Silicone sealing of electrical connectors

[DennisP]

I've heard of a process used in hermetically sealed electrical connector manufacture where the connector is dipped in silicones and baked to remove the volatile components, leaving behind an SiOx film that seals microcracks in the glass insulators. This allegedly results in a higher insulation resistance than could otherwise be achieved. Can anyone tell me if this is a common practice and, if it is, what the mechanism is for it to work? Is this an acceptable means of increasing the IR?

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Beside connectors, power transformers are frequently also ecapsulated. However, they tend to use epoxy.
Also, visit

http://www.sciteclibrary.com/eng/catalog/pages/2079.html

for more info

 

[DennisP]

Thanks. I'm aware of the epoxy encapsulation technique. However, this is more of a film applied and baked on the connector. It doesn't change the appearance of the connector at all.

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Is dipping into silicon environmentally safe?
Visit

http://www.dfma.com/news/Electrolux.html

for more info.