There are many types of electronic products, providing consumers with a wide range of choices. Products that are of poor quality and have a short lifespan are easily phased out by the market. To achieve greater market competitiveness, it is essential to focus on product quality, as nearly all electronic products rely on PCBs. As a result, more and more electronic product manufacturers are paying close attention to the need for conformal coatings, commonly known as “three anti-paints.” These coatings serve to protect the PCB, its components, and the printed circuits from damage, ensuring a longer lifespan.
So, what happens if the PCB is not coated with three anti-paint? Let me explain a few key points for your understanding.
1. **Patina Formation**
Patina, also known as tarnish, is a common issue on PCB surfaces. But how does patina form on PCBs? To understand this, we must first look at the causes of patina on circuit boards. Moisture is the most common and damaging factor that affects PCB circuit boards.
If a PCB is exposed to a humid environment for an extended period, combined with the presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the copper on the PCB will begin to undergo a chemical reaction, leading to oxidation or rusting. This results in the formation of patina, which can ultimately cause the PCB to fail. The solution to this issue is to apply a conformal coating, or three anti-paint, to the PCB and use anti-corrosion glue to prevent damage.
2. **Leakage or Short Circuit Phenomenon**
Where does the leakage issue come from? Without protection on the electrical circuit, dust can accumulate over time. Since dust easily absorbs moisture, the resistance of dust mixed with moisture decreases, which can lead to local leakage in the wiring. This often causes abnormal behavior in the control circuit or even heat generation.
For instance, a computer we frequently use may experience an unexpected shutdown after prolonged use. After cleaning the circuit board, it may start working normally again. This is because excessive dust has built up on the board, and the circuit board lacks protective coatings like conformal coating, which is a serious issue. In such cases, cleaning alone will not be sufficient; the motherboard would need to be replaced. To prevent leakage or short circuits in a product, it’s essential to use PCB conformal coatings and electrical anti-adhesive solutions.
3. **Fingerprints or Sweat Contamination**
Manual operations are involved in nearly every stage of PCB manufacturing, which increases the risk of contamination, especially from sweaty hands. Sweat can leave behind moisture, inorganic salts, fatty oils, and even cosmetic residues like makeup or skin care products. These contaminants can end up on component leads, solder joints, and other parts of the PCB. Over time, environmental factors will cause corrosion, breakage, or other damage to the pins and components within just a few months.
Therefore, after a PCB is manufactured, it’s crucial to clean the board’s surface and apply a conformal coating to ensure the proper functioning of all the components during subsequent assembly. To mitigate the risks caused by fingerprints, the application of PCB conformal coatings and electrical anti-adhesive is highly recommended.
If the PCB is not coated with conformal coating and electrical anti-adhesive, waiting for issues to arise in the field, where repairs may involve rework or even full replacement, can lead to much higher costs than simply applying the protective coatings from the outset. Environmental factors—such as the high humidity in southern regions, heavy salt spray near coastal areas, or exposure to harsh chemicals—can make it nearly impossible to prevent the PCB from contacting damaging substances without these coatings.
So, what happens if the PCB is not coated with three anti-paint? Let me explain a few key points for your understanding.
1. **Patina Formation**
Patina, also known as tarnish, is a common issue on PCB surfaces. But how does patina form on PCBs? To understand this, we must first look at the causes of patina on circuit boards. Moisture is the most common and damaging factor that affects PCB circuit boards.
If a PCB is exposed to a humid environment for an extended period, combined with the presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the copper on the PCB will begin to undergo a chemical reaction, leading to oxidation or rusting. This results in the formation of patina, which can ultimately cause the PCB to fail. The solution to this issue is to apply a conformal coating, or three anti-paint, to the PCB and use anti-corrosion glue to prevent damage.
2. **Leakage or Short Circuit Phenomenon**
Where does the leakage issue come from? Without protection on the electrical circuit, dust can accumulate over time. Since dust easily absorbs moisture, the resistance of dust mixed with moisture decreases, which can lead to local leakage in the wiring. This often causes abnormal behavior in the control circuit or even heat generation.
For instance, a computer we frequently use may experience an unexpected shutdown after prolonged use. After cleaning the circuit board, it may start working normally again. This is because excessive dust has built up on the board, and the circuit board lacks protective coatings like conformal coating, which is a serious issue. In such cases, cleaning alone will not be sufficient; the motherboard would need to be replaced. To prevent leakage or short circuits in a product, it’s essential to use PCB conformal coatings and electrical anti-adhesive solutions.
3. **Fingerprints or Sweat Contamination**
Manual operations are involved in nearly every stage of PCB manufacturing, which increases the risk of contamination, especially from sweaty hands. Sweat can leave behind moisture, inorganic salts, fatty oils, and even cosmetic residues like makeup or skin care products. These contaminants can end up on component leads, solder joints, and other parts of the PCB. Over time, environmental factors will cause corrosion, breakage, or other damage to the pins and components within just a few months.
Therefore, after a PCB is manufactured, it’s crucial to clean the board’s surface and apply a conformal coating to ensure the proper functioning of all the components during subsequent assembly. To mitigate the risks caused by fingerprints, the application of PCB conformal coatings and electrical anti-adhesive is highly recommended.
If the PCB is not coated with conformal coating and electrical anti-adhesive, waiting for issues to arise in the field, where repairs may involve rework or even full replacement, can lead to much higher costs than simply applying the protective coatings from the outset. Environmental factors—such as the high humidity in southern regions, heavy salt spray near coastal areas, or exposure to harsh chemicals—can make it nearly impossible to prevent the PCB from contacting damaging substances without these coatings.
