CONFORMAL COATING

Conformal coating refers to a protective coating designed to conform to the surface of an assembled printed circuit or PWA. This coating protects the circuitry from humidity, moisture, dust, and corrosion which can be caused by exposure to extreme environments.

The picture above illustrates, one PCB (left) which does not have coating applied to it. On the other hand, the PCB to the right has conformal coating applied and therefore, it is protected from mold, mildew, fungus, and harsh tropical environments. GarrettCom uses the Dow Corning 1-2620 Low VOC RTV Coating, a more environmentally friendly silicone elastoplastic coating.

Conformal coating (sometimes also known as "tropical treatment") is an RFQ option on  all Magnum Industrial Ethernet products, except it is a standard feature of the ITS Blade product used in outdoor traffic control applications.

For additional protection against corrosive gases and salt-spray atmospheres, an extra-thick silicone conformal coating is offered as an option on GarrettCom's Oil, Gas, and Petroleum (OGP) products.  Where a 5-mil silicone conformal coating is appropriate for high moisture faciliities such as water treatment plants, heavy-duty 14-mil (12.5 to 15.8 thickness) has been shown to be necessary for more severe and corrosive environments.  Military applications and standards such as MIL-I-46058C confirm the efficacy of heavy-duty silicone conformal coating for electronic equipment to protect against highly corrosive gaseous hydrocarbons.