Secure Conformal Coating for Your PCB Assemblies

As electronics become more integrated into everyday products, protecting sensitive components from environmental factors has never been more critical. At Odyssey Electronics, we offer advanced conformal coating and potting services to shield printed circuit boards (PCBs) from moisture, dust, chemicals, and extreme temperatures. Whether it is industrial electronics exposed to harsh conditions or medical devices requiring hours of operating time, we provide tailored solutions that protect your product and extend its lifespan.

With over 30 years of experience, Odyssey Electronics takes pride in delivering 100% US-based PCB assembly services, offering turnkey solutions tailored to your needs. From design and surface mount technology (SMT) to the final coating processes, we manage every aspect of your project in-house. Our commitment to quality assurance and precision at every stage allows us to manufacture circuit boards that meet the highest standards, providing peace of mind for engineers and product buyers alike.

What is Conformal Coating, & How Does It Protect Your PCB?

Conformal Coating & Potting for PCB Assembly | Odyssey - Conformal-Coating-2

Conformal coating involves applying a thin, protective layer over your PCB to guard it against environmental stressors like moisture, chemicals, and dust. This coating is critical for electronics that operate in harsh conditions, such as industrial equipment, military systems, and outdoor technologies.

At Odyssey Electronics, we use state-of-the-art equipment to apply conformal coatings with precision, allowing your PCBs to maintain functionality and durability. For more robust protection, we offer potting services, where the entire assembly is encased in a protective material, further safeguarding your devices.

Partner with the Conformal Coating Experts at Odyssey

Our experience in PCB assembly spans over three decades, giving us the expertise to meet the needs of engineers and product buyers alike. Beyond conformal coating, we offer advanced technologies like surface mount technology, automated optical inspection, and turnkey solutions. With Odyssey, you are not just getting PCB assembly; you are partnering with a team committed to delivering trusted, high-quality results at every stage of production.

Surface Mount Technology

Our SMT lines provide precision component placement, enhancing the efficiency and performance of your PCB assembly.

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Wave Solder & Selective Solder

We offer wave solder and selective solder for high-density connections in complex PCB designs.

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Turn-Key Assembly

Our end-to-end turnkey services cover everything from design to end-point delivery for a seamless experience.

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Advantages of Conformal Coating & Potting for PCB Assembly

The right protective finish can mean the difference between a PCB that performs reliably for years and one that fails at first contact with its operating environment. Conformal coating and potting address the real-world threats your assemblies face once they leave the production floor.

Conformal coating guards the surface of your boards against:

Moisture and humidity, which cause corrosion, electrical shorts, and delamination
Chemical exposure from industrial fluids, cleaning agents, and process chemicals
Dust and airborne particulates that settle on exposed components and traces
Thermal cycling and rapid temperature swings that stress solder joints
Salt spray in marine, coastal, and offshore environments
Fungal growth in persistently high-humidity conditions

Potting takes protection a step further by fully encasing the assembly in a solid or semi-rigid compound. This approach is designed for boards that will face intense shock, vibration, or direct liquid exposure where surface coating alone is not sufficient.

For applications where future serviceability matters, the distinction between these two methods is worth thinking through carefully. Our acrylic-based coating, Humiseal 1B73, is selected in part for its reworkability. If a component needs to be replaced after deployment, the coating can be removed from a targeted area and reapplied without damaging the surrounding assembly. Potting is the better choice when maximum long-term durability takes priority over future access to the board.

Both processes are applied after the printed circuit board assembly is fully built and inspected, so your boards are verified before any protective material is introduced.

Frequently Asked Questions About Conformal Coating & Potting

What is the difference between conformal coating and potting in printed circuit board assembly?

Both processes protect electronics from environmental damage, but they work differently and are suited to different applications.

Conformal coating applies a thin protective layer over the surface of an assembled printed circuit board, shielding components from moisture, chemicals, and contamination while keeping the board accessible for future servicing.

Potting takes a more complete approach by encasing the entire assembly in a solid or semi-rigid compound, offering a higher level of protection against shock, vibration, and direct fluid exposure. The right choice depends on where your product will be deployed and whether future access to the board is a priority.

What conformal coating material does Odyssey Electronics use?

We apply Humiseal 1B73, an acrylic-based conformal coating. Acrylic is one of the most widely used coating materials in the industry, valued for its fast cure time, flexibility across a wide temperature range, and reliable resistance to moisture and contaminants.

