In electronics and advanced manufacturing, protecting sensitive components from moisture, chemicals, and environmental stress is critical. Conformal coatings play a key role in improving reliability and reducing field failures — but not all coatings perform the same. Parylene stands out as a highly effective solution when coverage, consistency, and long-term performance matter most.

What Is Parylene?

Parylene is a family of thin, transparent polymer coatings applied using a chemical vapour deposition (CVD) process. Unlike liquid conformal coatings that are sprayed, brushed, or dipped, Parylene is deposited as a vapour in a vacuum chamber. This allows it to coat external and internal surfaces with a uniform, pinhole-free film.

Common Parylene types include:

• Parylene N – Excellent dielectric properties and strong performance in high-frequency applications.
• Parylene C – Widely used for outstanding moisture and chemical resistance.
• Parylene F (AF-4) – Enhanced high-temperature stability and chemical resistance.

How Parylene Differs From Liquid Conformal Coatings

1. Application method – Vapour deposition in a vacuum chamber delivers even coverage without pooling, meniscus effects, or edge build-up.
2. Coverage – Parylene can penetrate tight gaps, coat under components, and reach complex geometries that liquid coatings often cannot.
3. Film properties – Typically ultra-thin (commonly 1–50 µm), transparent, flexible, and suitable for demanding environments.
4. Performance – Strong resistance to moisture and many chemicals, with stable electrical and dielectric characteristics.
5. Cleanliness – As a dry, solvent-free deposition process, Parylene avoids solvent residues and is well suited to sensitive applications including medical and aerospace electronics.

Liquid vs Parylene Coating

Comparison between traditional liquid conformal coating and Parylene vapour deposition.

Where Is Parylene Used?

• Medical devices – Catheters, sensors, pacemakers, and implantable or body-contact components.
• Aerospace and defence – High-reliability electronics, sensors, and mission-critical assemblies.
• Automotive – EV electronics, sensors, and ADAS-related components.
• Consumer electronics – Wearables, IoT products, and microelectronics.

Why Choose SCH for Parylene?

At SCH Services Ltd, we combine decades of coating expertise with a complete Parylene offering:

• Subcontract coating services – ISO-controlled Parylene coating capability for prototypes through to production.
• Turnkey Parylene systems – Equipment, dimers, training, and long-term technical support for in-house deployment.
• Reliable materials supply – Official European distribution partnership supporting consistent dimer availability and quality.

Whether you need immediate coating capacity or a full in-house solution, SCH provides the knowledge, equipment, and materials to support success.

If you would like to discuss Parylene coating for your assemblies or compare options against liquid coatings, get in touch with SCH. To explore SCH’s wider Parylene capabilities, including services, equipment, dimers, and support, visit our Parylene solutions page.