Extending reality – how liquid protection can achieve longevity for AR and VR devices
Augmented reality (AR) is one of today’s biggest technology trends. From manufacturing to healthcare, it is changing the way businesses operate and has joined sister technology, virtual reality (VR), in the shift from novelty entertainment to an essential business tool.
The growth of these immersive technologies has seen businesses and organisation use them in a variety of ways, from houseware companies super-imposing furniture in customers’ homes to surgeons using AR to help with complex operations.
Big technology companies are making rapid progress with both VR and AR devices. HP is building a VR headset in partnership with Microsoft and Valve, while Apple is said to be developing AR smart glasses and an AR headset, set to launch as early as next year.
In the drive to enhance the customer experience, the lines between the physical and digital world become ever more blurred.
The design challenges of new technology
But with new technology comes new design and development challenges. And the high-stakes, consumer credentials means that wherever or however AR and VR is used, the device they’re on must be long-lasting and reliable in almost every situation.
Exposure to humidity, rain and other environmental impacts and devices being accidentally dropped in water are just some of the risks that need mitigating when using this new technology.
The way AR and VR devices are designed and built, and the capability they need, make it impossible for tight mechanical seals to be added as they often are on mobile devices. Liquids getting inside can be especially problematic. Not only can this issue damage consumer trust but it can also be costly for manufacturers, negatively impacting the brand and buyer confidence.
There is also the growing market trend towards the miniaturisation of printed circuit board arrays (PCBAs). As the heart and soul of any AR and VR device, reliability and repeatability of these PCBAs are essential.
For example, if dropped accidentally the protective gaskets and O-Rings can be dislodged, letting water into the device. Often these coatings only protect certain components and not the full board. This can create a serious issue in devices that are open in design and include multiple moving parts such as joysticks and fans.
Nanotechnology plays a crucial role in device development
Naturally, engineers do not want to be spend time increasing the weight and bulk of these devices to stop water ingress. End users expect their devices to be visually appealing, be satisfactory to hold and feel comfortable to wear, and engineers want the freedom to fulfil these expectations in their designs. To achieve this, they need technical solutions that can support those design requirements and at the same time, prevent water and corrosion damage.
The latest nanotechnology provides liquid protection for all AR or VR devices. Rather than battling vainly to prevent liquid ingress in the same way that conformal coatings would, nano-coatings allow water freely into the device and drain out later without causing corrosion to the internal parts.
Moreover, the use of nanotechnology coatings typically represent a more environmentally-sustainable approach. By adopting a reworkable sustainable nanocoating solution for their PCBAs, VR and AR device manufacturers can cut harmful emissions in production and achieve their environmental targets.
The future of device protection and design
In the future, AR and VR devices will become smaller. This means removing gaskets, O-Rings and seals that might have previously been used to protect them. It could also mean using more natural materials such as wood.
As a result, engineers shouldn’t focus on preventing liquid from entering devices. More wisely, the electronics should be protected from corroding when they come into contact with water. This is what makes nanotechnology revolutionary. It is liquid protection that makes AR and VR devices stronger, lighter and more durable so they are faster, smaller and easily carried. And in today’s virtual world, it can make a significant contribution to this exciting new digital frontier.
If you’d like to learn more about how our nano-coatings can protect your technology devices, get in touch with our experts today.
The IPX liquid-protected smartphone market is holding steady despite the global economic crisis. According to the latest report from Canalys, the overall IPX market was only down by 1% year-on-year in 2020 compared to 7% for the total smartphone market. This means that the proportion of IPX rated devices actually grew.
Our recent study of R&D professionals specialising in electronic product design found that 57% of them deemed that IP certification was crucial for liquid protection for the product with the largest production volume they had designed in the last two years. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that devices without the IP certification aren’t protected.
Challenges
Going back a few years, IP ratings were used to determine how effective, for example electrical sockets on the outside of a house were at preventing the ingress of rainwater. O-ring seals and gaskets were developed for protection and they were then transferred to the consumer electronics field with the necessary changes to fit these new and rapidly evolving handheld devices. Consumers demanded smaller and more lightweight form factors, encouraging manufactures to seek alternative methods of preventing liquid damage. This led to the possibility of coating the device electronics and freely allowing liquids inside the device, as long as it still functioned correctly and reliably then there was no concern.
