FAQ: Reduce Bubbles, Conformal Coating

Application guidelines:

• Keep the material as close to the substrate as possible when applying to help reduce bubbles and entrapped air.
• Minimize length material needs to travel and pressure required to dispense
• Minimize time the material is pressurized, do not keep material pressurized when not in use.
• Use bladder packs or other barriers (i.e., a plunger or follower plate) between pressure and material to help minimize air incorporation.

If using heat to reduce the time required to reach a tack-free state, allow adequate time for the solvent to evaporate prior to exposing to elevated temperatures in an air circulating oven.

A typical cure schedule for 3 mil (75 micron) coatings (like the DOWSIL™ 3-1953 Conformal Coating and other room temperature cure DOWSIL™ conformal coatings) is 10 minutes at room temperature, followed by 10 minutes at 60°C.

If the silicone coating blisters or contains bubbles, allow additional time at room temperature for the solvent to flash off prior to oven cure.