Humiseal develops UV40 gel

Humiseal has developed a gel version of its UV40 and will be making a gel version of the acrylic-based 1B31 and urethane-based 1A33 coatings available to US and Asian customers.

These thixatropic versions of existing products can be used in applications that require avoiding 'keep out' areas on assemblies during selective conformal coating application, as well as sealing connectors to prevent ingress of coating material.

UV40 gel has been specifically formulated for some specialist large-scale LED applications.

One such application is the huge LED displays that can often be seen above stadiums during sporting events.

The displays are carried on hot air balloons or blimps where exposure to the elements is severe and yet weight remains an issue.

Manufacturers realised that a lightweight alternative to hermetically sealed housings was needed for the electronic circuitry, but it had to be robust enough to withstand the rigours of extremes in UV exposure, lightning strikes and moisture ingress from rain.

UV40 gel is applied in conjunction with standard UV40 product around sensitive areas of the circuit board to increase the thickness of covering.

This can be as thick as 1mm, nearly 10 times the normal thickness of a conformal coating.

The 1B31 and 1A33 gels have been engineered to ensure that they do not flow from the point of dispense, a property that some manufacturers find crucial in today's environment of high board density and reduced real estate.

The product lends itself to automated selective coating applications but can also be used manually where necessary.

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