  Parylenes are barrier materials employed as protective layers. However, many
parylenes are unsuitable for applications under harsh conditions. A new
material, parylene F, demonstrates considerable potential for a wide range of
applications due to its high temperature and UV resistance. For the first time,
the wettability and surface energy of parylene F were investigated to determine
the feasibility of parylene F as an alternative to the commonly employed
parylene C. The results show that parylene F has a hydrophobic surface with a
water contact angle of 109.63 degrees. We found that 3.5 ul probe liquid is an
optimal value for the contact angle measurement of parylene F. Moreover, we
found that the Owens-Wendt-Kaelble and the Lifshitz-van der Waals/acid-base
approaches are unsuitable for determining the surface energy of parylene F,
whereas an approach based on the limitless liquid-solid interface wetting
system is compatible. Furthermore, the results show that parylene F has a
surface energy of 39.05 mJ/m2. Considering the improved resistance, relatively
low cost, and the desirable properties, parylene F can replace parylene C for
applications under harsh conditions.
