Like it or not, the use of mobile devices in cockpits is commonplace today, yet our prized smartphones and tablets are very vulnerable to water damage. It’s reportedly the number one cause of mobile phone casualties. Many of us will have said a silent prayer at some stage, hoping that a disassembled phone drying on a radiator will somehow resuscitate itself. A fellow crewmember once killed three consecutive phones by dropping them into the heads. So what is the best way of protecting mobile devices from the elements? How do you waterproof your mobile? A number of waterproof hydrophobic coatings have hit the market recently, suggesting that nanotechnology could be the answer to protecting and prolonging the life of our electronics. Nanotechnology is the science dealing with microscopic objects – typically quoted as being between 1,000-50,000x smaller than the width of a human hair, ie invisible. It can be used to treat mobile devices with super-hydrophobic coatings, which effectively make surfaces extremely difficult to get wet (see below). Trying to capture a picture to tweet from the rail or during a boat test is something I do often, with all the associated anxiety, so I was keen to test out these nano-coatings. Smartphones are the height of electronic chic, designed by some of the best brains in the business, so I have never understood the collective will to house them in a rubber case and, in an instant, ruin their looks. Today a selection of waterproof smartphones are available thanks to specialist treatment companies like P2i, but for the majority, like me, with handsets in existing contracts, a nano-coating might be the answer. Our tests centred around two new super-hydrophobic DIY application products from Nanostate in the UK and Impervious in the US. We wanted to know if these invisible coatings could potentially replace a bulky waterproof case. Both companies were formed through crowdfunding sites, so there is obviously a public demand to see practical and affordable protection for mobile devices – even if mobile manufacturers would obviously prefer we buy replacements. What is a super-hydrophobic coating? Hydrophobic treatment involves the separation of water and nonpolar substances. Hydrophobic surfaces create a high contact angle, causing liquid to form spheres or droplets. So super-hydrophobic surfaces are literally those that are very difficult to wet, as water beads straight off. “It etches a surface of the phone at such a small scale you don’t see it,” says Justin Seimits, one of the two co-founders of US company Impervious. “This creates a barrier that forms water into spheres, which roll off the surface.” Nanostate This UK company has developed a range of military-spec coatings designed to protect sensitive electronic equipment. It produced the first DIY coating designed specifically for mobiles, says founder Steve Ashley. Flash Flood offers waterproof protection, while Liquid Sapphire provides scratch and water resistance. Simply rub the liquid thoroughly onto all areas of the phone. Once cured, it provides waterproof protection for up to a year and can be re-applied. … Continue reading Waterproof your mobile: we test new coatings based on nanotechnology