Dow Expands its Dielectric Gels Portfolio with Three New Heat-Resistant Silicone Pottants

Dow, a global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology, and innovation, further expanded its industry-leading portfolio of protective pottants with the launch of new, heat-resistant dielectric gels under the DOWSIL label: EG-4000, EG-4100, and EG-4120. The latest additions raise the bar for thermally stable silicone pottants for protective encapsulation of sensitive components within SiC and GaN power modules, on printed circuit boards and in industrial sensors and actuators.

Dow’s three new silicone gels exhibited no cracking or delamination after accelerated aging at 215°C for 3,000 hours in an air oven, and their dielectric strength and mechanical properties remained stable throughout testing.

“Component miniaturization and the growing adoption of power modules based on compound semiconductors are familiar trends in multiple industries, but the end result is the same for module manufacturers: Their compact designs need to deliver ever-higher power densities and ensure reliable protection of components despite the rising internal temperatures that result,” said Rogier Reinders, global marketing director for Dow Performance Silicones. “The addition of these three new high-heat resistant silicones to our dielectric gel portfolio aims to help Dow customers stay ahead of these challenging trends, and cost-effectively meet the demand for their next-generation devices.”

All of the new Dow gels are two-part, low-viscosity formulations that enable good wetting, and cure within 60 minutes at 150°C for efficient processing. After cure, they deliver dielectric insulation for the dies and interconnects within power modules and protect them from the harmful effects of moisture and other environmental contaminants. Like other silicone gels in Dow’s portfolio, the new products also provide outstanding stress release from thermal and mechanical stresses.

Dow’s new gels range in firmness after cure to help designers find the right solution for their application:

• DOWSIL EG-4000 Dielectric Gel cures to form a comparatively softer material (with a hardness of 70g) for highly demanding stress-release applications. It maintains reliable performance at operating temperatures ranging from -60°C to +215°C
• DOWSIL EG-4100 and DOWSIL EG-4120 Dielectric Gels cure to form toughened protective pottants, delivering hardnesses of 250g and 380g respectively. Both are self-priming gels that offer increased resistance to delamination under thermal cycling. They deliver reliably consistent performance at operating temperatures ranging from -40°C to +215°C

Dow’s new heat-resistant gels are available globally under the new DOWSIL label, which builds on seven decades of innovation and proven performance of the Dow silicone technology platform.

About Dow

Dow Inc. is a material science company that is combining science and technology to develop solutions. The Company’s portfolio comprised of six global business units, organized into three operating segments: Performance Materials & Coatings, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure and Packaging & Specialty Plastics. Its products serve different applications, including coatings, home and personal care, durable goods, adhesives and sealants, and food and specialty packaging. In addition, the Company operates a global commercial and development network that features eight research and development (R&D) centers.