The Discovery Of Parylene Conformal Coating

The pioneer of parylene conformal coating, Michael Szwarc, was born in 1909 in Bedzin, Poland, which was an urban, industrial town. His career began at the Warsaw Polytechnic Institute where he received his chemical engineering degree. Shortly after graduation, he got married and began working as a chemical engineer. Twelve years before his creation of parylene conformal coating, in 1935, he and his family moved to Palestine (now Israel).

In 1945, he received his first doctoral degree in organic chemistry from Hebrew University, in Jerusalem. His second Ph.D, in physical chemistry was received in 1949 from the University of Manchester, England, where he was also a lecturer. During this time, he discovered parylene conformal coating, one of the products formed in the vacuum thermal deposition of a common solvent, para-xylene. For his research on chemical bonds, including parylene conformal coating, he received an honorary doctor of science degree.

In 1952, he moved to Syracuse, New York to take a position as a Polymer and Physical Chemistry Professor at New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Over the next two decades, he received much praise, as he became the first director of the SUNY Polymer Research Center, received the American Chemical Society Award in Polymer Chemistry and was awarded a Distinguished Professorship by the State University of New York.

This was only the beginning of a much-celebrated career. He also received:

* 1972: Plastics Science and Engineering International Award

* In 1988, Member of Polish Academy of Sciences

* 1990: Award of the Division of Polymer Chemistry

*1991: Honorary Fellowship in Society of Polymer Science

In 1991, the Japanese Inamori Foundation awarded him his most illustrious prize–the Kyoto Prize in advanced technology, which, in Asia, is the equivalent of the Nobel Prize. It recognizes those whose research and humanitarian values contribute to improved science, culture and spirituality. He shared his $300,000 prize with several former graduate students.

Michael Szwarc, the pioneer of parylene conformal coating, passed away in 2000. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, 1 son, 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. However, his parylene legacy is strong, as it is used in almost every industry worldwide.

Michael Szwarc, the creator of parylene, had an illustrious science career that spanned over 60 years. His discovery of parylene has been very valuable to the science world, as virtually every industry worldwide requires a parylene coating service.