Welcome to our blog, where you can keep up-to-date with the latest P2i news and developments. We will post articles regarding news, events we attend, speaker presentations as well as explaining the nanotechnology industry.
If you've ever dropped your phone in water, don't feel ashamed, you're not
alone.
A recent survey by P2i (details coming out in a press release soon)
showed that 43 per cent of us have suffered from accidental water damage.
We
asked people in the UK to tell us the story of how they managed this feat, and created
a countdown of our ten favorite responses:
10. Was on a water ride at a theme park
9. I accidently left it outside then it rained
8. It dropped into a puddle as I got out of my car
7. Opening a new bottle of cider caused it to fountain over
everything on the table
6. I knocked a jar of gherkins over it, death by
vinegar!
5. Dropped it into the kitchen sink full of washing up
4. While I was washing my hair the mobile started ringing
and I put it to my ear and water got in it.
3. I was trying to make it up to my wife for upsetting her
so I said I would wash our windows. Out came the bucket of warm water and as I bent
over to get the cloth… plop out of my top pocket, my phone fell in the water. To
top it off my wife was still mad with me.
2. Packing for a camping trip, I packed some eggs. Long
story short; the carton got squashed and liquid egg filled my bag, including
the pocket holding my phone.
1. Thinking it was a biscuit, I dunked it into a cup of tea.
Think you have an even better story to tell? Tweet us @P2iLabs or comment on
Facebook at /p2itechnology
The recent WIRED article regarding the confusion over indicator
strips turning pink in humidity has me wondering what we mean by the term
“water damage”. Am I putting my phone in danger from water damage when I use it
in the bathroom to play the radio while I take a shower? Was it ultimately my
own sweat that killed my MP3 player when I used to tuck it into my bra at the
gym? And will my e-reader fall prey to the same faults if I keep using it in
the kitchen, holding it in one hand whilst stirring the pot of steaming pasta
with the other?
We learnt in the recent article, Why does a wet phone die? that electricity in the presence of water can cause electrochemical migration and
permanent short circuiting of devices. But surely a bit of steam or sweat is a
different matter, even if it is enough to turn an indicator strip pink? Another
question for the gang in the P2i Labs, I think.
Can sweat and
humidity really cause damage to electronic devices?
When P2i first emerged into the electronics sector, it was
on hearing aid devices. These are very expensive, small, pieces of electronics
that live behind the ear. A big issue in the hearing aid industry is corrosion
damage, as the close proximity to the skin allows for the transferal of sweat
and adds to the humidity and amount of moisture in the air around the device.
This causes the metals inside the device to have a chemical reaction and begin
to oxidize leading to the gradual degradation of the materials. P2i’s
nano-coating dramatically reduces this corrosion damage and in just three years
P2i went from coating zero to about 60% of the hearing devices produced
globally.
How do you know
what’s causing the damage?
One of the tests we did with the hearing devices, which we
are also doing on smartphones, is known as an ‘accelerated corrosion test’. The
idea is that over a period of days, we can mimic what a device is exposed to
over its lifetime. The test allows us to introduce phases of increased salt or
moisture, followed by dryer times, all the while increasing and decreasing the
temperature; again mimicking the phases a device will go through in the real
world. The aim of the test is to see how the materials in the phone will “weather”
the conditions.
The video below shows the difference between a phone treated
with the splash-proof (previously known as Aridion™) nano-coating, compared to
an untreated device. The phones are going through the exact same test, and are
periodically removed and photographed.
What tends to happen is that as the temperature changes,
water which may have entered the phone as innocent humidity, then condenses
inside the phone, forming larger droplets. Now, not only do you have the
oxidation of the metals, but you’re also in danger of electrochemical migration
water damage, without ever getting your phone wet.
Should I be worried?
Believe it or not, manufacturers are continuously looking
for ways to make your phones more reliable. Motorola and Alcatel have already
signed up to put the splash-proof coating on a range of devices before you buy them, so
you don’t need to worry. We believe that as people continue to integrate the
use of the mobile phone into every aspect of their life (including taking their
phones in and out of humid conditions) then this trend from manufacturers will
only increase.
Author Bio: Matt Powell is the editor for the UK broadband, smartphone and tablet information site Broadband Genie.
Mobile World Congress is the
largest mobile technology trade show in the world and traditionally it’s been
the place where phone companies show off new releases.
However this year HTC and Sony
revealed their latest smartphones a few weeks in advance of MWC, while Samsung
kept the Galaxy S4 for a separate event in New York. What’s the point, critics
said, of spending all this time and money on a huge event if the block-busting
hardware has already been unveiled?
But MWC is about more than a few
headline superphones. There were hundreds of exhibitors demonstrating all kinds
of interesting new mobile technology, and focusing solely on the big players
could mean missing out on some really important advancements, like P2i and its
water-repelling nanotechnology.
Plenty of mobile phones offer
water-proofing, but in most cases this involves wrapping the phone in a thick
layer of rubber and sealing up all the ports. This is effective but it’s not usually
attractive.
