier to the outside world, but they also deliver on the insulation resistance that is required to allow a finer component pitch on the board. All this provides a high level of pro- tection in a lightweight solution. ere is a huge need for conformal coatings in hybrid and electric vehicles, but these appli- cations also have very strict requirements, which means there is also much more pressure to get things right. Typical Applications What are some of the typical applications for coatings within the automotive industry? e potential applications for conformal coatings are almost limitless. Wherever there's an electronic circuit board that needs light- weight protection, a conformal coating can be an ideal solution. Coating applications in automotive can be in sensors used in ADAS and other supporting applications. Examples of this include the ADAS control unit PCB or powertrain applications, like the battery man- agement system PCB, charger PCB, inverter, DC/DC converter, and transmission switches, just to name a few. Also, there's a requirement for coatings to protect electronics in the vehi- cle infotainment system, alongside external and interior lighting, climate control systems, and other electric controls. ere are many more applications for electronics in vehicles; the list seems endless For instance, if we move away from the vehi- cle itself to the charging infrastructure, we are faced with charging stations that are exposed to all weathers: heat, cold, humidity, and cor- rosive environments—especially near coast- lines. If we look at the need for a reliable net- work of charging points that enables EV drivers to charge their vehicles, we must include the electronics in the charging point in our list of potential applications for conformal coatings. Bio-based coatings, especially those with a higher content of raw materials from sus- tainable sources, have shown to perform well in future-proofing the conformal coatings process in EV and automotive applications. Lighter-weight coatings that meet the sustain- ability requirements of manufacturers and end users have shown improved condensation resistance, thermal stability, flexibility, and adhesion compared to many petrochemical- derived polymers. DESIGN007 Saskia Hogan is global product manager, conformal coatings, at Electrolube. To read past columns from Electrolube, click here. Download your free copy of Electrolube's book, The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to… Conformal Coatings for Harsh Environments, and watch the micro webinar series "Coatings Uncoated!" A high dielectric strength material, capable of resisting a greater voltage before it breaks down, is of crucial importance.