The leading international rating for grading the protection of electronic devices to liquid damage, IEC 60529, allows water into the device as long as it still functioned like the manufacturer promised it would. So, the main focus was placed on the device functioning correctly and not preventing water ingress. This led to the IPX designation which focuses on the liquid damage protection rather than the physical barrier afforded by the gaskets and O-rings.
As attractive as having an independent third-party certification resulting in an IPX certification is, it’s the manufacturer who knows exactly how the device should function. A third-party will of course conduct their own tests, check if the water got inside and if a phone can be turned back on again. And that in itself is a challenge because we don’t know how the device will behave throughout use.
Another problem comes from the negative pressure tests. Manufacturers who use O-rings and gaskets test them at the end of the assembly line to give them confidence of assigning a certain level of IPX certification. However, once you remove the negative pressure, there can be no guarantees.
There is also the potential issue of gaskets and O-rings perishing, being damaged or dislodged during shipping or consumer use. We have all heard stories or seen videos of packages being dropped… compromised seals can cause smartphone failure. That in turn leads to increased electronic wastage as they can’t be re-used because of possible corrosion.
Future opportunities
Looking ahead, we can expect the regulatory landscape around electronic device protection to evolve at a fast pace and become more flexible to match the developing technologies. However it is no longer acceptable to just provide protection at the end of the manufacturer’s assembly line, the consumer wants protection through-out the life of their device. The rising sustainability concerns present the consumer electronics industry with the perfect opportunity to change and do more to increase the product lifecycle, reduce waste and drive the circular economy.
At P2i we have shown strong commitment to minimising the environmental impact and helping our customers reach their sustainability goals. That’s why we developed our initial IPX2-rated Splash-proof liquid repellent nano-coating, which penetrates into the smartphone’s gaps to protect the ingress points for the device’s lifetime. This significantly reduces the need to repair it – meaning less waste and emissions. However, due to the 24/7 use of today’s handheld devices in multiple challenging environments including submersion into water and other liquids, there was a need to further increase protection to cover IPX3-8 challenges. P2i responded to this with the Barrier Coating range of solutions, resulting in a full tool box of capabilities to deliver protection to any liquid environment through-out the life time of your device.
If you would like to learn more about our certified nano-coatings and how they can protect your electronic devices, contact one of our team today.
The smart home security segment continues to grow. The worldwide shipments of devices reached 801.5 million units in 2020, an increase of 4.5% over 2019 and are predicted to surpass 1.4 billion in 2025 with a CAGR of 12.2%. The expansion means a wide range of devices are rapidly entering the market, for example digitally connected and controlled devices for burglary or hazard prevention, motion sensors, door locks, security cameras and surveillance services.
The truth is more and more consumers want to feel safe in their own homes. That’s why smart home technologies are increasingly appealing to them. They’re easy to install and use, and give customers the much needed peace of mind.
However, both indoor and outdoor security devices face liquid protection challenges from the ever-changing weather conditions, humidity, or steam coming from the kitchens and bathrooms. If a customer lives by the sea, the wind-driven rain and salt water can cause rapid degradation to their smart systems. If they live in urban areas, sulphur pollution can become the enemy.
Manufacturers need to ensure that the electronic components are fully protected and have a high level of reliability and repeatability. Thankfully, standards and regulations with security products are evolving. In China, for example, the GA374-2019 standard outlines testing procedures for burglary resistant locks. These tests check for resistance to high temperatures, humidity and salt fog to ensure the smart locks won’t corrode.
What are the protection methods?
The first common protection method for outdoor electrical devices are seals, which are typically built into the casing to provide a physical barrier. Unfortunately, they are often inconsistent and prone to perishing over time. Liquid that enters the device can freeze in winter and degrade the housing even further. Under the warranty, the costs of damage will be covered by the manufacturer. But the product will have to brought back to the R&D stage to rectify the design issue, which means a lengthy wait for the customer.