The P2i solution is far more
elegant. The firm can take any mobile phone (or indeed almost any solid object)
and coat it with a water-repelling coating.
No doubt, this was one of the
most impressive demonstrations at Mobile World Congress.
It helped that the P2i stand had
an attention grabbing setup: immersed in a tray of water was a Samsung Galaxy
S3, powered on and running normally. Even more surprising, the rear cover of
the S3 had been removed so the battery was fully exposed. You can see the full demonstration by P2i on the Broadband Genie
blog.
The S3 had been treated with
Dunkable™, the latest form of P2i’s technology. This protects handsets to IPx7
standards, which requires devices to survive a metre of water for 30 minutes,
though the timer on the S3 suggested it had been underwater for a lot longer
than that.
As the phone was lifted out, the
water droplets just slid off, and once the screen had been dried, it functioned
as normal.
Unfortunately, as it’s a new
development Dunkable™ is not yet available on any hardware. So what could P2i
do for us smartphone users right now?
The answer is its first
commercial splash-proof product. This offers protection against splashes and
spills, and like Dunkable™, water simply slides
off treated surfaces. While you can’t leave a handset immersed for a long period, it can survive everydayincidents that
would kill unprotected devices.
The splash-proof coating is already
used on recent Motorola RAZR smartphones. Like the RAZR i which I’d been
carrying around for the last few months; turns out I was already a splash-proof
user and hadn’t even realised.
P2i can make a real difference to
both manufacturers and end-users. We get water-resistant phones without the
ugly bulk of typical ruggedised handsets, while manufacturers are free to
design phones without having to worry about
needing to adapt the design to “build in” liquid
protection.
The challenge at the moment is
getting the technology onto handsets, and in this, P2i could learn from the
likes of Corning.
Gorilla Glass is now the standard
for toughened phone displays, and it’s become a selling point. Consumers are
becoming increasingly aware that a smartphone with Corning Gorilla Glass means
it’s well protected against scratches and falls.
If P2i is able to build its brand
awareness to the point where consumers base their buying decisions on its
inclusion, they’ll be able to attract more manufacturers and we’ll get to a
point where technologies like the splash-proof coating and Dunkable™ are used
as a matter of course. Then we won’t need to worry as much when our smartphones
take a swim in the toilet bowl.
Has your phone ever been splashed with water or other liquids? If so, the reaction to this is always one of dread, as smartphones are not designed to mix with water in any of its forms.
There are many solutions out there that aim to prevent phones from a watery grave. For example, putting the device in a bowl of rice, but these methods are optimistic at best and in most cases the end result is still not good.
Smartphones have become such an important part of our everyday lives that there are very few scenarios left where phones do not accompany us. In fact, in a recent survey, 19% of people interviewed admitted to having dropped their phones down the toilet!
All is not lost though, as protection from water damage is now available in the form of the Alcatel ONE TOUCH 997 Ultra smartphone.
The 997 Ultra repels water
Understanding the role smartphones play in today's society, Alcatel have teamed up with P2i to offer consumers a completely water repellent phone and reduce the fears they have when phones and liquids meet. To do this, the ONE TOUCH 997 Ultra comes complete with our nano-coating technology which is applied to both the external and internal surfaces, ensuring total protection from water damaging effects. You can see how our coating is applied to smartphones below:
As the coating is incredibly thin (1000 times smaller than a human hair), it does not interfere with the internal electrical conductivity, allowing all components to be treated, leaving no weak points to attract water and cause corrosion. This is great piece of mind should the 997 Ultra come into contact with water.
When launching the onetouch 997 Ultra, Alcatel mobile's theme is 'No Worries' and with the benefits our water repellent nano-coating offers, the concerns over everyday splashes and spills, or being caught in the rain, are becoming a thing of the past.
You can watch the technology in action below in the official Alcatel video and if you would like to know more details about the 997 Ultra, you can here.
Splashes, spills and rain.... No worries with the ONE TOUCH 997 Ultra!
----
* The water repellent
nano-coating applied by TCL, protects the internal components from water
ingress and corrosion damage, caused by accidental splashes and spills. The
coating is not a waterproof technology and TCL does not recommend that your
phone comes into contact with liquids.
2012 has been a busy year here at P2i and with 2013 only a few weeks away, we take a look back at some of our more exciting highlights.
January:
The first month of 2012 saw us attend two very different tradeshows. For the second year in a row, we exhibited at International CES in Las Vegas which was also a milestone for P2i, as we announced that over 8 million consumer electronics devices had been protected from water damage with our nano-coating technology. You can find out more about how we got on at CES here.
In addition, we also attended ISPO in Munich, Germany to promote our ion-mask™ technology to lifestyle brands, where we were delighted to announce that the technology had been applied to over 3 million pairs of shoes.
February:
Did you know that more than half of all mobile phone users expect devices to be water-repellent? In research carried out by P2i, mobile phone users from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and the US also admitted to using their devices in the rain, shower and sauna. Read all about the findings here.
