Techspray FAQ: How Do You Measure The Thickness of The Final Coating?
There are several methods used to measure the thickness, and the choice of method may depend on the type of conformal coating and the level of accuracy required.
Caliper: This is the simplest and cheapest method , to use a caliper to measure the thickness of the PCB before and after coating.
Calibrated Thickness Gauges: These are handheld devices that use non-destructive methods to measure the thickness of the coating. They typically use magnetic induction or eddy current principles to determine the distance between the probe and the substrate, which correlates to the coatings thickness.
Cross-Sectioning and Imaging: This method involves cutting a sample of the coated surface and examining it under a microscope. The thickness can be determined by measuring the height of the coating in the cross-sectional view.
Ultrasonic Testing: Ultrasonic thickness gauges use sound waves to measure the thickness of the coating. The device emits ultrasonic pulses, and the time taken for the waves to bounce back from the substrate-coating interface is then used to calculate the thickness.
X-ray Fluorescence (or XRF): XRF can be used to measure the thickness of conformal coatings. It involves analyzing the intensity of X-rays emitted from the coating material due to bombardment by X-rays. The thickness is determined based on the X-ray’s penetration depth.
Electrical Capacitance Method: This method utilizes the change in capacitance between electrodes positioned on opposite sides of the coated surface. The coating's thickness affects the capacitance, allowing for indirect measurement.
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PROTECT ELECTRONICS FROM EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS
Techspray offers SR, AR and UR conformal coating formulas for a wide variety engineering requirements including thermal, moisture & static resistance. All coatings are IPC-CC-830B and UL94 V-0 qualified.
Techspray offers a variety of conformal coating formulas for differing field or engineering requirements and is IPC CC 830B and UL94-0 Qualified or rated. Specifications generally depend on the type of protection needed: e.g., thermal, moisture, or static resistance.
Coatings contain Opti/Scan (except LED Coating) to allow quality control inspection of coverage and evenness of the coating on a PCB. A coated board can be passed under a standard, low-cost UV (short-wave black) light to fluoresce the coated areas. The brighter the glow, the thicker the coating.
Application methods:
Dip – High volume method to fully coat boards. Thickness of the final coating is controlled by viscosity and withdrawal speed from the pot.
Conformal Coating Spray – Computer controlled selective spray systems eliminate the need for masking. Higher viscosity is generally needed (70-200 cps) to create precise edge definition and prevent splattering.
Manual Application – Aerosol and brushing are generally used for small production runs, rework and repair. The aerosol needs to be compatible with the original coating if it’s rework.
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https://www.techspray.com
Techspray is a leading manufacturer of chemical products and soldering tools for the electronics industry. Techspray formulates, blends, and packages a wide variety of chemicals and assorted support products for the electronics industry, aerospace, heavy industry, and plant and equipment maintenance including degreasers, contact cleaners, flux removers, dusters, conformal coating, solder mask, water-based cleaners, desoldering wick, soldering tips, and the popular Plato shear cutters. More information can be found at techspray.com.