By their very nature, mobile devices are more exposed to
physical damage than desktop devices that spend their time sitting safely in
one place. Manufacturers have responded to the problem of cracked or shattered
display screens with the adoption of hardened cover glass such as the
ion-exchange Gorilla Glass from Corning. But what about protecting the rest of
the case from scratches and dents?
Natoco
from Japan may have the solution. The company was exhibiting some of its novel
materials in the booth from chemical company Nagase at Display Week. One
particularly interesting one was a glossy paint that can heal itself when
scratched. The booth demonstration had two glossy black panels mounted side by
side. When you scrubbed them with a wire brush, the scratches were clearly
visible. However, the scratches on the panel using the Natoco coating slowly
disappeared, and in a matter of a few minutes, the surface was restored to a
pristine surface.
The paint comes in a variety of formulations that can be
cured using either heat or UV light. The paint is clear, so it can be used to
create a case of any color, simply by applying a base coat. The result is a
bright and durable coating for mobile phones, tablets, or other portable
devices. As companies struggle to find ways to differentiate their products
from the competition, a durable coating made to match colors associated with
the company’s branding could provide a competitive advantage.
Natoco also makes a matte transparent coating that resists
marks. Dirt from routine handling or even “permanent” markers can be wiped off
with a standard facial tissue or paper towel, with no solvents required: not
even water. The slick surface makes it difficult for materials such as ink to
adhere, and the transparent coating offers the same color-matching advantages
as the self-healing material. –Alfred Poor
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