February also saw our return to Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona where we were also interviewed by The Fonecast. In preparation for MWC, we also produced a brand new video to explain how our coating is applied to electronic devices. You can watch this video below:
March:
At AudiologyNow2012! we were delighted to be crowned Best of Show for the second year running, an award that was made all the more special as P2i was the first company to win this award in consecutive years. You can see our award and booth here.
Ever wondered what the difference between waterproof and water repellent electronics is? In our post from the 21st March, we look at the differences in more detail.
April:
In April, we attended two tradeshows for the first time, World Filtration Congress in Graz, Austria and NEPCON in Shanghai, China ,as well as featuring on NewsWatch TV hosted by Scott Steinberg.
Finally, we were delighted to announce our partnership with leading headwear brand Kangol, who have applied ion-mask™ to a range of their iconic hats. You can watch our technology in action on Kangol hats below:
May:
Our busiest month so far!
With the London Olympics just around the corner, P2i teamed up with UK Sport to protect equipment and accessories in cycling and sailing, two of Britain's leading sports. We also attended CTIA Wireless in New Orleans, USA and started our series of blogs entitled: A Brief History of Nanotechnology, which charts the early beginnings of nanotechnology through to the present day (you can find the series by searching our blog).
Do you know what happens if you apply our coating to normally water absorbent items? Well in May we created The Repellent Files to find out. You can see all our experiments so far which include Mentos & Diet Coke, sponges and coffee granules on P2i.TV.
To top off an excellent month, we were crowned Most Innovative Company of the Year 2012 by the Best in Biz Awards 2012 EMEA.
July:
While June went by a little more quietly, July was certainly a month to shout about, winning not one but two industry awards! At OutDoor 2012 in Friedrichshafen, Germany our collaboration with Trekmates was recognized as the DRY Mountain Lite Mitt featuring ion-mask™ was awarded the Industry Award in the Accessories category.
And at the same time, the Global Business Excellence (GBE) Awards were being held in London where we were acknowledged by winning the Outstanding New Product/Service award.
August/September:
Both August and September continued where July left off with more awards coming our way. In August, we were again awarded the title of Most Innovative Company in Europe by the International Business Awards (Stevies) and in September we were listed in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 list. The list highlights the top-performing private companies and we came 27th!
October:
How waterproof are consumer electronics? That was the main topic of our blog in October. We also announced our exclusive partnership with Plantronics to protect cutting-edge Bluetooth devices, including the Voyager Legend headset.
November:
Did you catch Richard Hammond's Miracles of Nature on BBC One? If you did, you will have seen that we were featured! In the first episode entitled 'Super Bodies', Richard Hammond explored how nature has inspired human technological developments and how the wings of the Morpho butterfly produce the same water-repellent effect as our technology. The series will be on DVD from next year but images and more information from the show can be seen here.
November also saw the official launch of our partnership with Alcatel Mobile (TCL), where our coating has been applied to Alcatel's flagship model, the ONE TOUCH 997 Ultra. Watch the video below:
Last but not least, it was time to answer another frequently asked question: How small is our coating?
December:
There are exciting projects in the pipeline but you will have to wait to find out what. We also have a host of activity planned for 2013, so watch this space...
If you would like to know more about our technology, visit www.p2i.com or alternatively you can ask us a question in the comment box below.
This week we are demonstrating the benefits of both technologies. In London, on the 4th December we had a stand within the Stuff Zone at Trends Plus 2012. The event which is in its second year, acts as a forum for ideas, creativity and blue-sky thinking and attracts delegates in marketing, advertising as well as new product developments.
You can find out more about our presence at Trends Plus here.
Setting up our stand
Demonstrating the repellent properties of our coating at Stuff Zone
Coinciding with Trends Plus is The Running Event taking place in Austin, Texas and is the premier expo for speciality retailers. If you are attending the show, we can be found at booth 1425, where we are demonstrating our ion-mask technology to a wide range of audiences. You can find out more about The Running Event here.
Our Running Event booth
More images from the event will be posted on our Twitter and Facebook accounts and you can keep up to date with what events and tradeshows we attend by visiting www.p2i.com/events
If you have visited p2i.com, seen our collateral or even watched our videos then you will be aware that we refer to our technology as 1,000 times thinner than a human hair. Which is pretty small, but exactly how small is small?
In this post we will look at how small nanometres really are, as well as posting some interesting facts.
What is small?
The word nano originates from the Greek word for dwarf, but today, the term nano more commonly refers to anything that is 'incrediblly small' or to be precise - one billionth (10-9) times smaller than a metre.
To put this into perspective the smallest object visible to the naked human eye is a single strand of human hair, anything smaller than that and we need the help of microscopes to see them. And even more sophisticated and expensive microscopes are required before building blocks such as hydrogen atoms become visible. In fact, you would need to line up 10 hydrogen atoms in a row just to equal one nanometre!
