DUBLIN -- Sales of conformal coatings will grow 4.7% compounded annually between 2016 and 2021 on demand for printed circuit boards and automotive products.

The market will reach $12.28 billion by 2021, adds Research and Markets, thanks to broader use in electronics, the largest user of conformal coatings.

"The growing electronic industry and the need for conformal coatings on PCBs for better performance in vulnerable environments have been the key drivers for the dominance of the electronic industry in the conformal coatings market," the research firm said.

In 2015, acrylics conformal coatings accounted for the largest share by type in terms of volume as well as value, followed by epoxy. Acrylics tend to be inexpensive and easy to apply. The rising demand of environmental friendly or volatile organic compounds (VOC)-free conformal coatings in countries such as Germany and France is expected to drive this market, R&M added.

Register now for PCB West, the Silicon Valley's largest trade show for the printed circuit industry, taking place Sept. 13-15 in Santa Clara: pcbwest.com.