Liquid Encapsulants

Epoxy Mold Compound vs Liquid Encapsulation

There are two main ways to encapsulate a semiconductor device: transfer molding a thermosetting Epoxy Mold Compound (EMC) or using liquid encapsulation directly on the Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Encapsulation in EMC is better than liquid encapsulation for applications that require higher filler content, and for the same reason, volume for volume, EMC is usually cheaper than liquid.

Liquid encapsulation, on the other hand, has a high flexibility and low through put

Liquid casting is however much more flexible. EMC requires are large significant investment in molding machines and mold plates for specific devices which must produce large quantities before there is a return on that investment. Liquid encapsulation on the other hand has a high flexibility and low through put: meaning that it is best suited for a multiple diverse low quantity orders.

In general liquid encapsulation is used for LEDs and potting or encapsulating electronics in bare die mounting on printed circuit boards (PCB), otherwise known as chip on board (COB).

Another advantage of potting and encapsulating devices in liquids is that in general, the result is flatter and thinner than devices encapsulated by a transfer molding process around a lead-frame with EMC. The space requirements for devices will continue getting more and more stringent as the component density of devices increases. This trend makes encapsulation and potting in liquids a sure bet for the future.

Transfer molding EMC may also cause wire sweep: where the pressure of the flowing molten compound shifts the fine-pitched bonding wires connecting a die. Wire sweep can cause shorts and mutual inductance. Liquid encapsulation is applied from above and does not disturb bonding wires. That’s why it is the industry standard for larger or extra sensitive dies and chips.

Liquid Epoxy: Viscosity and Thixotropy

Bare die may be mounted to the PCB with die attach but that’s not enough to protect them or their connecting wires from moisture, mechanical stress, temperature, and chemical corrosion. That’s why it makes sense to insulate and encapsulate them with a protective potting layer of liquid encapsulant.

The low viscosity of liquid encapsulants is good for flat smooth finishes.

In non-Newtonian thixotropic encapsulants thixotropy refers to the temporarily lower viscosity of an epoxy gel when shear, pressure, or temperature is applied. This means that they can be gel-like when at rest, but flow like a liquid when agitated.

Being able to control the viscosity of liquid encapsulants means you can dial in how far they will spread over a surface area, and also how high they will build up to. This is important in Glob Top encapsulation where devices are literally encapsulated by a “Glob” from above.

Glob Top vs Dam & Fill

Glob Top is a process of encapsulation by using a fluid encapsulant gel with higher viscosity so that it fully encapsulates a device without flowing beyond the necessary area. As mentioned, by controlling the temperature, shear, and pressure, the viscosity and flow of liquid can be adjusted so that the final surface area and height of the “Glob” can be controlled quite effectively.

Dam & Fill on the other hand refers to a two-step process of encapsulation, where a ring or frame of higher viscosity liquid encapsulant is applied as a “Dam” around a device, and then a lower viscosity liquid “fill” is used to then fully encapsulate a device. The liquid used to build the frame or dam usually has more abrasive filler and a higher viscosity at rest than the liquid used for the fill.

Dam & Fill is a more selective protective coating and can be framed to cover areas in specific shapes, and is for example also used for optical bonding. In optical bonding the frame or dam is used to create a space between the glass and the display or touch screen. Then an optically clear fill is used as an adhesive and fixative.

Liquid Encapsulation for LEDs and Optoelectronic devices:

Optically clear liquid encapsulation is also used for LED devices, and encapsulate optical or optoelectronic devices that require both a high level of light transmittance as well as a good level of mechanical protection. In a similar process to Glob Top encapsulation, a literal glob of clear encapsulant is dropped directly into place on top of the LED. In another production process, optically clear liquid encapsulant is used to cast LED’s final body. Phosphor, colored dyes, and diffusant concentrates can be added to the liquid encapsulant to alter its optical properties.