Many solutions for the electronics manufacturing Industry…

The electronics design is constantly evolving in response to changing market demands, increasingly sensitive environmental concerns, rapidly growing government regulations, and miniaturisation. MG Chemicals offers a broad selection of chemical products to help engineers cope with this changing environment. With its own extensive research and development facility, and a dedication to working with clients, MG Chemicals is constantly developing new products and improving existing ones.  Two particular product categories that address some of these needs are Two Part Conductive Epoxy Adhesives, including both Thermally Conductive and Electrically Conductive versions, and Protective Coatings, including both Conformal Coatings, and Epoxy Potting Compounds.

Two Part Conductive Epoxy Adhesives

Electronic adhesives face a changing environment. As electronic parts become smaller, they are becoming more sensitive to high temperatures. Many components cannot stand the temperature of solder, or the cure temperatures of one part epoxies. As well, electronic materials are changing, and solder can no longer bond to everything.  Circuits are made using conductive plastics, others are embedded on glass or new composites to which solder cannot bond. Also, traditional structural adhesives are now required to conduct heat. A thermally insolating adhesive used to connect a hot LED could cause a device failure. MG Chemicals has created a comprehensive line of low temperature cure thermally and electrically conductive adhesives that bond very well to most electronic substrates, providing potential solutions to these issues.

Electrically Conductive Epoxy Adhesives

Silver conductive epoxy adhesives are designed to form bonds that are highly conductive, both electrically and thermally, and physically strong.  They are used as a solder replacement for bonding heat-sensitive electronic components and for making conductive bonds where solder is not an option, such as when bonding to glass or plastics. They allow quick cold-solder repairs of electronic devices, and make excellent thermal connections.

Thermally conductive Epoxy Adhesives

Thermally conductive adhesives are electrically insulating and provide high thermal conductivity. They are used for thermal management situations requiring superior bonding strengths and good thermal transfers. They are ideal for bonding heat sinks and heat generating components, such as high-powered LED’s.

Protective Coatings

Ensuring electronic devices are “rugged” is an ever increasing issue in electronics today. The range of environments that devices are expected to endure is always increasing while the space allocated to protective coatings is always decreasing with miniaturization. As well, miniaturization is causing issues with arching, so the suppression of voltages between circuits and layers is becoming an increasing issue as well. MG Chemicals offers both Conformal Coatings, and Epoxy Encapsulating and Potting Compounds to help solve these problems.

Conformal Coatings

Conformal coatings offer a thin layer (25- 75 microns) of protection from water vapor and humidity, chemical vapors, static, arching, scratches, and abrasion. They do not take up much space, but they add a lot in terms of durability, and have been shown to allow up to an 80% decrease in conductor spacing. They are typically easy to apply, repair, and rework, although there are different chemistries commonly used as conformal coatings, each with their own characteristics and specific applications: acrylics, urethanes, and silicones:

• Acrylics are the most commonly used conformal coating. They are the most economical, the easiest to work with, and provide the best moisture and voltage barriers.

• Urethanes are used when chemical resistance is required.

• Silicones are used in applications with service temperatures above 150C, or when extreme flexibility is required.

Epoxy Potting Compounds

Potting and encapsulating compounds provide supreme protection from water, chemicals, shock, voltage discharge, vibration, and physical damage. They are extremely difficult to remove, generally making rework impossible, but which also imparts technology protection, making reverse engineering much more difficult.

Potting a device in epoxy brings challenges, however. Plain epoxy will trap heat and be a flammability risk, so the formulation of a good potting compound revolves around solving these two issues. Formulators seek to maximize thermal conductivity while meeting regulatory flame retardant requirements, while still providing a product with good flow and wide operating temperature range, always using the latest technology available. The additives, pigments, and resins available to the formulator are constantly evolving, and he must keep abreast of these changes to ensure his products are the best available.

MG has its own polymer testing facility and is always researching new advancements. Every year MG provides its customers with new technology, always striving to provide the best encapsulating and potting compounds in the market.

Since 1955, MG Chemicals has been dedicated in developing and upgrading products to meet and exceed the demands of the electronics manufacturing industry. Throughout the years, clients from various industries have relied on MG Chemicals’ expertise to overcome the challenges technology advancement has generated. MG Chemicals’ dedication to service and support excellence as well as high quality products is what makes MG Chemicals different. MG Chemicals’ commitment to maintaining this level of excellence justifies the confidence a constantly growing number of users have in MG Chemicals’ products and brand. Give it a try and find out for yourself… One company… Many solutions.