Powers of Ten:
To measure size, either large or small, the calculations required to do so are done in powers of ten, as you can see below:
To get our heads around this subject in a more understandable way, in 1997 a video was produced which takes the viewer on a journey of magintudes. Called Powers of Ten, the video is still very influential today. Every 10 seconds the viewing point starts from ten times further away, eventually reaching the edge of the known galaxy. At this point we then return to Earth at the same speed, ending inside one of the smallest objects visible; a carbon atom. It is a great representation of scale in comparasion to our own size as human beings and you can watch it below:
More recently, a modern version of this video has been produced narrated by Morgan Freeman which you can see here:
Some interesting facts:
We have all heard of red blood cells and DNA, but have you ever wondered how small they actually are? Below are some of these objects and their relative size:
Grain of Rice = 1 Millimeter
Red Blood Cell = 5-7 Microns in length (5000 Red blood cells would fit into 1 inch)
DNA = 1 Micron
Common Cold Virus = 0.0001 Micron or 75-100nm wide
Did you know that the average human finger nail grows at around 1 nanometer(nm) per second? And if your were able to strech a meter a distance of 1690 miles (roughly the same distance as Melbourne to Perth in Australia), a nanometre would only be the size of a parecetol or asprin tablet.
So as you can see, when we talk about the nanoscale, we are working in incredibly small dimensions.
P2i's nano-coating technology:
It is amazing to know that so much activity is going on, on scales of size that are sometimes hard to comprehend.
Our coating, which is measured in nanometers is molecularly bonded to products surfaces inside and out, offering superior liquid repellency. As mentioned earlier, the coating is 1000 times thinner than a human hair and invisible to the naked eye, in fact it is so small that it does not change the look or feel of the surface it is applied to.
You can find out more about our technology here as well as seeing how it is applied in the following video:
As always, if you have any questions about nanotechnology or our coating, just ask.
As you know we have been experimenting with our water repellent coating to discover if it can turn normally water absorbent and dissolvable items into repellent ones.
So far we have published 11 different Repellent Files including:
Berocca
Coffee
Sponges
Sugar Cubes
Mentos (& Diet Coke)
If you have not seen what happens when a pack of Mentos are dropped in Diet Coke, get on YouTube and have a look, it is worth it.
Each week we look to publish a new video on our YouTube channel, but if you have any suggestions of products or items you would like to see featured in the Repellent Files do let us know in the comment box at the end of this post and who knows you could see your suggestion feature in one of our videos!
You can watch all the Repellent Files we have posted so far below and remember to check out our channel, Twitter and Facebook accounts for the next instalment this Friday.
Case #1: Teabag
Case #2: Berocca Tablets
Case #3: The Biscuit Dunk
Case #4: Anyone for Coffee?
Case #5: Sugar Cubes
Case #6: Sponges
Case #7: Mentos & Diet Coke
Case #8: Newspapers
Case #9: Water Droplets
Case #10: A Water Droplets Journey
Hope you enjoyed watching them! If so, subscribe to our channel to be alerted whenever we put a new video up.
In today's world, the relationship we have with our electronics has never been closer. From exercising in the gym or great outdoors, to work environments such as meetings and conference calls, electronic devices are everywhere to be seen.
We take for granted the reliability of our devices. We expect them to operate normally even in 'risky' locations such as being caught out in bad weather or during/after exercise where devices come into contact with our sweat and moisture.
In these conditions, devices can meet a premature end, as any form of liquid can cause damage and corrosion. And while the thought of water damage is not a pleasant one, help is at hand in the form of headsets from Plantronics.
Water, sweat, humidity and moisture all present a constant threat to headsets. Extensive regular use results in increased moisture build-up, which can either reduce performance or in the worst case, cause device malfunction.
Recognising the threat, Plantronics have incorporated P2i's nano-coating technology onto the new Voyager Legend™ Bluetooth® headset as well as the soon to be launched BackBeat® GO earbuds.
Plantronics Voyager Legend™ - Protected by P2i technology
With a thickness the equivalent to one thousandth that of a human hair, the coating does not change the look or feel of the headsets yet protects both the inside and outside of the products from moisture damage.
What this means to the wearer is that they can be confident the headsets will withstand the damage of everyday life. P2i's nano-coating ensures that liquids simply run off the headsets instead of getting inside and damaging the internal components.
Plantronics have produced a range of video around both headsets but you can watch the main Voyager Legend™ commercial below:
You can also find out more on the Voyager Legend™ and P2i's moisture protection here as well as details on the BackBeat® GO here.
We are very excited about this relationship and the response to the headsets has been very positive, with the Voyager Legend™ already receiving recognition, including the September Editor's Choice award from CNET.
Whatever challenges your day to day life presents, Plantronics Voyager Legend™ and BackBeat® GO® headsets featuring P2i's nano-coating moisture protection will meet them head on.
If you live in the UK and happened to have tuned into BBC 1 at 9pm on Monday, you would have noticed a programme called Richard Hammond's Miracles of Nature. If you missed it, the first episode entitled: Super-Bodies can be seen on the BBC iPlayer now (UK only).
