Silicone potting compounds are materials that work to fix, insulate, and conceal electronic circuit components in order to keep them safe from electrical discharges and short circuits. These compounds are basically used in the testing stage of electronic components, to verify whether these components conduct current like they should, without damaging the other parts of the device.
Obviously, in the present world where the function of electronic circuits has widened dramatically the silicone potting compounds have become most sought after. A survey has revealed that the global silicone potting compound market is expected to grow massively in the 2022-2031 timespan, due to the increasing demand for these compounds from the construction, lighting, to automotive industry. The developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region are going through a phase of massive growth in their automotive manufacturing industries which is expected to boost the demand for silicone potting compounds in this region.
Silicone Potting Compounds Vs. Other Materials
In addition to silicone potting compounds such as Techno Gel, there are other materials which deliver strong insulation and mechanical strength to electronic circuitry. Epoxy potting compounds, for example, provide effective adhesion to the circuitry which supports smooth integration of all the electronic components. This is especially useful in electronic devices that are designed for rugged industrial applications. Additionally, epoxy compounds deliver greater temperature and moisture resistance, making them adequate for transformers and similar electrical machinery.
The second favored potting compound material that has grown in demand in the last some years is polyurethane. Polyurethane is a specialty polymer which is commonly used in manufacturing foam boards, coatings, and fibers like spandex. The best feature of polyurethane is that it is chemically inert, meaning its chemical reactivity is near to zero. Thus, potting compounds that are based on polyurethane demonstrate chemical resistance to help keep the electrical components safe from unwanted chemical reactions. Moreover, when comparing with epoxy potting compounds, polyurethane is rather cheaper, which eventually cuts down the manufacturing cost of electronic devices immensely.
Why Silicone Potting Compound Is Favorite?
Both the above mentioned compounds have their own weaknesses so silicone potting compounds such as Techno Gel are gradually replacing them as the most favored material for electronic circuit assembly; not to mention, one of the choicest raw materials for insulation of electronic components in the consumer electronic manufacturing industry.
In comparison to the two above discussed materials, silicone potting compounds demonstrate great flexibility. Day by day, the size of electronic circuits is growing smaller, with more electronic components being crammed onto a single chip. In this situation, silicone potting compounds are best for manufacturing miniature electronic circuits and high-tech semiconductors devices.
The Bottom Line
In the decade gone by, the demand for high performance materials has multiplied, especially in the aerospace and military equipment industry. 100% accuracy, peak efficiency, and reliability are the mainstays of the aerospace and defense sectors. And, electronic devices fashioned from silicone potting compounds demonstrate all these three qualities. Furthermore, the medical devices manufacturing industry, because of these very properties, is choosing only those electronic devices made using these compounds. The bottom line is, with all the main manufacturing industries shifting to silicone potting compounds, the market is slated for a huge growth.
