Collaboration brings success to 2K coating dispensing optimisation

Throughout the development of the 2K range, Electrolube has worked closely with selective coating machine manufacturers to ensure that formulations are optimised for application using commercially available dispensers. Included among these is PVA's two-component spray valve VPX-2KS, which has proved successful with Electrolube's 2K500 - a two-part polyurethane conformal coating system that provides a wide operating temperature, maintains clarity after prolonged exposure to UV light, as well as good thermal shock and abrasion resistance.

Electrolube’s conformal coatings team, comprising of Jade Bridges, Joel Shenton and Phil Kinner, Electrolube’s Technical Director of the coatings division, recently joined PVA’s Shane Plasse and Matt Lilla at PVA’s headquarters in Boston, USA, to further improve and refine the 2K application process.

At one point during this technical collaboration, an opportunity arose to test a new process for a customer who needed to apply a 2K coating of just 70µm thickness. This is considerably thinner than the recommended 200µm for 2K coatings and was dictated by the 100µm clearance between the board and its housing.

Due to the low flow rate and metal valve construction, the combined PVA/Electrolube team decided that a simple valve block heater would provide a further level of control over the process. After several iterations, the heater was able to supply sufficient heat to enable a controlled application of this unusually thin film, meeting the customer’s target specification precisely. As well as providing excellent control of material flow, this arrangement also resulted in improved edge definition and easier regulation of dispensing starts and stops.