But why highlight this you maybe asking? Good question. Well, the answer is quite simple, we featured in it from 45 minutes in :)
The show, which has three, one-hour episodes, follows Richard Hammond around the world as he takes a closer look at some amazing animals and how their natural abilities are inspiring new technological developments. In the show, we learn how the way a giraffe controls it blood pressure when bending down to drink has inspired the development of fighter pilot suits to combat the stresses of g-forces. In addition, did you know that a woodpecker's skull is teaching us how to develop more protective crash helmets - demonstrated in the show by dropping a light bulb from space in a protective casing designed to be like the scull of the woodpecker.
As the episode approaches its conclusion, attention turns to South America, in particular the rainforest, where a creature with a unique ability lives, the Morpho Butterfly.
The Morpho Butterfly - As seen of BBC 1s Miracles of Nature
So what makes this butterfly unique? As you can imagine, living in the forests of South America, it rains alot, and if only a fraction of water was to be absorbed into its wing, the result would cause the butterfly to be unstable as the water would make their wings heavy and flying impossible. However, the butterfly combats this with a clever adaption, its wings are totally water repellent, meaning that any rain drops that do come into contact with it, simply bead up and roll off. Sounding familiar?
In nature, there are many examples of animals and plants that have developed water repellent surfaces to ensure they stay dry - the lotus leaf being one particular example. And of course, we have all heard of the expression 'like water off a duck's back'? Which although has different connotations, does originally refer to the way a ducks feathers repel water, staying light and dry even when submerged.
How is it then that the Morpho butterfly, lotus leaf and feathers from a duck repel water so well? To answer that you need a microscope with significant zoom. While the wings on the Morpho butterfly look and feel smooth, when viewed on the nanoscale (x1000) it is clear that they are actually made up of millions of tiny ridges. Although we can't see it with the naked eye, these invisible ridges ensure that only the smallest amounts of water actually comes into contact with the surface, resulting in the water remaining in droplet/bead form and simply rolling off.
If you are familiar with our technology you will know that any water that comes into contact with our coating beads up and rolls off. There is however a difference as to how this roll off effect is created. Our technology is applied as a surface chemistry, meaning the coating is molecularly bonded to the surface of products given it a low surface energy in order to repel water. The butterfly however, has a natural surface roughness to its wings which creates an air-liquid interface which effectively lowers the surface energy and repels water. In nature this technique works well but the reason we use a surface chemistry over roughness is due to its durability. When a roughness coating is applied to man-made objects it is not chemically bonded to its surface resulting in the durability and repellency diminishing very quickly. Not a problem in nature as the butterfly can replace its surface when required but in man-made products, a surface chemistry such as P2i technology is a more effective and reliable option for repelling water.
We achieve this water repellency by placing complete products within a chamber where our coating is applied in a gas form, molecularly bonding to both the external and internal materials, altering their surface energy. The result: a completely water repellent product. You can see how our coating is applied to smartphones in our video below:
For Miracles of Nature, the BBC wanted to take it one step further and we were tasked with treating more unusual items, such as a newspaper, egg carton and an entire white suit. To see the results you will have to watch the show, it is worth it we promise, but below are some stills to give you a little teaser:
Water repellent newspaper
Water repellent egg carton
Hydrophobic suit (As seen on BBC 1s Miracles of Nature)
As a finale, Richard discusses a dilemma that a lot of us have perhaps experienced but never really spoken about... dropping our phones down the toilet. According to the show, 19% of us admitted to having suffered this first hand! And in the majority of cases the results have not been good, e.g. a broken and dead phone.
This however is no longer a problem, as Richard demonstrates by dropping a P2i treated smartphone down the toilet, retrieving it when a call comes through and answering it. This showcases that with our water repellent coating, smartphones and other electronics need no longer fear accidental splashes, spill and the dreaded drop down the toilet.
Do check out the show if you can and if you have any questions about our technology, don't hesitate to ask in the comment box below or you can also reach us on Facebook and Twitter.
We will leave you will a slow-motion clip of a smartphones meeting with water but don't worry this phone was treated!
Nanotechnology, like genetically modified food or nuclear power,
often produces a knee-jerk reaction. It’s somehow ‘not natural’ and so
is considered scary and dangerous. This is primarily a reaction to
words, the same way that it easy for advertisers to push emotional
buttons with ‘natural’ as good and ‘artificial’ as bad.
This is a silly distinction. There is a lot in nature that is very
dangerous indeed – and much that is artificial protects us from that. If
you doubt this, try removing everything artificial when you are flying
in a plane over shark infested waters. For that matter, many of the most
virulent poisons like ricin and botulinus toxin are natural. Water
crammed with bacteria and faecal matter is natural. Clean, safe drinking
water from a tap is artificial. Yet we can’t help reacting like puppets
when the advertisers use those magic words.
Some concerns about nanotechnology are down to what is at best
futurology and at worst science fiction. Prince Charles infamously
caused headlines back in 2003, when newspapers reported ‘The prince has
raised the spectre of the “grey goo” catastrophe in which
sub-microscopic machines designed to share intelligence and replicate
themselves take over and devour the planet.’
