Jean-Francois,

I think that this would usually be referred to in the context of electrical
control consols/cabinets/boxes etc.. In other words the level of protection
afforded viz: IP1 through 6. (There may have been more, but time dims the
memory... where was I? Oh yes...

Tropicalisation is the old electrical term to ensure that the contents of
said boxes can withstand tropical conditions. In those times "Shellac" (I
think I have the correct spelling?) would be "liberally applied" to the
entire electrical assembly including the valves!

It is, if you like, the grandfather of true Conformal Coatings. As Bill
Brooks said, fungus, moisture and don't forget those nasty little bug......
ants, termites and the like.

As to the continued use of the term in certain European countries, it goes
right along-side lacquers and varnishes. These are terms that should no
longer be used in the same context as Conformal Coating.

Lacquer and Varnish are natural resins dissolved into various solvents.
Shellac is the same thing. Great for decoration or indeed for making
"lacquer-ware", but not as good as "modern" materials in terms of
performance and protection as given in IPC-CC-830.

TTFN Y'all.
Regards, Graham Naisbitt

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  -----Original Message-----
  From: TechNet [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Bissonnette,
Jean-Francois
  Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 06:48
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Subject: [TN] Tropicalisation


  Does anyone know what tropicalisation means in relation with PCA???


  Jean-François Bissonnette
  Contrôle de la Qualité, Électronique
  Quality Control, Electronics
  Vapor Canada Inc.
  10655 Henri-Bourassa O.
  St-Laurent, Qc
  H4S 1A1
  (514) 335-4200 Ext: 2021



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