Parylene is one of the most reliable conformal coatings used in any industry. It saves lives in the hospital room, protects lives in space travel, and makes lives easier in microwave oven technology. Still, nothing is perfect. There are some cases when parylene can fail--and today, we'll take a look at the causes behind these problems.
Failing Parylene
Since parylene is used in so many different industries and is often involved in life-or-death situations, conformal coating experts have spent a lot of time studying the reasons why parylene can fail. This "homework" has helped all of us get a deeper understanding of what parylene needs to be successful and what must be done to ensure that it is applied safely, properly, and reliably. Here's a look at some of the most common reasons for failure and their causes.
Improperly prepared substrate surfaces lead to damage
Parylene is strong and reliable, but if there are contaminants on the substrate surface during application, this conformal coating will be set up for failure. Contaminants of any kind can interrupt the natural function of parylene, getting trapped between the surface and the coating and going on to cause structural damage in as little as two days.
Incompatible parylene types interfere with substrate surfaces
When the wrong parylene type for a specific substrate surface is used, the result can be delamination, which interrupts adhesion and results in a low-quality coating. In this case, it's crucial to do your homework early and ensure that you are using the right type of parylene for the job.
