ELECTROLUBE
Join The Eco Revolution in Coating Technology - Bio-based Conformal Coatings E
lectrolube, a brand of MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, is among the world’s foremost experts in the formulation and application of conformal coatings designed to meet international approvals (including European and American military specifications). Conformal coatings are thin, protective polymeric coatings, that are applied to protect the metal surfaces of printed circuit boards from corrosion, condensation, dielectric breakdowns and mitigate against tin whisker formation and conductive metal particles. They are designed to cover and protect solder joints, the leads of electronic components, exposed traces, and other metallised areas, ultimately extending the working life of the PCB. Electrolube’s extensive range of coatings include acrylics, silicones, polyurethanes, hybrid chemistries and more recently, the company has introduced a brand new bio-based range of environmentally friendly coatings. After significant research and development, Electrolube has developed a viable and sustainable alternative to materials derived from petrochemicals and has introduced a new bio-coating to market that is completely solvent-free, a global first for the industry. The electro-chemicals manufacturer has launched the first 2K UV coating, UVCLX,
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JUNE/JULY 2022 GLOBAL INDUSTRY FOCUS
which incorporates 75% bio-organic content from renewable sources and meets the needs of both manufacturers and consumers, essentially based on ethics, performance and process. The use of solvents has become more restricted, and consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the ‘waste’ of these processes in the form of the energy required to remove the solvents, as well as the impact of their release on the environment. UVCLX, UV Cure Coating Xtra, is a bio-based conformal coating that is completely unique to the industry and provides the highest levels of protection whilst maintaining a rapid processing time. Applied via a selective coating machine, UVCLX exceeds traditional UV Cure Coatings, by being touch dry after just a short exposure to LED-365nm UV light. Full cure is guaranteed in less than 24 hours by virtue of the secondary chemical cure mechanism, which ensures that even shadowed areas are fully cured in a matter of hours. UV curing uses intense ultraviolet light to set off a chemical reaction within the coating in order to cure almost immediately in areas exposed to the UV radiation. With traditional UV Cure materials, the rapid nature of the primary UV cure, as well
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