Parylene is a transparent, colorless polyester protective material suitable for vacuum deposition at room temperature. While vacuum deposition pressure is typically below 10⁻⁵ Torr, the Parylene process operates at around 0.1 Torr. Coating thickness can be precisely controlled between 1 and 100 microns. This coating was patented in the US in the early 1960s and was first applied to US military printed circuit boards, aerospace, and microelectronic components for underwater launch systems. In 1972, it was incorporated into the US Military Standard: MIL-I-46058C.
Parylene utilizes a unique Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process, where active small molecules grow into a fully conformal polymer film on the substrate surface. It can coat surfaces of any shape, including sharp edges, cracks, and internal surfaces.
This room-temperature deposited thin film (0.1-100 microns) is uniform, dense, pinhole-free, transparent, stress-free, additive-free, and non-damaging to workpieces. With its excellent electrical insulation and protective properties, it stands as one of the most effective contemporary coatings against moisture, mold, corrosion, and salt spray.