Though much of the resurgence for drones stems from the hobbyist community, their versatility and affordability have enabled the adoption of drones in many industries such as defense, agriculture, film, construction, policing and even as inner-city couriers. Further, the ability to customized drones with special cameras, cargo space or even weaponry likely means drone fleets are set to expand.
The operating landscape for drones can be quite chaotic, with extreme temperature shifts, high UV and moisture exposure as well as the persistent threat of malfunction from radio frequency interference. Materials to improve overall durability of drones against these threats must not only be compatible with the drone’s core components but also not jeopardize the drone’s performance with respect to aerodynamics and maneuverability.
Fortunately, MG Chemicals has solutions that address common issues drones encounter during flight such as overheating, moisture ingression, corrosion and electromagnetic interference. The following paragraphs highlight how various product lines from MG Chemicals help bolster the durability of drones, including actual case studies.
Protective Coatings for Various Elements
The majority of a drone’s flight time occurs outside, where they are routinely exposed to many harmful elements such as rain, snow, humidity, UV, corrosive gasses, fungus, smog and dust, all of which can severely damage the drone components. Specifically, circuit boards which govern critical instruments such as the camera, flight controller and speed controller could suffer damage to electrical traces and short circuits when left exposed. Conformal coatings such as our 422B & 419D are easy-to-use, 1-part coatings that protect circuits against common pollutants like moisture, dust and fungus. Their chemical composition also ensures they will not degrade over time from UV exposure.
Another critical parameter for drones to maintain flight is high signal fidelity with ground communication systems. It is vital that neighbouring radio signals do not interfere with the drone’s various guidance and correction systems, making electromagnetic shielding essential. Conductive coatings like our 842ARL and provide exceptional attenuation of external electromagnetic fields, ensuring the proper and uninterrupted operation of the drone. Conductive coatings can also be applied to satellite receivers to boost signal amplification by reflecting the incident radiation, which is the main mechanism that shields external signals.
Adhesives for Construction and Repair
The construction of larger drones and unmanned aerial vehicles involves the assembly of complexed parts, much like how commercial aircrafts are built. Traditional fastening techniques like welding are effective but constrained by several factors including cost, added weight and the need for skilled labor. Structural adhesives like our 9200, 9310 and 8332 are popular alternatives over conventional methods of securing body panels as they’re easy to use and reduce the weight of the drone without compromising the structural integrity. The 9310 is a 1-part epoxy system which requires no mixing, while the 9200 and 8332 are 2-part epoxies available in a convenient cartridge system. This robust packaging option eliminates the typical hassles of using 2-part epoxy systems and provides an exceptionally strong hold on substrates such as metals, plastics, carbon fibre, glass and wood.
Thermal Management Solutions
Thermal management is another common issue with most electronics, mitigated by using thermal interface materials (TIMs). There are many families of TIMs, each with unique advantages summarized in table 1 below.
| Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) | Flame Retardance | Reworkable | Adhesion | |
| Adhesives | 0.8 to 1.5 | Some | Possible | No |
| Greases | 0.8 to 6 | No | Yes | Tack |
| Gels | 3 to 6 | Yes | Yes | Tack |
| Gap Fillers | 2 to 4 | Yes | Yes | Tack |
Table 1: Comparison of Different Thermal Interface Materials
While most hobbyist drones are fairly small, simple devices, industrial drones come equipped with many tools such as night vision, mesh network relays, 4K cameras, GPS, comms and batteries that ensure extended flight. The added amperage needed to make these tools function produces substantial amounts of heat; therefore, proper TIMs become essential to keep the drone in operation. Adhesives like our 8329TFF and 8329TCM are 2-part thermally conductive epoxy adhesives that bond heat sinks with processors such as CPUs and GPUs, ensuring a continuous path for excess heat to flow away from the PCB and prevent overheating. Other materials like greases and gels also help with dissipating heat although they have unique advantages over adhesives like higher compressibility for lower bond lines and the opportunity for rework.
