Electronics Materials

Electronics ask for materials that insulate, protect and stay stable for years in a small space that gets hot. Silicon chemistry appears at almost every stage: in the wafer fab as adhesion promoters and deposition precursors, in packaging as coupling agents for epoxy encapsulants, and on the finished board as protective coatings and silicone potting.

Protective coatings for boards and components

Fluorosilane coatings form a film only a few micrometres thick — or a single molecule thick — that repels water, oil and corrosive gases without affecting electrical contact. They are applied by dipping or spraying to circuit board assemblies, connectors and sensors.

Encapsulants and circuit boards

Epoxy encapsulants, sealants and laminates are filled with silica and glass. Epoxy silanes bond that filler into the resin, which improves strength and, more importantly, keeps the electrical properties from degrading when moisture reaches the interface.

Wafer processing

Hexamethyldisilazane primes wafers so photoresist adheres, and tetramethyldivinyldisilazane serves as a tackifier for negative photoresists. High-purity tetraethyl orthosilicate is a precursor for silicon dioxide films by chemical vapour deposition. Methacryloxypropyl POSS is used in UV-curable and photoresist formulations for fine circuitry.

Potting, gels and dielectric fluids

Silicone potting compounds and gels protect components from moisture, vibration and heat. Hydroxyl-terminated fluids are the base of condensation-cure potting; vinyl fluids and electronic-grade methylhydrogen fluids are the base and crosslinker of addition-cure systems, including thermally conductive grades. Silicone and phenyl silicone fluids serve as dielectric fluids in capacitors and transformers, and silicone resin powders diffuse light in LED covers.

What to check

• Purity and ionic content, for anything that touches a wafer or a live circuit.
• Low-molecular-weight siloxanes, which can migrate and contaminate contacts; low-cyclic grades are chosen for electronics.
• Cure by-products, which should not corrode copper or silver.

For a recommendation for your formulation, a COA, an SDS or a quotation, contact our technical sales team.