Producing an apparatus by covering an electronic component with a conformal coating containing metal nanoparticles

A method for producing an apparatus, comprising the steps of:

• providing an electronic component mounted on a substrate and electrically connected by metal conductors;
• applying a conformal coating composition in an at least partially uncured state over the electronic component and the substrate, wherein the conformal coating composition comprises a polymer and metal nanoparticles blended with the polymer, wherein the metal nanoparticles have an average diameter within the range of 5 nm to 200 nm, and wherein the concentration of the metal nanoparticles in the conformal coating composition is approximately 5 wt % of the conformal coating and provides a level of electrical conduction sufficiently below the electric conducting percolation threshold to avoid shorting of the electronic component and the substrate;
• and
• curing the conformal coating composition applied over the electronic component and the substrate to produce a conformal coating that overlies the metal conductors.