circuit board glue

[rnjeezy]

anyone know what this white substance is called exactly? I've seen it on the innards of tvs, monitors, consoles, etc.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j297/APinn/ThompsonPSU2.jpg

someone said it might be white silicone glue, but wasnt sure.. it seems to be somewhat of a standard,...

and so I was wondering if I could buy some from someplace, hopefully inexpensively,,

 

[Dasda]

Its just conductive glue. It's used to reconnect broken traces on a PCB. IF you need some then ebay is good. I don't know any good place on internet myself. Hopefully someone else does for you

 

[Swivelguy2]

Um, it better not be conductive, seeing as how it's smeared willy-nilly over many contacts on that board.

Why do you need some of this stuff if you don't even know what it's for?

 

[bruceb]

Not sure what you call it, but all it does is keep parts from moving around. And it is somewhat flexible. So probably just something like the silicon used for bathtubs and such.

 

[rnjeezy]

Um, it better not be conductive, seeing as how it's smeared willy-nilly over many contacts on that board.

Why do you need some of this stuff if you don't even know what it's for?

I do sorta know wat it's for. Yea it's insulative, it is usually just smeared willy-nilly over the board haha. Like bruceb says, in this case it is used to hold the capacitors in position more or less, and like a glue. MAybe it's silicone caulk?

I wanted to use some of it in similar fashion.

I'm also seeing 'conformal silicone', 'potting epoxy', silicone adhesive, rubber coming up as possibilities..

 

[Swivelguy2]

Don't forget modeling clay in that list.

If you just want to hold your circuit elements in place so they don't vibrate free or whatever, I'm sure any of those products will do just fine. Just make sure you don't get a putty or caulk with metal filler that could be conductive. It's not likely, though -- if anything, I'd expect glass fillers.

 

[Blazer]

3M 5200 would work BUT once its on it doesnt come off/release, hardware stores sell it, be warned it will not come off.

 

[PottedMeat]

Sometimes they put that stuff on for reasons unknown. I can understand putting it under/over inductors and all thru-hole components to hold them in but sometimes it just looks random.

 

[Modelworks]

In the pic it looks like they tried to use it to keep power resistors from touching other parts. The one resistor is right up against the capacitor case, not smart. Will definitely shorten the capacitors life if the resistor heats up.

100% silicone works. Non conductive and can take several hundred degree heat. Or you can buy the real deal often called potting compound but it cost about 3x as much for the same thing.
http://www.newark.com/gc-electronics/19-160/potting-compound-sealant/dp/89C0755

 

[JEDIYoda]

In the pic it looks like they tried to use it to keep power resistors from touching other parts. The one resistor is right up against the capacitor case, not smart. Will definitely shorten the capacitors life if the resistor heats up.

100% silicone works. Non conductive and can take several hundred degree heat. Or you can buy the real deal often called potting compound but it cost about 3x as much for the same thing.
http://www.newark.com/gc-electronics/19-160/potting-compound-sealant/dp/89C0755

yeah the potting compound will work just fine and with the left over potting compound you can put in a pot and add some tomatoe seeds and grow some tomatoes...

 

[WildW]

If its the same stuff I'm thinking of, I've seen one PC manufacturer use it to hold in PCI cards

 

[rnjeezy]

lol, ya, ive seen it slobbered all over the place in electronic appliances. I need something that dries, or 'cures' into something rubbery, with some flexibility. It shouldn't be moldable afterwards, but shouldn't be like a rock/brittle either, and I guess should withstand the typical heat of computer components. I think like you guys are saying, silicone, or silicone rubber..