What is potting and encapsulation in electronics?
Potting and encapsulation are the two main techniques used to protect sensitive and critical electronic components from diverse threats, such as harsh environmental and climatic conditions, corrosive chemical aggression, vibrations, dust, exposure to heat and fire. They work alongside other protective techniques, such as conformal coating and sealing and bonding.
Potting is the process of filling (partially or completely) or embedding the electronic component or assembly in an enclosure with a resinous material such as silicone for the purpose of providing protection.
Encapsulation is a similar process to potting but differs because the component is generally dipped into a mold and then placed in a space, without necessarily filling the entire cavity. The purpose of encapsulation is therefore to create a protective “shell” around the component, without embedding it. It provides resistance to major threats, such as shock, vibration, moisture, corrosive agents and improves electrical insulation, flame retardancy and heat dissipation.
The benefits where silicones outperform epoxies or polyurethanes in potting and encapsulation:
- Heat resistance, temperature range – silicones offer better heat resistance, temperature range (-50° to 200°C and up to 300°C in some formulations)
- Flame retardant – Silicone is self-extinguishing, which is not the case for epoxies or polyurethanes.
- Thermal expansion – due its low hardness, silicone offers greater linear thermal expansion coefficients of approx. 3 × 10-4 m/(m K), much higher than other polymers.
- Elasticity –Silicone elastomers are particularly elastic because they are compounded using reactive, straight-chained molecules together with a cross-linking agents and reinforcement.
- Resistance to environmental hazards – silicones outperform all other potting and encapsulation materials in this category, in particular moisture and UV resistance, as well as ozone stability. These features, as well as heat resistance and a high temperature range (mentioned above) make silicones an ideal material for electronic systems in harsh environments.
- Vibration– in industrial applications, silicones offer great resistance to vibrations because they are softer and more flexible (low modulus). With their capacity to endure temperature changes and protect against corrosive substances, silicone are especially well suited to demanding closed spaces such as engine housings or turbines.
- Dielectric stability – silicones offer both excellent electrical insulation and sufficiently constant conductivity over a wide temperature and frequency range.
- Repairability – Silicone can be dissolved with solvents when necessary for reworking or repairing specific components.
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ELANTAS is a leading manufacturer of insulating and protective materials with focus on the global electrical and electronics industry.
The ELANTAS group offers a comprehensive portfolio of wire enamels, impregnating resins and varnishes, casting and potting resins, flexible electrical insulation materials, materials for electronic protection, specialty industrial coatings, products for printed electronics as well as a wide range of tooling and composite materials.
With the most advanced technology in the world, modern production and testing facilities, scientific management, Elantas provide customers with first class technology, high quality products and value-added services.
Achilles is distributing Conformal coating, Adhesive for PBA and Potting materials. Those products are manufactured in Elantas Malaysia factory.
Please contact HOTLINE: 098 469 4884 or Ms. Mai (0976.137.653) for retail/whole sale pricing, bulk ordering and product information.