Typical applications:

Acota supplies a number of products which are used in the electronics and electrical industry. 

Cleaning

Specialty fluids are used extensively by the electronics industry in the cleaning and protection of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and hybrid circuits.

Flux deposits are notoriously difficult to clean given the tight stand offs between the substrate and component. 3M™ Novec™ cleaning fluids have very low surface tension and are able to penetrate and remove contaminants efficiently.

To protect electronic devices and displays Acota has a range of surface modifier products which can be applied to circuit boards; flexi circuits and hybrid circuits to protect against corrosion and airborne contamination. Products have also been developed to apply to displays to impart an easy to clean, smudge-free surface which has a lubricious and easy-glide feel.

Electrical

3M™ Nextel™ Ceramic Fibres and Textiles are specially designed to function in extreme environments. With a combination of low thermal conductivity and high electrical resistance, these materials are ideal for use where electrical wiring, cable trays or conduits are exposed to high temperatures.

Resilient and flexible even at temperatures up to 1300ºC, Nextel ceramic fibres and textiles are designed to withstand demanding environments ranging from heaters and fuel cells to electrical systems in civilian and military aircraft. Nextel is compatible with many alloys, without acids or chlorides that could leach out and cause etching of metal. Engineered to survive today’s most challenging high temperature conditions, Nextel products for electrical insulation help ensure reliable electrical transmission.

Fuel Cells

Nextel fibres and textiles are used in gaskets, reinforced composites, interconnect wire insulation and other fuel cell applications to help protect stack integrity and extend cell life.

In our data-driven world, we rely on a constant flow of information. In sectors such as healthcare, banking and public safety, 24/7 access to data is vital. With this much on the line, data centres can’t afford service interruptions due to power outages or slowdowns.

Fuel cell based power generators, such as those using solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), operate at very high temperatures – up to 1000°C. To perform under these demanding conditions, fuel cell components need to be extremely durable. Engineered for use in high temperature textiles and composite reinforcement, Nextel™ Ceramic Fibres and Textiles offer excellent creep resistance and long service life at very high operating temperatures. These high-strength, high-purity ceramic materials can stand up to the extreme thermal cycling of start-up and cool-down periods. Resilient and reliable, Nextel fibres and textiles help protect stack integrity, extend cell life – and keep power cells operating when demand is hot.

  • Heat resistant
  • Corrosion resistant
  • Electrically non-conductive
  • 99% alumina fibre or alumina-mullite fibre for high creep resistance
  • Helps prevent leakage between fuel and oxygen zones
  • Helps prevent metal creep and glass seal failure due to thermal stress

Stack compression

Unlike metals, which are conductive and can creep at high temperatures, ceramic matrix composites (CMC) reinforced with Nextel fibers offer electrically insulative high strength and low creep, helping maintain cell integrity.

Seals and gaskets

Cell-to-manifold seals need to be gas-tight across extremes in temperature. High temperature Nextel fabrics and sleeving provide flexible, conformable and compressible gaskets and seals that can help mitigate thermal stress in these hot and corrosive applications.

Electrical insulation

The critical interconnect wires in fuel cells are subject to extremely high temperatures. With high electrical resistance at elevated temperatures, Nextel braided sleeving insulates and protects interconnect wires and thermocouples.

Thermal Conductivity

Manufacturers of consumer and automotive electronics, high-capacity batteries, LED lighting, 5G applications and other electrical and electronic devices are increasingly utilising high-performance polymers to reduce component size and weight while simplifying assembly. Most polymers, however, have inherent limitations in their ability to conduct heat, which can greatly affect a device’s long-term reliability and performance.

3M™ Boron Nitride Cooling Fillers offer a unique opportunity for designers, compounders and moulders to improve both thermal conductivity and electrical insulation in a wide range of plastics, elastomers and adhesives.

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