How Parylene Cost is Determined

Parylene is frequently considered one of the pricier choices for conformal coatings. A brief examination of cost components quickly reveals the rationale behind this. The primary cost determinants for Parylene include raw materials, labor and lot volume.

Raw Materials – Parylene Dimer and Adhesion Promotion

Parylene dimer serves as the foundational material for Parylene, entering the machine in solid form and undergoing breakdown during the deposition process. The price of Parylene dimer varies significantly, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per pound, contingent upon the specific type of dimer. On average, a coating run consumes approximately one pound of dimer.

Various adhesion promotion methods necessitate distinct raw materials. These raw material expenses, ranging from diverse board cleaning solutions to A-174 silane, should be factored into the assembly’s pricing. These costs are inherent to the adhesion process, crucial in the realm of Parylene applications.

Parylene Labor Costs

Like all conformal coatings, masking is usually the most labor intensive part of the process. However, Parylene is different from other conformal coatings in that it is applied in a gaseous state through a vapor deposition process. The Parylene molecules will penetrate anywhere that air can. As a result, great care needs to be taken during the masking process to ensure that every connector is adequately sealed and all tape is firmly pressed against the coating keep-out areas.

Increased labor costs can be attributed to the additional time spent per board to enhance Parylene adhesion. Extended durations allocated for cleaning products and utilizing various adhesion promotion mediums will consequently lead to longer labor times.

Parylene Lot Volumes

To apply Parylene coating, items are positioned within a limited-space vacuum chamber for thorough coating. To minimize costs, it is crucial to maximize the number of products in the chamber. By distributing material expenses across more boards, the cost per board significantly decreases.