The second method is the use of liquid based conformal coats that are applied to the printed circuit board. The issue with these though is that they lack reliability and repeatability. Manufacturers are therefore searching for a solution that provides stronger adherence to the printed circuit board array, limiting wastage.
To combat the unreliability and increase the smart device’s lifetime, we have developed a whole range of innovative liquid protection solutions by using a gas phase deposition, plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD), often referred to as nanotechnology.
Our Splash-proof hydrophobic and oleophobic nanocoating is applied to the full device to protect it against high humidity and water ingress. For further protection should liquid get forced into the device, P2i Barrier provides unrivalled protection for printed circuits boards to reduce field repairs and returned products; whilst eliminating scrap during the device assembly process. In addition, our end-to-end water protection solution, Dunkable®, ensures no seals or gaskets are required, putting an end to degradation even after damage to the security device’s outer case.
With nano-coatings, customers can benefit from greater flexibility and high-quality protection of their smart security systems. Their homes can not only become smarter but also greener as the solutions are more sustainable and durable.
If you’d like to learn more about how our nano-coatings can protect your smart home security devices from liquid damage, get in touch with our experts today.
Manufacturers are driven by consumer demand. A recent survey revealed two of the top four drivers of smartphone purchases in India were ‘battery life’ and ‘display quality’. Given this, a best practice approach for designers might be to make a bigger device. Such a device would allow for a larger, longer-lasting battery and a bigger, better display. But consumers don’t want their devices to be too big. They want them to fit in their pockets.
Designers tried the phablet, which was popular during the early 2010s but it didn’t supplant the smartphone, the top-selling version of which during 2020 was the iPhone 11 with a 6.06 inches display. Consumers may like the idea of a bigger display, they don’t want unwieldy devices. That’s why the concept of foldable smartphones has gained traction.
The biggest-selling factors for consumers of foldable phones, according to a recent survey of US respondents are that they are compact and easy to carry with a bigger display. Achieving this can be a challenge for designers but when they get it right, phones can be a hit with consumers. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip sold out in 20 Countries, for instance.
Uptake is not without obstacles, however. Consumer concern around durability continues. Designers have to overcome this concern. That‘s not easy. The first foldable devices were plagued with issues but manufacturers have invested in developing the technology and subsequent releases have proved their robustness. Early adopters may be more forgiving of missing “standard features”, but for more mass-market appeal, designers will have to come up with new ways of delivering the same quality, including liquid protection. People expect this capability today. If you were to buy any of the leading flagship phone products, they would all have a level of liquid protection.
As a designer, you may have achieved a bigger screen and battery but you still have to design in your ‘standard’ features, including liquid protection. The difficulty of traditional mechanical seal solutions for liquid protection is they are not designed to be flexed or bent in any way. That’s why they are used to seal rigid devices rather than devices with folding screens. If used on the latter, mechanical seals become quickly damaged and cease to protect the device from liquid entering and harming the internal electronics.
Nano-coatings, in contrast, allow for this movement and are not compromised over time. By protecting the internal components, they ensure water can repeatedly enter the device without the risk of liquid damage. Our latest nano-coatings even deliver IPx8 protection as found on many flagship smartphones. They support design freedom and effectively enable flexibility. Other markets with moving parts, such as drones, are watching developments and are adopting liquid protection, as it is proven it can work effectively within these kinds of devices.
In creating electronic devices, manufacturers must have design freedom and that becomes more important the more the design differs from a standard format and the more movable parts it has. Manufacturers should never be constrained by components and technology being added to their product. That’s core to the ethos of electronic product design and should be a priority for any electronic products manufacturer, choosing what solutions to add to their devices.
If you would like to learn more about our liquid repellent nano-coatings, and the design freedom benefits these can offer your organisation contact us.
Manufacturers across industries are fully aware of the importance of total cost of ownership (TCO), equating to the combination of the bill of materials (BOM) and manufacturing costs, and understandably forms a key element of their pricing strategy. Of course, reducing TCO via higher manufacturing yields is a primary objective, as manufacturers are all too conscious of the detrimental financial consequences that can come with low yields.