A key practical advantage is reworkability. If a component on a coated board needs to be repaired or replaced, the coating can be removed and reapplied without damaging the surrounding assembly, which is an important consideration for products that may need field servicing.

What does conformal coating protect a PCB against?

A properly applied conformal coating guards against a range of environmental threats that can cause premature failure in unprotected assemblies:

Moisture and humidity that lead to corrosion and electrical shorts
Chemical exposure from industrial fluids and cleaning agents
Airborne dust and particulates
Salt spray in marine environments
Mechanical stress from thermal cycling

For assemblies deployed outdoors or in industrial settings, conformal coating is one of the most effective ways to extend service life and reduce field failures.

Is conformal coating required for all PCB assemblies?

Not every application requires it. Boards housed in sealed enclosures or used in controlled indoor environments may not need conformal coating. However, boards exposed to moisture, temperature swings, chemicals, or contamination should be coated as a standard step in the printed circuit board assembly process.

Industries with strict reliability requirements, including military, medical, industrial, and alternative energy, routinely specify conformal coating for all assemblies, regardless of deployment environment, because the cost of a field failure far exceeds the cost of protection.

Can a conformal-coated PCB assembly be reworked or repaired?

Yes, when the right coating material is used. The Humiseal 1B73 acrylic coating Odyssey applies is chosen in part because it supports rework. The coating can be removed from a targeted area, the affected component can be repaired or replaced, and the coating can be reapplied.

This matters for engineers designing products that may need field servicing, or for programs still going through design iterations, where boards may need to be modified after coating.

What are the main types of conformal coating used in PCB assembly?

The most common types used in printed circuit board assembly are acrylic, silicone, and urethane. Each has trade-offs worth understanding before specifying:

Acrylic: The most widely specified option. Balances strong environmental protection, fast cure time, and easy reworkability, making it practical for most applications.
Silicone: Performs well in high-temperature environments but is significantly harder to rework once cured.
Urethane: Offers strong resistance to chemicals and abrasion, but cures more slowly than acrylic.

Odyssey uses Humiseal 1B73, an acrylic-based coating selected for its proven performance and field serviceability.

Which industries depend on conformal coating for their PCB assemblies?

Any industry where electronics are deployed outside controlled environments benefits from conformal coating. Odyssey provides conformal coating and potting as part of printed circuit board assembly services for:

Military and defense systems
Medical devices
Industrial and commercial equipment
Alternative energy installations
LED lighting products
Telematics and telecommunications hardware
Life science instrumentation

Each sector brings different exposure risks, from moisture and shock in military field equipment to chemical contamination in medical and laboratory environments.

Does conformal coating meet IPC standards?

Yes. Conformal coating applied as part of our printed circuit board assembly process meets the acceptance criteria defined in IPC-A-610, the industry standard for the acceptability of electronic assemblies.

Odyssey Electronics is ISO 9001:2015 certified and meets or exceeds IPC-A-610 across all production processes, including protective finishing. For defense applications, our assemblies also meet Class 3 workmanship requirements, the highest build quality level defined by IPC standards.

At what point in the PCB assembly process is conformal coating applied?

Conformal coating is applied after the printed circuit board assembly is complete and has passed inspection. The board goes through component placement, soldering, and electrical testing before any protective coating is introduced.

This sequence matters because it allows defects to be identified and corrected before coating, which avoids the added cost and complexity of reworking a finished, coated board. At Odyssey, 100% automated optical inspection and X-ray verification are completed before protective finishing begins.

Can Odyssey apply conformal coating as part of a full-service PCB assembly program?

Yes. Conformal coating and potting are integrated into our turn-key printed circuit board assembly services, not treated as a separate finishing step. We manage the full production process, from component sourcing and SMT assembly through testing, protective coating, and final delivery.

For ongoing programs, we can warehouse finished inventory and ship directly to your end customer or distribution points. If your project requires conformal coating, our team can walk you through material options and how protection specs fit into your overall production schedule.

Protect Your Investment with Odyssey's Conformal Coating Solutions

For products that need to withstand harsh environments, our conformal coating and potting services provide the protection you need. Odyssey Electronics has been at the forefront of PCB assembly for over three decades, offering custom solutions that guarantee durability in the most demanding applications.

Ready to take the next step? Contact Odyssey today to learn how our conformal coating and potting services can enhance the performance and longevity of your electronic products. Our advanced technologies, combined with our commitment to quality, make us the best choice for protecting your PCBs.