If a printed circuit board needs a conformal coating, assemblers have lots of options for materials and dispensing methods.

Chances are, Joe isn’t thinking about whether the printed circuit boards (PCBs) inside his portable electronic devices are protected from the unpleasant reality of fall in Chicago. That’s because those PCBs have been coated with a thin layer of polymer to protect them from moisture, chemicals, dust and thermal shock. The coating is usually just a few mils thick.