What Is PCB Conformal Coating?
PCB conformal coating — also called circuit board varnish, PCB lacquer, protective lacquer, circuit board sealant or IPC-CC-830 coating — is a thin polymeric film applied to a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA). The coating "conforms" to the contours of the board, covering components, solder joints, leads and exposed copper traces.
Other internationally used names include:
- PCB lacquer / circuit board lacquer — common in European manufacturing
- PCB varnish / protective varnish — used in UK, Australia, Germany (Leiterplattenversiegelung)
- Printed circuit board sealant — defence and industrial sectors
- Conformal protective coating / conformal protective lacquer
- Sơn phủ PCB — Vietnamese term | 基板コーティング — Japanese term
Why Is Conformal Coating Necessary?
Electronic assemblies are vulnerable to multiple environmental threats simultaneously:
- Moisture & condensation → corrosion, leakage current and short circuits
- Fungal growth → degrades insulation in tropical/humid environments (critical in Vietnam, India, SE Asia)
- Chemical exposure → flux residue, cleaning agents, industrial gases
- Vibration & mechanical stress → cracking solder joints and component damage
- High-voltage arcing → corona discharge, dielectric breakdown
- Ionic contamination → dendritic growth causing PCB short circuits
Conformal coating addresses all of these risks simultaneously — making it mandatory in automotive, aerospace, industrial, LED lighting, and outdoor electronics.
Types of Conformal Coatings
| Type | Code | Rework | Moisture Protection | Cost | Max Temp | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | AR | ✔ Easy | ✔ Good | ✔ Low | 120°C | 90% of applications |
| Silicone | SR | ✘ Hard | ✔✔ Best | ✘ High | 200°C | Extreme temperature |
| Urethane | UR | ⚠ Moderate | ✔ Good | ⚠ Medium | 130°C | Chemical resistance |
| Epoxy | ER | ✘ Very Hard | ✔✔ Excellent | ⚠ Medium | 150°C | Harsh industrial |
| Parylene | XY | ✘ Plasma only | ✔✔✔ Superior | ✘ Very High | 200°C | Defence / medical |
Industry fact: Acrylic conformal coatings (AR type) account for over 70% of global conformal coating usage. CONINS Acrylcoat products are all acrylic-based, engineered for specific application environments from LED lighting to automotive ECUs.
CONINS Acrylcoat Complete Product Range
Application Methods
Clean First
Always clean the PCB with Elclean E-Clean Spray or Elclean Liquid before applying any conformal coating. Flux residues and ionic contamination prevent adhesion and cause premature failure.
Brush Coating
Manual application — ideal for low-volume production, prototypes and rework. Best for targeted area coating. Gives good control but slower than spray.
Spray Coating
Using aerosol or the CONINS External Dispensing Spray Pump — faster, more uniform than brushing. Ideal for medium production volumes.
Dip Coating
Full board immersion — excellent for high-density boards. Provides complete coverage of all surfaces and components.
Cure in Oven
Cure all Acrylcoat products at 80°C for 60 minutes. Full optimum properties develop after 7 days. Inspect under UV lamp — Acrylcoat fluoresces for easy coverage verification.
Where Is Conformal Coating Used?
- Consumer electronics — smartphones, TVs, home appliances, computer hardware
- LED lighting — streetlights, industrial LEDs, automotive LED assemblies → LED Coating Guide
- Automobile electronics — ECUs, ABS, infotainment, ADAS boards → Automotive Coating Guide
- Industrial control systems — PLCs, inverters, VFDs, motor drives
- Telecommunications — antenna units, base stations, routers
- Medical electronics — monitoring devices, diagnostic equipment
- Aerospace & defence — avionics, navigation, radar systems
- IoT devices — smart meters, sensors, wireless modules
Why Choose CONINS Pune (Acrylcoat)?
- ✅ 25+ years of experience — manufacturing conformal coatings in Pune, India
- ✅ 100% indigenous R&D — all formulations developed in-house
- ✅ High dielectric strength — up to 25 kV/mm (SKR-70)
- ✅ Ozone-friendly, RoHS-aligned — eco-responsible formulations
- ✅ Full documentation — TDS, MSDS, compliance certificates
- ✅ Global exports — shipped to Vietnam, Germany, USA, Malaysia, UAE and 20+ countries
- ✅ Flexible packaging — 1L, 5L, 25L to suit importers of all sizes