Just Ask Joe: Automotive Conformal Coatings

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

First, we asked you to send in your questions for Happy Holden. Now, it’s Joe Fjelstad’s turn! Inventor, columnist, instructor, and founder of Verdant Electronics, Joe has been involved with rigid PCBs and flexible circuits for decades, and he’s ready to share some of his knowledge with our readers. We hope you enjoy “Just Ask Joe.”

Q: Of all the various conformal coating materials available, what would you recommend for automotive electronics?  

A: The question indicates knowledge that there are different conformal coating options out there. It is not really possible to pick a definitive solution without knowing more detail about the application specifics. In general, a conformal coating is used to seal the electronics from the environment, but there may be other demands/desires placed on the material in terms of “reworkability” and/or special environmental and/or chemical resistance requirements. I’d suggest creating a list of desired qualities and performance needs/requirements, along with ease of use, reworkability, and submitting them to the various vendors for their responses. The vendors can often serve as good and reliable resources for answering questions you might not have thought to ask.    

To pose your own question for Joe Fjelstad, click here.

Joe Fjelstad is founder and CEO of Verdant Electronics and an international authority and innovator in the field of electronic interconnection and packaging technologies with more than 185 patents issued or pending. To read past "Flexible Thinking" columns or contact Fjelstad, click here. Download your free copy of Fjelstad’s book Flexible Circuit Technology, 4^th Edition, and watch the micro webinar series on flexible circuit technology.