It is however the case that not only do low yields have fiscal implications, but they are also afflicted by excess environmental costs. The need to buy more components creates an impact on sustainability due to the carbon footprint needed to ship items from one place to another. Higher yields therefore create both financial and environmental benefits. With sustainability a key aim for manufacturers, a focus on reducing scrap in the manufacturing process will help reduce e-waste while also assisting in bringing down both production costs and total cost of ownership.
It’s increasingly clear that sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand for manufacturers, but achieving this equilibrium will also hinge on upcoming legislation. New rules being implemented in summer 2021, no doubt a key date pencilled in the diary for manufacturers, will make it a legal obligation for spare parts for products to be made available to consumers for a period of ten years. As a result, manufacturers are undoubtedly looking towards longer warranty periods to protect brand image and avoid the issue of consumers attempting to fix products themselves. This will lead to additional manufacturing costs associated with more spare parts needed in that warranty period, leading to an ultimate rise in TCO.
Utilising liquid protection solutions
Producing products with a longer lifespan will help reduce the need for repairs and spare part demand, assisting in the reduction of both TCO and a manufacturer’s environmental footprint. Key to ensuring that robustness in production is the utilisation of longer-lasting protection. It is here where liquid protection plays a key role. According to a recent P2i survey, 83% of R&D professionals polled said that the product with the largest production volume designed within the last two years would have failed within the first year without such protection. Manufacturers know all too well the issues that would arise should this happen to an electronics product with a warranty extended over a much longer five-year period.
Damage from liquid ingress is also very expensive to remedy. Extensive damage can cause vital components within a device to suffer from corrosion, making them unusable and ultimately unrepairable, adding to landfill and damaging the environment.
Prioritising both profitability and sustainability
P2i’s liquid protection solutions make it possible for manufacturers to prioritise both profitability and sustainability, and picking the right method allows reduction of scrappage in the manufacturing process. This also helps manufacturers in their own reworkability processes to improve efficiencies, plus helping to lower their carbon footprint and prolong the life of their products, all while helping to keep repair costs low and enable waste regulations to be met. Our liquid protection technology mitigates the dilemma for manufacturers of having to choose between sustainability and ROI, ultimately ensuring that a positive brand image with customers can be maintained.
If you would like to learn more about our liquid repellent nano-coatings, and the sustainability and ROI benefits these can offer your organisation contact us.
Work devices were hastily loaded into cars last year as employees were told to work from home, with many yet to return to the office since. With devices brought into bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens, the potential for accidental splashes and spills increased, particularly as teas, coffees and other beverages were placed on makeshift desks.
One home insurer reported a 35 per cent increase in claims in September 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, with spillage proving to be the cause of 22 per cent of accidental damage claims in January 2021. To gain a clearer picture how this trend will develop as Covid-19 restrictions ease, it’s vital to look at shifting attitudes towards remote working post-pandemic.
Why remote working is set to stay
During a year of uncertainty, one aspect that we can be sure of is that remote working is set to stay in at least some form for the majority of businesses. Research has found that around three in ten businesses expect that more than 70% of their employees will be working remotely in the next two to three years, which is a rise from just one in ten before the pandemic hit.
But with this development comes the increased risk of spillages, particularly in the case of shared desks that may be unstable or not fit for purpose in comparison to office furniture. Accidental spillages are already well-recognised by the industry, with a P2i survey revealing that 49% of respondents see it as a key risk factor, but what actions can manufacturers take to protect devices?
The technology behind Splash-proof
P2i’s Splash-proof solution is an ultra-thin, hydrophobic and oleophobic nanocoating that is applied to the whole device. This enables it to achieve between IPX1-3 rating, meaning the device is then protected against condensation, dripping and water sprays. The resultant hydrophobic layer reduces liquid ingress by up to 95%, which occurs due to the gaps and holes in the device, combined with the scientific phenomena of capillary action of the spilt liquids.
