Conformal Coating Planar Electroluminescent Displays - AN122

Planar offers conformally coated products in response to specific application needs of our customers. The customer is responsible for determining the suitability and functionality of these products in their applications. The following details are provided to assist customers in the evaluation and use of conformally coated Planar displays. Applications that are likely to benefit from the addition of conformal coating include those in transportation, portable devices, or heavily industrial environments where dust or high humidity are likely to violate the device integrity and diminish display performance. Conformal coating may also be effective in environments where salt mist can cause corrosion of electrical components.

Planar uses ShadowCureTM Type AR aerosol conformal coating, manufactured by Loctite, which is formulated without chlorinated solvents or CFCs. The coating is spray-applied and air dried to provide a tough environmental and solvent-resistant coating. The conformal coating is a 2-3 mil clear acrylic which is applied to the completed circuit board before the display is assembled. Conformal coating is used to protect electrical components against elements such as humidity, conductive particles, and other airborne foreign matter that might compromise a display's operation by affecting the circuit board.