Specialties Of Conductive Epoxy
There are special properties in conductive epoxy that make it a useful repair tool. The epoxy is made conductive by a metal powder, usually gold or silver. It is used for heat sensitive materials. While it is as strong as other epoxies, it is just more beneficial for certain materials and will last a long time. Conductive epoxy is great for repairs that deal with constant heat. Some common uses for this high temperature epoxy are repairing defective traces and creating jumpers on boards. Or conductive epoxy can be used as an effective heat sink adhesive.
Conductive epoxy, as beneficial as it is, does have some pitfalls that you need to be aware of. The high temperature epoxy has temperature constraints and cannot be soldered to. Soldering to this product will cause it to melt. The most beneficial uses of conductive epoxy are for bonding materials or surface mount applications. They rapidly transfer heat, eliminate hot spots, and increase the operating efficiency of most devices. Because they are conductive, they are not likely to shrink. Its low shrinkage minimizes risk of damage to fragile components.
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