January 23, 2007
Nokia files for patent for 'Diamond'-coated gadgets
Nokia files for a "diamond"-coated patent" for mobile gadgets to keep them cleaner. Another find from wonderful Barry Fox published in New Scientist.
"Nokia has been experimenting with plastic casings coated with a diamond-like material made from coa. The material is more protective and grime resistant, as well as cheap and bio-degradable.
To make the material electric current is fed through coal graphite. This creates plasma, which is directed towards a plastic casing by high-voltage electrodes. The coal ions penetrate the surface and bond to form an amorphous, diamond-like coating less than 100 nanometres thick. The process works at room temperature, meaning even cheap plastics can be coated this way.
The coating is very tough, but also smooth to the touch. It is also conductive and therefore antistatic, so does not attract dirt easily."
Drawing from New Scientist
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