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THE BIODEGRADATION OF CONFORMAL COATINGS

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 13058
Amount: $50,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1990
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
410 Chipeta Wy - Ste 222
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Gail Bowers-irons
 (801) 582-8080
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

PRINTED BOARDS AND COMPONENTS ARE COATED WITH A PROTECTIVE FILM, CALLED CONFORMAL COATINGS, PRIMARILY TO PREVENT, OR AT LEAST TO MINIMIZE, DEGRADATION IN ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE WHEN SUBJECTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES. THESE CONFORMAL COATINGS ARE SYSTEMS OF SYNTHETIC RESINS THAT ARE DISSOLVED IN BALANCED VOLATILE SOLVENT VEHICLES. OF THE VAST NUMBERS OF SYNTHETIC RESINS NOW AVAILABLE, A SELECTED FEW TYPES OF ACRYLICS, POLYURETHANES, AND EPOXIES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE THE BEST ALL-ROUND PROPERTIES AND ARE CURRENTLY BEING USED AS THE BASIS FOR MOST GENERAL PURPOSE CONFORMAL COATINGS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES OFTEN PRECIPITATE THE NEED FOR PARTIAL BOARD REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. THE ONLY RESIN EASILY REMOVED IS THE ACRYLIC AND THAT ONLY BY CHLORINATED SOLVENTS, NOW CONSIDERED POTENTIAL CARCINOGENS. THE OTHER RESINS REQUIRE BURN-THROUGH OR MECHANICAL REMOVAL WHICH MAY DAMAGE THE ELECTRONICS AND/OR BOARDS. IN RESPONSE TO THESE REPAIRABILITY AND/OR REPLACEMENT PROBLEMS, TECHNICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES (TRA) PROPOSES TO FULLY STUDY AND DEVELOP A CONFORMAL COATING BIODEGRADATION PROCESS WHICH DOES NOT DAMAGE BOARD CIRCUITRY AND WHICH WOULD REPLACE CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL PROCESSES. THIS WORK WILL BE BASED UPON PROVEN DEGRADATION APPROACHES FOUND IN PREVIOUS TRA WORK INVOLVING THE BIODEGRADATION OF POLYURETHANES, EPOXIES, POLYSULFIDES AND FLUOROCARBONS.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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