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How do I remove conformal coatings from PCBs?

It depends on the coating’s chemistry. For thermoplastic materials such as acrylics or silicone coatings, the cured film can easily be removed with common solvents like acetone or n-butyl acetate. For more durable thermoset coatings such as polyurethane or epoxy  use a more aggressive stripper like MG’s 8309 liquid or 8310A gel. The table below summarizes most effective methods for removing coatings of different chemistries.

Material                                       Method
Acrylics Easily removed using common solvents like Ketones (e.g., acetone) or esters.
Polyurethanes Can be removed using 8309 or 8310A stripper. Takes 5-10 minutes.
Silicones Easily removed using common solvents like acetone or esters.
Epoxy Remove using 8309 or 8310A stripper. May take up to 2 hours.
UV Cure Remove using 8309 or 8310A stripper. May take several hours.
Parylene Must be removed with micro-abrasion. Very difficult.
Ultra-Thin Easily removed using common solvents like Ketones
Styrenated Block co-polymer Easily removed using common solvents like Ketones