A Smudge-Free Smart Phone Screen?
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) -- The touch screens of BlackBerrys and iPhones tend to smudge easily, but scientists say they have a test to determine the chemical composition and the effectiveness of protective coatings, a finding that may lead to the development of better anti-smudge, anti-reflective coverings.
The key to anti-smudge coatings is perfluoro alkyl ether, a Teflon derivative with added ether groups to enhance its repellent effects. The key to anti-reflective coatings is alternating layers of silica and aluminum to bend and diffuse light.
The findings were to be presented Aug. 19 at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
"Surfaces are particularly important in consumer products," researcher Steven R. Carlo said in a news release from the chemical society. "This work investigates how products can be modified to reduce smudging and reflections. These modifications can offer improved resistance to fingerprints, anti-reflection properties or enhanced physical resistance."
In the consumer electronics industry, the appearance of smart phones and other devices matters as much as their functionality, the researchers said.
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