Water-Proof Mobile Phones

Water-Proof Mobile Phones

We all rely on our mobile phone and our computer; we cannot live without them! How often have you dropped your phone in the pool, the ocean, or put it through the washing machine? Now you don't have to worry about water- two inventors have invented a plastic circuit board!

The two inventors from Queensland, David Thiel and Madhusudanrao Neeli, invented the new plastic circuit board- the central piece of technology in all computers and mobile phones. Their circuit board is water-proof and environmentally-friendly! As the circuit board is plastic, not metal, it isn't affected by water, this plastic can also be recycled and is biodegradable. This circuit board can also prevent millions of tones of electronic waste going to landfill!

David Thiel gave us more information about the plastic circuit board:
What made you decide to create this circuit board?

David Thiel: We were working on some sensors which needed to be exposed to the atmosphere (including rain) but the electronics needed to be protected. Since then we have lots of applications including using it for elite swimmers and other sports people.


How long did it take for you to perfect this creation?

David Thiel: We have been working on it for five years. It is not yet perfect. We are talking to manufacturing companies to put in production lines based on this method of circuit and system construction. Is it affected at all by water?

David Thiel: We have been using water resistant plastic and so it is not affected. If you need some contact pins (eg for recharging your batteries) then some of the conductors must be accessible externally. This is not a problem.