Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1540984
72 SMT007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2025 • Environmental profile: Solvent-free (100% solids), PFAS-free, and formulated with 30% bio-based renewable content; fully compliant with RoHS and REACH • Compatibility: Verified adhesion and SIR per- formance with many of MacDermid Alpha's no-clean solder paste chemistries, reducing the risk of adhesion and ECM issues • Electrical reliability: Maintains SIR > 10⁸ Ω after 1,000 cycles of thermal cycling (-40°C to +125°C) followed by 1,000 hours of 85°C/85% RH SIR testing and demonstrates exceptional performance in condensation testing UVFlex: Performance Validation Testing Thermal shock cycling: Boards coated with UVFlex were subjected to 1,000 thermal cycles from -40°C to +125°C with 30-minute dwell times. UVFlex showed no cracking or delamination and maintained SIR values above 10⁸ Ω throughout the test. Com- peting UV-curable coatings developed microcracks and failed SIR requirements before 500 cycles. Condensation resistance: On a QFP component test board, UVFlex demonstrated excellent resis- tance to condensation. In a condensation chamber at -40°C, 80% RH, and under a 50V bias, uncoated assemblies failed in less than 500 minutes. By con- trast, assemblies coated with UVFlex maintained electrical insulation with only minimal SIR fluctua- tion, confirming its effective component coverage and moisture barrier performance. ECM resistance: Testing in accordance with IPC standards on uncleaned flux residue demonstrated that UVFlex significantly reduces the risk of ECM failures. Its combination of low moisture perme- ability with tolerance to ionic contamination pre- served high SIR values throughout 1,000 hours of 85°C/85% RH aging. Mechanical reliability: Elasticity testing showed that UVFlex maintained a low modulus (E) even after aging at 130°C for 120 hours. In contrast, benchmark UV coatings became brittle, with E-values increas- ing more than tenfold after aging under the same conditions. Sealing the Future with Advanced Conformal Coating Materials Conformal coatings are an essential defense for electronics operating in harsh environments. A wide range of traditional chemistries is available, and selection has long depended on balancing application requirements with the coating's unique barrier performance. Decades of field experience confirm that no single material excels across all per- formance metrics; instead, each chemistry offers distinct strengths and trade-offs in areas such as moisture resistance, flexibility, reworkability, rug- gedness, and environmental compliance. Engineers must therefore carefully evaluate these factors to identify the optimal solution for each application. Today, advances in coating chemistries are expanding the boundaries of electronics reliability. Performance validation of Electrolube UVFlex exem- plifies this progress, narrowing the performance gap between traditional potting compounds and conformal coatings. It demonstrates a new level of protection against ECM, improved tolerance to CTE mismatches, enhanced thixotropic flow for precise and uniform coverage, superior SIR, rapid dual-cur- ing mechanisms, and safer, more sustainable ingre- dients. These performance gains are now advanc- ing UVFlex toward commercialization. As technical standards evolve and environmen- tal regulations tighten, such next-generation coat- ings will be key to enabling tomorrow's high-reliabil- ity electronics across demanding industries. Readers interested in learning more about conformal coating technologies and their role in product reliability can find further details at MacDermidAlpha.com. SMT007 References 1. "Conformal Coatings Market Size, Share, and Trends 2025 to 2034," Precedence Research, Feb. 5, 2025. 2. "Conformal Coatings Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecase by Type, Technologies, Operation Method, Edn Use, and Region, 2025-2033," imarc. Saskia Hogan is the global product manager for Conformal Coatings at MacDermid Alpha, with over 10 years of experience in the electronics and automotive sectors, based in the UK.