Potting PCBs for Submersion in Water
If you’re looking to pot PCBs with SMT parts for underwater use, here are some considerations:
- The PCB size is approximately 10mm x 100mm.
- It will be housed in a stainless steel tube.
- Potting compound should have good flowability to reach tight spaces and remove air bubbles.
- You’ll be potting in batches of 10, totaling 150CC of compound.
- Macromelt/Low Temp over-molding is a premium option but costly.
After a failed attempt with rigid black epoxy, you may want to consider a more flexible solution like a two-part silicone or polyurethane. These materials offer better flexibility, which could prevent fractures in surface mount parts during thermal cycling.
Look for a material with a Shore hardness of around 40A-50A for optimal performance.
