Mallory McGuinness-Hickey
Mallory is a veteran writer with over a decade of writing experience and has spent over five years at HZO learning about coating technology from the best minds in the industry. Professionally, Mallory is especially interested in the process of problem-solving and watching how the engineering team develops solutions that ensure business requirements are met. Over her years at HZO, Mallory's writing has been cited in industry whitepapers, including "Parabolic Model for Optimum Dry Film Thickness (DFT) of Corrosion Protective Coatings" and "Universal Approach to Integrating Reduced Graphene Oxide into Polymer Electronics." All of Mallory’s blogs are reviewed for accuracy before publication.
HZO Celebrates Pi Day 2025
In honor of Pi Day 2025, the HZO Team in Morrisville, North Carolina, headquarters honored our beloved Raspberry Pi computer that has been running and displaying our demo video -..
Conformal Coating Removal - How to Get Started W/Reference
Conformal coatings are polymeric films on printed circuit boards (PCBs) that protect against hazards like moisture, pollution, chemicals, and temperature changes. This layer of..
Polyurethane Conformal Coatings - Benefits & Applications
Conformal coatings are polymeric materials applied to a PCB to improve device reliability. These films protect electronics from environmental threats, including humidity, liquids,..
Parylene C Biocompatibility: Properties, Safety, and Medical Use Cases
Overview & Key Takeaways Parylene C is biocompatible and meets USP Class VI and ISO 10993 standards — the two primary benchmarks for medical device materials. It is the most..
Parylene Coating Removal - Methods & Best Practices for Each
Parylene coatings present unique challenges when it comes to rework and removal. They often outperform other conformal coatings. Parylene has better barrier properties, uniform..
MIL-I-46058C: Definitive Guide to Military Standards for PCBAs
Reliability is a top priority in defense and aerospace electronics in harsh, unforgiving environments. The MIL-I-46058C standard is a guideline for conformal coating materials..
Polymer Glass Transition Temperature - Material Properties, Impact
Polymer glass transition temperature (Tg) refers to the temperature at which an amorphous polymer transitions from a glassy, rigid state to a rubbery, flexible state...
What is Coefficient of Linear Expansion? Formula, Units & More
Temperature affects the behavior of materials, causing them to expand or contract. However, not all materials respond to temperature variations in the same way. Some materials,..
What is Thermal Conductivity? Explanation, Measurement, Uses
Thermal conductivity is a fundamental concept in heat transfer and is crucial in multiple industries and scientific disciplines. It refers to the ability of a material to conduct..
What is the Index of Refraction? Measurement, Definition & More
Understanding how light travels through different mediums is essential in optics. One invaluable optical property is the index of refraction. This measurement quantifies how much..
Tensile Strength at Yield - Testing, Standards, Specs, Material
The ability to accurately predict the behavior of coating materials under tension is crucial in ensuring the integrity and reliability of electronic components. This includes..
Elongation at Break - Definition, Testing, Material Selection
Elongation at break is a key mechanical property that measures the deformation capacity of a material before it eventually snaps or breaks, providing insights into the material's..
Young's Modulus of Polymers - Measurement, Calculation
Young's Modulus is an important property, allowing engineers to select coating materials based on their desired stiffness. Understanding and manipulating the elastic Modulus of..
Water Vapor Transmission Rate - Standards, Testing, Material
In the world of electronics, moisture control is of utmost importance. High water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) can pose significant risks to sensitive electronic devices. When..
Transparent Polymers - Applications, Material Selection
Transparent polymers offer optical clarity and the ability to transmit light. With various applications across various industries, these polymers have gained popularity for their..
Biocompatible Coatings - Coating Techniques, Applications, More
Biocompatible coatings seamlessly integrate with the human body, offering benefits through their ability to promote healing and prevent adverse reactions. They can improve patient..
Dissipation Factor - Definition, Measurement, Variables
Dielectric materials are crucial in various industries and applications, serving as insulators, substrates, or capacitors. One important characteristic often evaluated in..
Volume Resistivity - Definition, Measurement, Product Design
Whether designing circuit boards or protecting electrical components, knowledge of the volume resistivity of coating materials plays a pivotal role in creating efficient and..
UL94 Coating Material - Testing Method, Material Selection
Fire safety compliance is an indispensable aspect across various industries. One crucial benchmark in fire safety compliance is UL94, a widely recognized standard for flammability..
