Major Reasons Why Silicone Potting Compounds are Better Than Their Counterparts

Silicone potting compounds are materials used to fix, insulate, and conceal electronic circuit components so that they remain safe from electrical discharges and short circuits. These compounds are mainly used in the testing stage of electronic components to see if these components conduct current in the way they are supposed to without causing any damage to the other parts of the device. Naturally, in today’s world where the role of electronic circuits has widened considerably, the demand for silicone potting compounds has also increased. As per a report by Research Dive, the global silicone potting compound market is anticipated to boost considerably in the 2022-2031 timeframe due to the growing demand for these compounds from the construction, lighting, and automotive industry. The developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region are witnessing a massive growth in their automotive manufacturing industries which is predicted to surge the demand for silicone potting compounds in this region.

A Comparison Between Silicone Potting Compounds and Other Materials

Apart from silicone potting compounds, there are many such materials which provide effective insulation and mechanical strength to electronic circuitry. Epoxy potting compounds, for instance, provide good adhesion to the circuitry which aids in putting all the electronic components together. This becomes especially important in electronic devices which are designed for rough and tough industrial applications. Moreover, epoxy compounds offer better temperature and moisture resistance which make them suitable for transformers and similar electrical machinery.

Another popular potting compound material that has seen a lot of growth in demand in the last few years is polyurethane. Polyurethane is a special kind of polymer which is typically used in manufacturing foam boards, coatings, and fibers like spandex. The biggest advantage of polyurethane is that it is chemically inert which means that its chemical reactivity is near to zero. Hence, potting compounds made from polyurethane demonstrate chemical resistance which aids in keeping the electrical components safe from unwanted chemical reactions. Also, as compared to epoxy potting compounds, polyurethane is relatively cheaper which ultimately brings down the cost of manufacturing of electronic devices significantly.

However, both these compounds have their own weaknesses which is why silicone potting compounds are slowly replacing them as the go-to material for electronic circuit assembly and one of the most preferred raw materials for insulation of electronic components in the consumer electronic manufacturing industry. As compared to the two previously discussed materials, silicone potting compounds show excellent flexibility. With each passing day, the size of electronic circuits is getting smaller with more electronic components being stuffed on a single chip. In such a scenario, silicone potting compounds are perfect for manufacturing miniature electronic circuits and modern-day semiconductors devices. Moreover, certain electronic components show reduced efficiency when potting compounds are applied to them, thus bringing down the overall performance of the circuit. Silicone potting compounds, due to their inherent chemical properties, allow the circuit to run at its full potential by making sure that the components don’t get affected by heightened temperatures or moisture exposures. In fact, certain studies done of silicone potting compounds have shown that these compounds exhibit a temperature resistance of up to 200 degrees Celsius, which is a massive upgrade as compared to other compounds available in the market. Another major advantage of using silicone potting compounds is that they allow easy repairing of the electronic devices due to their high elongation property and unique flexibility. This, in turn, increases the life of electronic devices which is an important consideration for industrial applications.

The Bottom Line

In the last decade or so, the demand for high performance materials has increased manifold, especially in the aerospace and military equipment industry. High accuracy, peak efficiency, and reliability are the main pillars of the aerospace and defense sectors and electronic devices manufactured using silicone potting compounds demonstrate all these three characteristics. The medical devices manufacturing industry, too, due to these very properties have started opting for only those electronic devices manufactured using these compounds. Thus, with all the major manufacturing industries shifting to silicone potting compounds, the market is sure to witness a tremendous growth.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.