Black opaque conformal coating enhances PCB security

The new Dymax Multi-Cure 9451, from Intertronics, is a true black and opaque conformal coating that enhances security of electronic products by covering the printed circuit board and components, hiding them from visual inspection. This is an effective barrier to loss of confidentiality and possible copying or reverse engineering of proprietary designs, in addition to its ability to improve circuit reliability in harsh conditions. The coating is a UV/light and heat cure coating suitable for most circuit assemblies. It can be applied manually or in automatic spray equipment, in a single pass of up to 0.125mm thickness. Coating which finds its way into shadowed areas is cured using a secondary heat process. For thicker coating requirements the material can be applied in multiple passes. It becomes immediately tack free after light curing, helping to avoid handling defects such as fingerprints which may be left on boards if they are handled too soon and protecting against other damage caused by stacking and arranging PCBs during processing. The coating can be applied to a variety of substrates including glass reinforced epoxy laminates, glass and stainless steel with a good adhesion. While it has been developed to cover sensitive information, it can be reworked/removed without damage to the underlying circuitry.