Elongation Yield: Overview, Unit of Measure, Data and Testing
Elongation yield refers to the maximum amount of deformation a material can undergo before it experiences a permanent change in shape or size. This property is fundamental in..
Difference Between Water Resistant, Repellent, & Proof
If you're looking for the highest quality protection from the inside out, contact HZO today. We all see references to waterproof, water-resistant, and water-repellant devices..
Top Electronics Manufacturing Industry Publications
If you work in the electronics manufacturing industry, you are likely plagued with information overload, whether you are an engineer, purchasing professional, or business-oriented..
ADAS Design and Validation for the Real World - Automotive Coatings
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) continue to expand in features and functionalities. Standard offerings may include adaptive cruise control, park assist, blind-spot..
Parylene Conformal Coatings - Parylene Conformality Explained
Parylene (p-polyxylylene) conformal coatings are unique due to their capacity to be polymerized and deposited by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method onto surfaces near room..
Dielectric Constant of Insulator Materials: Formula, Table of Values
Depending on their formulated ingredients and molecular structures, thin film coatings may be electrically conductive, insulative, or semiconductive. Insulative coatings serve..
What is the Dielectric Strength Formula? Testing, Table of Values
Although thin film coatings serve many purposes, providing dielectric isolation and electrical insulation is one of the essential functions. Dielectric strength is an important..
Arc Resistance - Concepts and Testing Explained
Insulating materials such as Teflon, plastic, rubber, ceramic, or glass ensure products function properly and safely. However, no insulator is perfect. These materials still..
Conformal Coating for Drones - Which is Best?
As technology advances, so do the capabilities of drones, which are available in various sizes, weights, and shapes. The technological advancements in drone specifications,..
Parylene Masking - General Concepts Explained
Conformal coatings are an excellent way to increase the reliability of electronic components in harsh environments. However, this protection can be too much of a good thing..
How to Make Your Lithium-ion Battery Design More Sustainable
A recent report from “Markets and Markets” revealed that experts expect the battery recycling market to grow to $23.2 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2020-2025. This..
Improving CGM Electronics Designs with Medical Coatings
A vital issue for continuous glucose monitor development is design and reliability engineering. CGM systems, however, will encounter environments that can jeopardize electronics..
What is Parylene Coating? Uses, Properties, and How to Choose It
Overview & Key Takeaways Parylene coating is a high-performance conformal coating used to protect electronics and other sensitive components from moisture, chemicals, corrosion,..
How Much Does Parylene Coating Cost? - All Things Considered
Parylene coatings are known for robust protection from liquids, corrosion, chemicals, and strong electrical activity at a fraction of the thickness of alternative coatings, such..
NEMA vs IP Ratings Explained
Once upon a time, computers only sat perched on desktops, but that is no longer the case. Deployed in harsh industrial, medical, automotive, and consumer household environments,..
How To: A Wearable Device Design That Consumers Actually Want
Wearable devices provide insight and convenience to consumers through activity tracking and biometric data that they can easily access through a wearable app. But many wearable..
IoT - Coating Consistency is Key
IoT sensors aggregate and send data to IoT dashboards, simplifying critical, complex decisions quickly. One key area where this is particularly true is the utilization of sensor..
Parylene Thickness - Industry Benchmarks, Cost, Effect on Properties
In the world of protective coatings, Parylene is a standout. Its unique, beneficial properties make it a great choice. Many Parylene types have distinct properties, like Parylene..
6 Common Conformal Coating Defects & Their Solutions
When we say that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, we aren’t talking about polymer chains – we’re talking about conformal coating defects. Regardless of the type, a..
Conformal Coating vs Potting/Encapsulation - The Pros & Cons
As the world of electronics continues to grow and evolve, printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) find their way into more and more products and industries. Whether you create..
Epoxy Conformal Coating Evaluation Guide
Conformal coatings are polymeric materials applied to substrates. These films protect electronics from environmental hazards, like corrosion, humidity, chemicals, and liquids...
Solving Weather & Water Challenges For Smart Farms
It’s a Small World, After All The world’s population is projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, an unprecedented increase approaching fast. This looming surge will compound our..
Designing a Waterproof Product With IP Ratings
The Big Picture: Manufacturers determine IP ratings, not an impartial group. Although these rating systems are useful for comparison purposes, they are not the panacea for rating..