To further understand how capillary action works, it’s important to understand the adhesive and cohesive tendencies of liquids such as water. Adhesive tendencies refer to the fact that its molecules are attracted to substances unlike themselves, which is why the edges of water curve upwards when it is poured into a glass beaker. Cohesive tendencies refer to the fact that its molecules are attracted to each other. Surface tension is created in liquids when its molecules exhibit stronger attractive forces to the molecules next to and below them due to the absence of other molecules above.
With this in mind, if a glass tube is placed inside a beaker of water, the water would adhere to the glass tube and rise up its surface due to its adhesive tendencies. For a very small tube (e.g diameter less than 0.5 mm when the liquid is water and the tube is glass) the combination of surface tension and adhesive forces of the liquid, lead the level of water to rise higher inside the tube than inside the beaker. This is capillary action. The narrower a tube, the greater the capillary action and the higher the liquid rises. This allows liquid to be drawn into a device in the case of spillage and causes greater damage if not protected against.
A single process to achieve protection
Not only does Splash-proof prevent capillary action taking place, but also reduces the chance of corrosion, significantly improving device reliability and resilience in adverse environments. So while work devices continue to be at risk from liquid damage while situated at home, P2i’s Splash-proof technology protects all device components with a single process, making devices resilient from liquid damage. Accidents can happen, but manufacturers can take preventative action in protecting electronic devices to effectively mitigate the risk that liquids can pose.
To speak to one of our team to find out more about our splash proof liquid protection technology, please contact us.
Through the pandemic, people have become more health-conscious. Many are turning to wearable eHealth technology.
Growth in wearables is being driven by miniaturisation that enables manufacturers to embed smaller, smarter sensors into garments to track sleep or medical conditions; and by changes in consumer habits. eHealth technology is also affordable. If they monitor their own health and catch symptoms and illnesses, people can help protect themselves and keep healthcare costs down.
Ranjit Atwal, senior research director at Gartner, said. “The introduction of health measures to self-track COVID-19 symptoms, along with increasing interest from consumers in their personal health and wellness during global lockdowns, presented a significant opportunity for the wearables market. Ear-worn devices and smartwatches are seeing particularly robust growth as consumers rely on these devices for remote work, fitness activities, health tracking and more.”
In line with this, the analyst projects that worldwide spending on smartwatches will increase from an estimated $18.5 billion in 2018 to a projected $25.8 billion in 2021, and it expects sales to reach $31.3 billion by 2022.
Yet, it is not just the volume of wearable eHealth devices that is on the up. There has also been a widening in the range of health categories to encompass not only fitness, but also heart health, femhealth and mental health.
The various form factors include rigid, flexible, stretchable, thin and large-area. Generally, current wearables are using customised sensors developed to a standard design, but they may need to evolve to fit the many form factors of eHealth devices. For this, miniaturisation will be key. Additionally, silicon photonic integrated chip sets offer the promise to extend the longevity of wearables by prolonging battery life. All these elements are sensitive and require a flexible approach to liquid protection.
Wearable devices are often worn 24 hours a day and taken off only when charging is required. They are frequently worn during exercise, increasing risk of damage from sweat and during swimming, leading to further risk of water damage. Shower steam is another risk factor as are rain or humidity when devices are worn outdoors.
Designs need to be sufficiently robust to avoid excessive cleaning damage caused by users, a growing issue through the pandemic.
There are three broad options: mechanical sealing, individual component liquid protection, or coatings. Traditional liquid protection methods like mechanicals seals or conformal coatings are often unwieldy or unreliable and prone to cracking, delaminating and degrading. Mechanical seals are rigid and inflexible when protecting miniaturised components
In contrast, the latest nano coatings are flexible, reliable and ideal for providing effective water protection to wearable devices. These coatings offer robust protection plus protection to internal electronics against corrosion or damage from cleaning agents such as IPA.
The importance of repairability
It is also important that eHealth devices and solutions that protect them from liquid damage are repairable. This is particularly key in manufacturing where, especially if a business is producing small, volumes, it will want to be both environmentally and cost-efficient.
