Slashdot Mirror
Nanocoating Waterproofs Any Gadget
An anonymous reader writes "Water has always been the bane of electronics, however American company Liquipel just announced that they have developed a way to completely waterproof any device against the elements. Using a revolutionary process, Liquipel applies a hydrophobic nanocoating to phones, computers, and other devices that completely waterproofs them and protects them against accidental exposure to liquids."
I have to agree. If only because it seems impossible. How much of a gap can it bridge? Won't a coating break the buttons' electrical contacts? How does it protect the battery?
There's a better solution to that already. It's called being careful with your expensive shit.
Actually, the ipod touch/iphone works really well in a plastic bag as well. The touch sensor seems to have no problem being behind the extra plastic, which is nice in heavy rain.
What I've read in the media of this process suggests that it's parylene. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parylene
If so, it's not revolutionary, but a good application of an old coating technology. When I get my iPhone 5, I'll probably send it to these guys for coating.
How could you coat the interior of a microSD card slot that's covered with a loose-fitting cover and make it waterproof? If the nano-coating doesn't conduct electricity then any card you insert won't make contact with the contacts. If it does conduct, then it's useless as a waterproofing seal over electronics. The same would seem to hold true for any earphone plug or charging port, right?
I don't know how it works for sure, but I imagine its just surface tension. The coating doesn't physically close the slot, it coats the outside of the slot with a film that repels water. Water doesn't go into very small places at routine pressure -- the raindrop-size drops you encounter all the time are its least-energy state, the "natural" curvature of water drops. The coating keeps water far enough away so this curvature radius doesn't contact the inside of the slot.
The subject who is truly loyal to the Chief Magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures (Junius)
My Android phone is waterproof (IS11CA) and I actually use it to watch video/listen to audio in the shower/bath pretty much every day. They do actaully sell TVs for use in shower by the way.
Prior to studying Computer Science in University, I went to college and studied Electronics Engineering. I worked for an industrial electronic design and manufacturing company for 3 years between one and the other. Most products went into the oilfield. Scada, wellhead controllers, remote sensing equipment, etc. When manufacturing circuit boards 50 at a time, they would put them into a commercial *DISHWASHER* to get all the water soluble solder flux off and wash the board clean. Because chips follow the original Texas Instruments Mach32 procurement process (as outlined by the US Air Force in the 1960's and 1970's), they are hermetically sealed, must past gross leak, and fine leak tests, thermal shock, high altitude testing, centrifuge tests, and other tests, water won't 'leak' into the chips and wreck them. When power is applied, damage can happen. When there is no current, electronics are inert. To keep things 'dry' under power, silicone spray can keep the rest of the electronics from creating short circuits (due to conduction through water, etc.). This was also important in highly corrosive environments (hello petrochemical plant). They also used Hall-effect keyboards and switches to eliminate any chance of an electric arc in hazardous environments (when a seal fails in a methane/ethane/propane plant and you need to press a button to shut off a pump to stop the leak, and pressing the switch blows up the plant you have failed). As stated previously, you can enjoy this new 'wonder technology', or you can get a can of silicone spray. Have fun!
Funny you mention it, I recently saw a plastic-baggie type product designed especially for this purpose: allows full submersion of electronics, and works with capacitive touch screens despite being made of a fairly thick plastic. LokSak
While I suppose the standard zip-loc would work for the purpose, but this looked much more confidence inspiring.
Constitutional rights may be respected, repealed, or modified; but they must never be ignored.
Speak for yourself. I don't wipe my arse.
Dropbox drops it like it's hot.
You should learn about laser. It's expensive and it hurts like hell, but you only have to go for a few months and then you're done forever.
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.