Nonconductive adhesives applications

The main electrical properties related to organic materials are volume resistivity (for both conductive and nonconductive adhesives) and dielectric constant and dissipation factor (for insulative materials). Other electrical tests for conductive materials that are more application specific are electrical stability, current-carrying capacity, and interconnect resistance. 

Nonconductive adhesives have no conductive fillers but rather maintain a pure mechanical contact between the bumps and pads, due to the application of a compressive force, and it is this that ensures the electrical connectivity between them. 

Connections made with insulating adhesives free of fillers are electrically conductive if the partners are in contact with each other in adhesive no thicker than the surface roughness (< 10 pm). In principle the process is very similar to that of anisotropic adhesive gluing. The glue is applied by a dispenser or by print application of a paste. The electrically nonconductive adhesive can be applied allover across multiple connections. This implies low requirements for the process as such and therefore good affinity for fine-pitch applications. Once the partners to be joined have been positioned, the adhesive cures under pressure and temperature within a matter of seconds. 

In soldering and when an ICA is used, the electrical connection is first established by the solder or the conductive adhesive before the bond is mechanically stabilized by application of an underfill. Using ACA or NCA makes it possible to combine electrical connection and mechanical stabilization in one process step. Electrically conductive connections made with nonconductive adhesives are based on mutual contact between the joining partners. A constant contacting force therefore has to be applied until the adhesive has cured. Contacting flip chips with adhesive... 

Uses. The major applications of phenol are phenolic resins, Bisphenol A, and caprolactam. The reaction of phenol with formaldehyde gives liquid phenolic resins (used extensively as the adhesive in plywood) and solid resins (used as engineering plastics in electrical applications). In powder form, the phenolic resin can be molded easily and are completely nonconductive. These phenolic resins or plastics can be found in panel boards, switchgears, and telephone assemblies. The agitator in your washing machine is probably a phenolic resin. 

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