As eHealth devices transition into auxiliary medical tools, the need for repairability will become more urgent. Nano coatings can continue delivering liquid protection and do not degrade over time, so will last the whole product lifetime.
That’s key. Nano coatings are not compromised by other types of damage. So, even if a product does need to be repaired, the coating will remain effective. They are a solution therefore that can help protect eHealth devices through their normal lifetime and extend that lifetime further.
For more information on how nano coating improves the protection and lifespan of products, contact one of our liquid protection experts here.
From invention to launch, the manufacture of the modern car is an astonishingly complex technological endeavour. Thousands of intricate parts are involved, with up to 100 high-quality sensors deployed throughout the vehicle to meet evolving security, efficiency and environmental standards. Some of the most important are built into the engine to ensure that the owner can identify and prevent possible issues before they result in breakdowns and expensive repairs.
Engine sensors measure voltage, fuel temperature, oxygen levels and much more, ensuring that the vehicle is operating at peak efficiency. By 2030, half the cost of a car will be accounted for by its electronics, of which sensors with semiconductors will be a major part, says Deloitte. Consequently, these sensors will need to be protected to prevent increased breakdown.
Looking further down the road, once autonomous vehicles have become part of our everyday reality, sensor technology will be as utterly essential as the electricity in their batteries. AVs will require a multiplicity of sensors as part of a new approach to operation, maintenance and sustainability. Without camera, radar and lidar sensors, these vehicles are unable to function. Whatever the vehicle or its drive train, the problem remains that with many sensors necessarily exposed to the elements, something is bound to break, leak or need upgrading.
The failure of sensors brings multiple risks. The first is that it will result in damage to the car that will lead to the need for expensive repairs – and recent industry estimates indicate that some car parts can cost well over £1,000 to repair or replace. The second is that it will render the car unusable even if there is nothing mechanically wrong with the rest of the vehicle. Either eventuality is likely to cause brand damage. Failing sensors can also inflict significant environmental damage by causing an increase in emissions, alongside performance and drivability problems.
The level of impact sensor-failure has on brand image becomes even clearer when the likely impact on the motorist is considered. When an individual is alerted to a fault with their car by a sensor, they have two options: get it looked at or not. If the fault allows them to continue to drive and it is not convenient for them to go get the car checked out, they will keep using it without knowing what damage they are doing. Faulty sensors also raise stress levels. Consumers will either think repairs are going to be very expensive or worry about being stranded if their car breaks down on the road.
Promoting reliability and sustainability
Protection at sensor level is the best solution to the high cost of car repairs. Nano coatings are ideal as opposed to mechanical sealing or conformal coatings, which can degrade when exposed to heat or vibrations. Lasting protection can be provided using the latest nano coating technology that chemically bonds the coating onto the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) to give outstanding thermal durability. This solution trumps mechanical seals, which add extra weight and require more space as well as lower the vehicle’s energy efficiency and prevent automotive innovation.
Practical solutions like liquid proof coatings can enable manufacturers to make sensors repairable so they no longer require replacement. This will increase vehicle reliability and ensure vehicles are sustainable and environmentally friendly – vital factors in the considerations of car-buyers.
For more information on how nano coating improves the protection and lifespan of products including sensor technology, contact one of our liquid protection experts today here.
With Christmas almost upon us, manufacturers’ attention once again falls on the annual top Dream Toys list released by the Toy Retailers Association. 2020’s selection makes especially fascinating reading as the list highlights the toys that parents have relied on to entertain and educate their children for the extended amount of playtime they’ve had this year.
It is interesting to note that almost half (47%) of the most popular stars in the ‘long list’ for 2020 require either batteries or charging via USB in order to operate. These electronic toys include hi-tech Super Mario™ Lego® figures that give instant expressive responses via LCD screens and speakers, as well as a new generation of radio-controlled combat vehicles that do battle with built-in infrared cannons. Also on the list are some returning iconic names, with Peppa Pig and Barbie among them.
