This breakthrough was the catalyst for a whole range of contact lubricants, forming the basis of the company now known as Electrolube. As global specialists in all aspects of formulated chemical products for the electronics industry, Electrolube also offers a vast array of products including thermal management materials, conformal coatings, encapsulation resins, electronic cleaning solutions, and general maintenance products.
Conformal Coatings
A conformal coating is a thin polymeric film applied to a printed circuit board (PCB) in order to protect the board and its components from the environment and to prevent corrosion. The film is typically applied at 25-250µm and ‘conforms’ to the shape of the board and its components. It is designed to cover and protect solder joints, the leads of electronic components, exposed traces, and other metalized areas from corrosion, ultimately extending the working life of the PCB.
Encapsulation Resins
Encapsulation resins and potting compounds are used to protect electronic devices in the harshest operating conditions protecting them from chemicals, dust, heat, water, corrosive atmospheres, physical shock, or just the general environment. The materials are used to either ‘encapsulate’ individual components, or ‘pot’ the entire unit.
Thermal Interface Materials & Solutions
Heat is lost from a component to its surroundings at the surface of the component. The rate of loss of heat will increase with the surface area of the component; a small device producing 10 watts will reach a higher temperature than a similar power device with a larger surface area.
Contact Lubricants
Contact lubricants are specially formulated greases and oils that reduce friction and enhance the electrical performance of current-carrying metal interfaces in switches and connectors. Electrolube products are electrically insulative in thick films, preventing tracking in ultra-thin films, i.e. between closed metal contacts they allow the current to flow, owing to the ‘Quantum Tunnelling Effect’. They also exhibit a neutral pH thereby avoiding surface corrosion.
Electronic & General Purpose Cleaning
The purpose of cleaning, specifically within the rapidly expanding electronics industry, is to essentially improve product lifetime by ensuring good surface resistance and by preventing current leakage leading to PCB failure. This developing market sees modern and future electronics becoming smaller and smaller and the requirement for high performance and reliability is stronger than ever. To achieve good insulation resistance and ensure adequate adhesion of conformal coatings and encapsulation resins, the cleanliness of the electronic assemblies is essential.