Delkin Blog

The electronic circuit and other components inside your SSDs and flash memory devices are vulnerable to environmental damage. If damage occurs, the device may require a repair or even be rendered completely useless. To protect these systems, a coating is applied. Electronic coating can be completed with conformal coating or encapsulating resin, though conformal coating tends to be more popular.

Why do the electronic components need protection?

Electronic circuit boards and other components might seem like they are protected, but in reality, they are vulnerable to a number of different kinds of damage. Dust, humidity, extreme temperatures, and corrosion are just some of the issues that can impact electronic components. Without protection, this kind of damage tends to cause operational issues in devices fairly quickly.

Protecting these components from damage is especially important in industrial grade applications. Devices are more likely to be exposed to risk factors like extreme temperatures in industrial environments, so having a protective electronic coating is essential for reliability and durability.

What are conformal coating and encapsulating resin?

Conformal coating involves applying a layer of Parylene to electronic components. Once the Parylene is dry, the components are protected from contaminants that could otherwise cause operational issues. Parylene can be applied in a process called chemical vapor deposition, in which all points of vulnerability are thoroughly covered and dried.

As the name suggests, encapsulating resin surrounds the electronic components with resin. This is achieved by dipping the device in the resin and allowing it to dry. Multiple types of resins may be used.

Why is conformal coating more common?

Most industrial grade SSDs and flash memory cards have conformal coating. With conformal coating, electronic components get reliable protection from contaminants, high temperatures, corrosion, and friction. Conformal coating provides uniform protection, unlike encapsulating resin, which may be thicker in some areas than in others. Conformal coating is also widely embraced because it is much easier and faster to apply than encapsulating resin.

Conformal coating is one of the customization options that Delkin offers for industrial storage devices. Please contact us today to discuss electronic coating and to learn more about our storage solutions.