Lamentably, a large volume of these electronic toys will inevitably end up in landfill sites, just as they do each year. But with manufacturers now increasingly being required to reduce the waste they produce there is a real need to ensure all such toys are constructed from the outset to be long-lasting and repairable.
No matter how popular they are, the threats to the lifespan of electronic toys remain the same; they include the type of spillages, splashes and misuse around water which commonly occur around children. And this year – with parents paying closer attention to hygiene around their little ones’ playthings – toys will have to withstand more regular and vigorous antibacterial cleaning than in the past. Then there is the issue of corrosion damage from humidity, which can also lead to faulty electronics.
However, manufacturers can help to reduce this problem by ensuring electronic toys are manufactured with the best liquid protection so that they don’t become damaged and consequently discarded after a much shorter lifespan than they ought to have. By using functional nano coatings, it is possible to provide protection for the types of splashes, spills and even accidental submersion that children are likely to subject their toys. Nano coating offers a lifetime of protection enabling electronic toys to easily be rehomed to another family after a much longer period of use, as opposed to yet again ending up as landfill.
For more information on how nano coating improves the protection and lifespan of products including electronic toys, contact one of our liquid protection experts today.
Electronics manufacturers and consumers are increasingly focused on extending product lifespan. In March 2020, the European Commission announced plans to extend the eco-design directive, billed as the ‘right to repair’, to phones and tablets in a bid to increase the repairability of electrical devices. This is likely to be one of a wave of legislative activities designed to extend consumer product lifetimes.
The drive towards ‘right to repair’ is also driven by environmentally-aware consumer trends. Consumers are looking to purchase products with a longer lifespan and repair them when needed, rather than discarding the device. All this has the potential to lead to further legislation, but also to change manufacturers’ mindsets around repairability. For existing products, manufacturers may look to modify designs to make them compliant. For new products we could see designs chosen for manufacture based on how easy they are to repair by a consumer.
Manufacturers are also more conscious of safety. Consumers are not skilled electricians and may not have the tools to conduct repairs. There are concerns about what happens when repairs go wrong and potential for new legislation. Some manufacturers are considering introducing longer warranty periods to control repairs for longer and provide longer-lasting products.
Recent design trends have often made electronics difficult to open without compromising the device’s liquid protection mechanisms or structural integrity. This is due to rigid gaskets and seals, thick conformal coatings or glues. Once compromised, these sealed parts and/or products are irreparable. If a product is dropped or broken, the seals often become obsolete. Even where repairs are possible, they are unlikely to be cost-effective.
All this is likely to lead to changes in the ways electronics products are designed. We may see welds or glued joints replaced with latches or gaskets. We may see additional safety mechanisms added to products to protect consumers when carrying out repairs. Manufacturers will also be increasingly focused on extending the ‘time-to-fail’ and ‘time-to-service’ a product. The more likely a component is to be repaired, the greater the chance of damage to surrounding components, leading to a perpetual risk of device failure.
Fortunately, there is an alternative. Nano coatings can continue delivering liquid protection and do not degrade. Typically, they are not compromised by other types of damage so that even if a product does need to be reworked or repaired, the coating will remain effective. The ability to repair components and whole devices saves costs, reduces the need for landfill and enables regulations around waste to be more easily met. Over the coming years, the drive to repairability is likely to continue as new legislation comes on stream but there will also be more focus on safety.
Manufacturers will want devices to last over 10 years to avoid the need for repair. They may also need to take design into account. They will certainly need to add safety mechanisms to ensure compliance but also to protect devices during repair. Those mechanisms will also need protecting from moisture or dust damage and that will also impact design.
Manufacturers will want the flexibility to choose the safety mechanism most suited to their device and have that safety mechanism last ten years; be repairable; and be protected from dust and liquid. Again, nano coating offers benefits in protecting the device and safety mechanisms from the damage that makes repairs more likely, but also in making those repairs viable. Nano coating eliminates the need for bulky mechanical seals, helping, manufacturers stay competitive in a market that calls for increasing sustainability.
To find out more about how our technologies support repairability, ensuring electronics keep working in any environment, please contact us.