Cleaning of Electronic Assem- blies prior to Conformal Coating – Part II
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[Kristyna Zakova; Christoph Karl]
Under challenging conditions such as high humidity or fluctuating temperatures, a protective coating shields electronic assemblies from external influences. However, this protection is only effective if the coating adheres well, achieves sufficient layer thickness, and remains durable. Contaminants on the surface can impair adhesion and lead to defects, potentially causing the coating to fail. Therefore, thorough cleaning before coating is essential. For more details and recommendations, please refer to our whitepaper.
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Article number: EN-2409-06
When electronic assemblies have to function under difficult circumstances in humid and corrosive environments, the manufacturers often decide to use conformal coating to protect the assembly from damage.
However, conformal coating can only protect the assembly if the coating layer is sufficiently thick and crucial locations are fully covered. Additionally, the coating layer has to withstand mechanical stresses without cracking or delaminating from the surface of a PCBA.
During the manufacturing process various contaminants accumulate on a PCBA surface and impair adhesion and curing of coatings or cause defects in coating layers. Defects can later, when under stress, lead to a coating failure and consequently to failure of the electronic assembly.
To prevent such issues, it is recommended to clean PCBAs before coating. However, it is certainly helpful to be aware of typical coating defects, know how and where to detect these and what risks these impose on the PCBAs reliability.
Kristyna Zakova
Project Engineer Applied Research
Kristyna Zakova studied Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Manufacturing Technology and Quality Management at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and worked during her studies in the Material Innovation Lab at an LED manufacturer. Afterward, she was employed in Quality Management at a manufacturer of industrial cleaning systems, where she was also responsible for system tests and FACs.
At Zestron, she works in the Applied Research department, engaging in research projects both internally and in cooperation with external partners. Her focus is on analytics, particularly ion chromatography and technical cleanliness, as well as the exploration of new analytical methods and the requirements for cleaning challenging surfaces. Thanks to her practical experience in the lab and plant engineering, she places great emphasis on the feasibility and real-world applicability of research results.
Christoph Karl
Project Engineer Applied Research, ZESTRON Europe
Christoph Karl studied Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Materials Engineering, earning a Dipl.Ing. degree. He then worked at the University of Birmingham and in the automotive supply industry.
At Zestron, he is active in the Applied Research Group, where he oversees topics and research projects related to metrology, analytics, plant engineering, and Design of Experiment (DoE).
In the Applied Research Group, he collaborates with R&D and application technology to develop new methods for analyzing cleaning under components and presents results in a highly targeted manner.