Charles later denied ever meaning this, commenting that he never used
the expression ‘grey goo’ and saying ‘I do not believe that
self-replicating robots, smaller than viruses, will one day multiply
uncontrollably and devour our planet. Such beliefs should be left where
they belong, in the realms of science fiction.’ But he certainly did
express concerns that not enough was being done to assess and manage any
risk associated with the use of nanotechnology.
Unlike the grey goo headlines, this is a perfectly reasonable
attitude. The very nature of nanotechnology implies using substances in
physical formats that our bodies might not have encountered, and hence
we can’t make assumptions without appropriate testing and risk
assessment.
If we are to be sensible about this, we need to first avoid a blanket
response to nanotechnology. You would be hard pressed to find a reason
for being worried about the impact of nanometer thin coatings, such as
that used by P2i (sponsors of the Nature’s Nanotech
series) There is a big difference between manipulating coatings at the
nanoscale and manufacturing products with nanoparticles and small
nanotubes.
We know that breathing in nanoparticles, like those found in soot in
the air, can increase risk of lung disease, and there is no reason to
think that manufactured nanoparticles would be any less dangerous than
the natural versions. When some while ago the Soil Association banned
artificial nanoparticles from products they endorsed, I asked them why
only artificial particles. Their spokesperson said that natural ones are
fine because ‘life evolved with these.’
This, unfortunately, is rubbish. You might as well argue it is okay
to put natural salmonella into food because ‘life evolved with it.’ Life
also evolved with cliffs, but it doesn’t make falling off them any less
dangerous. There is no magic distinction between a natural and an
artificial substance when it comes to chemical makeup, and in practice
if there is risk from nanoparticles it is likely to be from the physics
of their very small size, rather than anything about their chemistry.
There are three primary concerns about nanoparticles – what will
happen if we breathe them, eat them and put them on our skin. The
breathing aspect is probably the best understand and is already strongly
legislated on in the UK – we know that particulates in the air can
cause a range of diseases and have to be avoided. There is really no
difference here between the need to control nanoparticles and any other
particles and fibres we might breathe. Whenever a process throws
particulates into the air it ought to be controlled. (And this applies
to the ‘natural’ smoke from wood fires, say, which is high in dangerous
particulates, as well as any industrial process.)
When it comes to food, we have good coverage from The House of Lords
Science and Technology committee in a 2010 report. They point out that
nanotechnologies have a range of possible applications in food that
could benefit both consumers and industry. ‘These include creating foods
with unaltered taste but lower fat, salt or sugar levels, or improved
packaging that keeps food fresher for longer or tells consumers if the
food inside is spoiled.’
The committee’s report sensibly argued ‘Our current understanding of
how [nanoparticles] behave in the human body is not yet advanced enough
to predict with any certainty what kind of impact specific nanomaterials
may have on human health. Persistent nanomaterials are of particular
concern, since they do not break down in the stomach and may have the
potential to leave the gut, travel throughout the body, and accumulate
in cells with long-term effects that cannot yet be determined.’
Their recommendation was not to abandon these technologies, but
rather that it was essential to perform appropriate research, preferably
across the EU, to check the impact of such nanomaterials when consumed,
and to ensure that all such materials that interact differently with
the body from ordinary foodstuffs are assessed for risk before they are
allowed onto the market. This seems eminently sensible.
The
final area, applying nanoparticles to the skin, is perhaps most urgent,
because most of apply them on a regular basis. Most sun defence
products, and a number of cosmetics contain them. It is hard to find a
good reason to allow for any risk in a pure cosmetic, and arguably they
should be prevented from containing nanoparticles. But the story is more
nuanced with sun creams.
Most sunscreens contain particles of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
These invisible particles, ranging from nanoscale to significantly
larger, provide most of the sunscreen’s protection against dangerous
ultraviolet. What has to be weighed up is the benefits of using products
to prevent a cancer that kills over 65,000 people a year worldwide –
and would kill many more if sunscreens weren’t used – against a risk
that has not been associated with any known deaths.
The
potential for these nanoparticles to cause harm depends on them
penetrating through the outer layers of the skin to reach cells where
they could cause damage. In theory a nanoparticle is capable of doing
this. But the current evidence is that the particles remain on the
surface of the skin and do not reach viable skin cells. Skin cancer is a
particular risk in Australia, so this is a topic that has been studied
in depth there. As Cancer Council Australia concludes: ‘there is no
credible evidence that sunscreens containing nanoparticles pose a health
risk. There is plenty of evidence however, proving that sunscreen can
help reduce the risk of skin cancer, in particular non-melanoma skin
cancer.’
Overall, then, we should not be lax about nanoparticles and their
effect on our bodies. We need careful testing and where necessary
regulation. But equally we should not be swayed into knee-jerk reactions
by emotional words carrying little meaning.
If you are a keen follower of consumer technology, then you will be aware that there has been a steady emergence over the past year of smartphones and tablets offered complete with 'waterproof' protection. But just how waterproof are these electronics?
