Conformal coating is applied to provide electronic circuits with a protective barrier against moisture and contamination and to provide electrical insulation. The most common properties used for conformal coating testing are IPC-CC-830B, Amendment 1: Qualification and Performance of Electrical Insulating Compound and MIL-I-46058 for Printed Cable Assemblies.
The standards have established competence and suitability requirements for conformal coatings. The standard outlines qualification, qualification protection and quality compliance testing for a compatible coating. The term conformal coating in the specification refers to a type of protective coating applied to a PCA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly). The coating aims to provide protection from moisture and contamination; thus it provides confidence that electrical properties are preserved.
The test is carried out on the IPC-B-46058A card, which contains the appropriate test patterns to run all tests except the Temperature and Humidity Aging (Hydrolytic Stability) test using the y-pattern designed in MIL-I-25C. The use of standard test tools and test procedures allows a manufacturer to characterize its product.
As of now, there are five conformal coating types AR (Acrylic), ER (Epoxy), UR (Polyurethane), SR (Silicone) and XY (Paraxylene). Coatings are classified as Class A (Hydrolytically Unstable) or Class B (Hydrolytically Stable). The hydrolytic test is designed to determine the fluid resistance of the conformal coating applied when exposed to high humidity at a given temperature and time.
Recently, IPC-CC-830B, IPC and Military specifications (IPC-CC-1 and MIL-I-830) of Amendment 46058 are planned to undergo a major overhaul, as it has been discovered to be incompatible. The IPC task force tasked with revising this standard will review the possibility of designing a new test tool specifically to include the revision of Moisture and Insulation Resistance (MIR) and Dielectric Strength Voltage (DWV) requirements and the easy use of automated use.
IPC-CC-830 is currently divided into three categories: Column A test for qualification, Column B test for qualification retention and Column C test for quality compliance. MIL-I-46058 is divided into four categories: Proficiency, Group A, Group B and Group C. The test frequencies for each specification are summarized below.
Although the MIL-I-46058 document has been canceled for the new design since November 1998, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) still maintains the Qualified Products List (QPL) for this document because the material is still purchased for the production of products. EUROLAB is a DLA-approved testing laboratory for this specification and can provide full eligible coating qualification and compliance testing to assist with the DLA to fill in the required application form.
Although developed by IPC, there is currently no QPL for IPC-CC-830 qualified products. If you are responsible for supplier surveillance as a user, we recommend that you review your supplier's actual dated test reports to confirm the necessary tests have been completed.
EUROLAB offers consulting and testing services to appropriate coating manufacturers and users, including root cause failure analysis for adhesion, electricity, contamination and other issues.
1) View Glass with 4 coating; 1 uncoated
2) Fluorescent Glass 4 coated; 1 uncoated
3) Thickness Glass 4 coated; 1 uncoated
4) Mushroom Resistant Glass 4 coated
5) Flexibility Tin Panel with 4 coating
6) Flammability UL 94 test strips (1/2 ”X 5” bare laminate strips with sanded sides) 20 coated
7) Dielectric Strength Voltage (DWV) IPC-B-25A test cards (with D model cable) 5 coating
8) Moisture and Insulation Resistance (MIR) IPC-B-25A test boards (with D-model cable) 4 coated; 1 uncoated
9) Thermal Shock IPC-B-25A test cards (with D-pattern cable) 5 coating
10) Temperature and Humidity Aging (Hydrolytic Stability) “Y” shape test device (with resistors, one color coded and one number / alphabet, soldered) 5 coating
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