Parylene N Datasheet (PDF Download) Parylene Properties Explained
Parylene is the generic name for poly-para-xylylenes. These conformal coatings come in several varieties, including Parylene C, Parylene F (VT-4), and Parylene N. Parylene properties provide superior barrier protection in the form of thin, pinhole-free coatings applied to components and devices to sustain product life and bolster reliability. Parylene is biocompatible and complies with REACH, RoHS, and Prop 65.
Learn more about what Parylene is used for
Parylene N Properties
Parylene N has the highest dielectric strength of the Parylenes, has a melting point of 420°C (or 788°F), and is a commercially available halogen-free Parylene. To see the properties of Parylene N, you can view the HZO Parylene datasheet below, under the column of HZO Zero™, our Parylene N offering, and read a short description of notable Parylene properties. (For reference, HZO Guardian Plus™ is our Parylene C coating solution, ideal for corrosion resistance).
You can also download the datasheet.
Parylene Mechanical and Physical Properties
Parylene has a relatively high yield and tensile strength compared to other polymer coatings, with substantial wear resistance. In general, Parylene provides superior mechanical protection.
Parylene N Young’s Modulus
Young’s modulus measures the stiffness of solid material or resistance to elastic deformation. The values for Tensile Strength and Young’s Modulus for Parylene N and C can be found below and for polyester and polyamide.
Table 1: Young’s Modulus and Tensile Strength for Parylene C and N and Polyester and Polyamide
| Material | Young’s Modulus | Tensile Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester | 7.1×105 psi MD | 29,000 psi MD |
| Polymide | 3.6×105 psi | ~33,500 psi |
| Parylene C | 4.6×105 psi | 10,153 psi |
| Parylene N | 3.5×105 psi | 6,526 psi |
Parylene Electrical Properties
Parylene is a superior electrical insulator with excellent uniformity, and the pinhole and defect-free coverage helps the coatings prevent arcing. Although the insulating properties of the Parylene increase with thickness, they are defined by the fundamental composition of the coating. Each type of Parylene has different properties, and by selecting a specific thickness and type, you can fine-tune electricity-blocking properties.
Parylene Dielectric strength
Dielectric strength is the maximum voltage required to produce a dielectric breakdown through the coating material, expressed as Volts per unit thickness. This is an essential property for higher voltage design, as it protects against high voltage from static electricity and arcing.
Read more about Parylene’s optical properties
Parylene Thermal Properties
Read more about Parylene temperature range
Like all materials, Parylene coatings degrade as the temperature increases but have high melting points. The temperature stability values for the Parylenes are listed in the table below.
Table 2: Parylene Thermal Properties
| Parylene Type |
Long-Term Temperature Limit (°C) Duration=~10+ Years |
Short-Term Temperature Limit (°C) Duration=~1 Month |
Melting Point Temperature (Tm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parylene N | 60 | 96 | 420 |
| Parylene C | 80 | 115 | 290 |
Read more about Parylene Removal
Parylene Barrier Properties
Parylene coatings provide an excellent physical barrier that protects the components coated from electrical shorting and external contamination. The coating blocks gases that can lead to corrosion of the coated object and serves as a physical barrier to protect from sources of contamination, including foreign object debris (FOD), dust, airborne salts, and metal filings. Parylene also has exceptional chemical resistance.
Gas permeability and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) are important properties for evaluating corrosion resistance; the lower, the better. The table below illustrates these properties in Parylene and other conformal coating materials.
Table 3: Barrier Properties of Conformal Coatings
| Polymer | Gas Permeability at 25 °C, (cc·mm)/(m2·day·atm) | WVTR,(g·mm)/(m2·day) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N2 | O2 | CO2 | H2 | H2S | SO2 | CI2 | ||
| Parylene C | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 43.3 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 0.1 | 0.08 |
| Parylene N | 3.0 | 15.4 | 84.3 | 212.6 | 313 | 745 | 29.2 | 0.59 |
| Parylene F (VT-4) | – | 16.7 | – | – | – | – | – | 0.28 |
| Epoxy (ER) | 1.6 | 4 | 3.1 | 43.3 | – | – | – | 0.94 |
| Polyurethane (UR) | 31.5 | 78.7 | 1,181 | – | – | – | – | 0.93 |
| Silicone (SR) | – | 19,685 | 118,110 | 17,710 | – | – | – | – |
Watch Dr. Clancy’s webinar on proven methods of corrosion resistance
About HZO
HZO is focused on increasing coating efficiency and driving down Parylene costs. We provide scalable Parylene equipment and automated Parylene masking to save time and labor within our turnkey solution. Contact us today if you are considering Parylene for your application and would like to speak to an engineer.
Mallory McGuinness
Mallory McGuinnessDiscover how HZO can protect your product