Gadgets form an essential part of our everyday lives and there are few places left where our smartphones and tablets do not accompany us. More and more people are taking their electronics into potentially hazardous locations, for example the bathroom or even worse, saunas!
What you may not realize is that even if the device is left in a 'safe' spot, these environments still pose a risk. Water takes many forms such as vapour, mist and steam, all of which can penetrate inside devices. If there is no barrier against ingress, then the vapour or steam can reach internal components, resulting in corrosion and phone malfunctions.
This principle is more commonly understood when dealing with water in its normal form, liquid. Should a device fall into, or be splashed with liquid, without a protective barrier in place, the liquid can penetrate deep inside the device, resulting in electrochemical migration. We have discussed electrochemical migration in a previous post but here is a recap:
Electrochemical migration is the movement of metal ions between conductors which results in devices short circuiting and failing.
Our everyday lives have resulted in a greater need for electronics that can withstand the effects of liquids in all their forms. This in turn has seen the latest smartphones and tablets being offered with a repellent or waterproof protection.
What makes electronics waterproof?
For an electronic device to be considered waterproof, it has to be either completely sealed and ruggedized (making them bulky), or alternatively it must have barriers in place that stop water from penetrating through. It is this second option that is proving more popular now, as it allows devices to offer protection from water without the need for external casings. In this approach, manufacturers use seals known as gaskets or O-rings to act as barriers, stopping liquids from penetrating inside the device and damaging the internal components.
So are they really waterproof?
This is an interesting question as devices can claim to be waterproof if they have barriers in place to keep water out, but what about the internal components themselves? Are they also protected should liquid manage to get inside?
The answer in the majority of cases is unfortunately NO. Sealing devices off does stop water from getting in but if the barrier is compromised, for example by a device being dropped, then the case, gaskets or O-rings protecting it can become damaged and break. This could allow water to seep towards the circuit
board and internal components, resulting in device failure and loss of
data.
It just takes one break in the seal for water to get inside and if this does occur, it may not be noticed as seals are hidden away on the inside. So while we think our device is waterproof, a break in the seal will not become apparent until the phone is malfunctioning and by then it could be too late.
The importance of protecting the internal components
Knowing that waterproof devices are only as good as the seals and barriers that protect them, it is important that protection is also offered to the internal components as well. And this is where liquid repellent nano-coating technology comes in.
A liquid repellent nano-coating differs from a waterproof solution in that it is not a physical barrier, meaning that liquid can still penetrate inside the device. This, however, is not the end of the device's life. The nano-coating, which is applied in vapour form, molecularly bonds to both the inside and outside of the entire device, ensuring that each and every exposed surface is treated. What this means is that, although water can get inside the device, any liquid that does come into contact
with components will simply move away from the surface, rather than sticking to it, resulting in reduced corrosion, electrochemical migration and failure.
While a nano-coating is not waterproof (it is not a physical barrier), it does protect from splashes and spills as well as less obvious 'wet' environments such as saunas, bathrooms and high humidity climates.
A waterproof device has many benefits for day to day life but if the barrier fails, the device becomes vulnerable. By applying a liquid repellent nano-coating to the internal components, protection is offered to the most valuable parts of electronic devices, where all our data, numbers and images are stored. Nano-coatings are not a waterproof solution but do offer protection against everyday scenarios and environments, we and our devices find ourselves exposed to.
If you would like to know more about our liquid repellent nano-coating do let us know in the comments below. You can also see how our repellent nano-coating is applied to electronics in the video below:
And the good news does not stop there! If you purchased or read the August 16th edition of the Sunday Times (16th September) you will have noticed the Hiscox Tech Track 100 supplement within its pages. Tech Track 100 ranks Britain's top 100 private tech companies, based on the fastest growing sales over the last three years. Scrolling through the supplement you will notice that we are listed at number 27, a position we are extremely delighted with.
You can read more on our inclusion here and if you were unable to get hold of a copy you can see the complete list of entries by clicking the following link:http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack/downloads/2012techtrack100.pdf
Continuing with the award theme, our success in the electronics sector continues to flourish as alongside our Tech Track listing we have also been recognised as a National Finalist for the European Business Awards.
However, in order to proceed to the next round and become a National Champion, our short video entry needs to receive the most votes. This is where we need your help. You can watch our entry and vote by clicking here. The results will be announced next month and we will update the results in the comment section below as well as on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
If you do have a moment to vote for us that really would be appreciated. If you have any questions about these awards or would like to know more about our technology, just ask.
The image that almost always springs to mind when nanotechnology is mention is Drexler’s tiny army of assemblers and the threat of being overwhelmed by grey goo. But what many forget is that there is a fundamental problem in physics facing anyone building invisibly small robots (nanobots) – something that was spotted by the man who first came up with the concept of working on the nanoscale.
That man was Richard Feynman. His name may not be as well known outside physics circles as, say, Stephen Hawking, but ask a physicist to add a third to a triumvirate of heroes with Newton and Einstein and most would immediately choose Feynman. It didn’t hurt that Richard Feynman was a bongo-playing charmer whose lectures delighted even those who couldn’t understand the science, helped by an unexpected Bronx accent – imagine Tony Curtis lecturing on quantum theory.
Feynman became best known to the media for his dramatic contribution to the Challenger inquiry, when in front of the cameras he plunged an O-ring into iced water to show how it lost its elasticity. But on an evening in December 1959 he gave a lecture that laid the foundation for all future ideas of nanobots. His talk at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society was titled There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom, and his subject was manipulating and controlling things on a small scale.
Feynman pointed out that people were amazed by a device that could write the Lord’s Prayer on the head of a pin. But ‘Why cannot we write the entire 24 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica on the head of a pin?’ As he pointed out, the dots that make up a printed image, if reduced to a scale that took the area of paper in the encyclopedia down to pinhead size, would still contain 1,000 atoms each – plenty of material to make a pixel. And it could be read with technology they had already.
Feynman went on to describe how it would be possible to write at this scale, but also took in the idea that the monster computers of his day would have to become smaller and smaller to cram in the extra circuits required for sophisticated computation. Then he described how engineering could be undertaken on the nanoscale, and to do so, he let his imagination run a little wild.
What Feynman envisaged was making use of the servo ‘hands’ found in nuclear plants to act remotely, but instead of making the hands the same size as the original human hands, building them on a quarter scale. He would also construct quarter size lathes to produce scaled down parts for new devices. These quarter scale tools would be used to produce sixteenth scale hands and lathes, which themselves would produce sixty-fourth scale items… and so on, until reaching the nanoscale.
The second component of Feynman’s vision was a corresponding multiplication of quantity, as you would need billions of nanobots to do anything practical. So he would not make one set of quarter scale hands, but ten. Each of those would produce 10 sixteenth scale devices, so there would be 100 of them – and so on. Feynman points out there would not be a problem of space or materials, because one billion 1/4000 scale lathes would only take up two percent of the space and materials of a conventional lathe.
When he discussed running nanoscale machines, Feynman even considered the effect on lubrication. The mechanical devices we are familiar with need oil to prevent them ceasing up. As he pointed out, the effective viscosity of oil gets higher and higher in proportion as you go down in scale. It stops being a lubricant and starts being like attempting to operate in a bowl of tar. But, he argues, you may well not need lubricants, as the bearings won’t run hot because the heat would escape very rapidly from such a small device.
So far, so good, but what is the problem Feynman mentions? He points out that ‘As we go down in size there are a number of interesting problems that arise. All things do not simply scale down in proportion.’ Specifically, as things get smaller they begin to stick together. If you unscrewed a nanonut from a nanobolt it wouldn’t fall off – the Van der Waals force we met on the gecko’s foot is stronger than the force of gravity on this scale. Small things stick together in a big way.
Feynman is aware there would be problems. ‘It would be like those old movies of a man with his hands full of molasses, trying to get rid of a glass of water.’ But he does effectively dismiss the problems. In reality, the nano-engineer doesn’t just have Van der Waals forces to deal with. Mechanical engineering generally involves flat surfaces briefly coming together to transfer force from one to the other, as when the teeth of a pair of gears mesh. But down at the nanoscale a new, almost magical, force springs into life – the Casimir effect.
If two plates get very close, they are attracted towards each other. This has nothing to do with electromagnetism, like the Van der Waals force, but is the result of a weird aspect of quantum theory. All the time, throughout all of space, quantum particles briefly spring into existence, then annihilate each other. An apparently empty vacuum is, in fact, a seething mass of particles that exist for such a short space of time that we don’t notice them.
However, one circumstance when these particles do come to the fore is when there are two sheets of material very close to each other. If the space separating the sheets is close enough, far fewer of these ‘virtual’ particles can appear between them than outside them. The result is a real pressure that pushes the plates together. Tiny parallel surfaces slam together under this pressure.
The result of these effects is that even though toy nanoscale gears have been constructed from atoms, a real nanotechnology machine – a nanobot – would simply not work using conventional engineering. Instead the makers of nanobots need to look to nature. Because the natural world has plenty of nanoscale machines, moving around, interacting and working. What’s the big difference? Biological machines are wet and soft.
By this I don’t mean they use water as a lubricant rather than oil, but rather they are not usually a device made up of a series of interlocking mechanical components like our machines but rather use a totally different approach to mechanisms and interaction that results in a ‘wet’, soft environment lacking flat surfaces and the opportunities for small scale stickiness to get in the way of their workings.
If we are to build nanomachines, our engineers need to think in a totally different way. We need to dismiss Feynman’s picture of miniature lathes, nuts, bolts and gears. Instead our model has to be the natural world and the mechanisms that evolution has generated to make our, admittedly inefficient, but still functioning nanoscale technology work and thrive. The challenge is huge – but so is the potential.
In the next article in this series we will look at the lessons we can learn from a specific example of nature’s ability to manufacture technology on the nanoscale – the remarkable virus.
