What oleophobic, anti-smudge, anti-glare and easy-clean finishes do and how to compare them.
An anti-fingerprint coating changes how skin oils and other residues interact with a touch surface. It can make marks less visible, easier to remove or both. An oleophobic finish is designed to repel oil. An anti-glare finish addresses the appearance of reflected light. A display supplier can measure each property separately and then check how they work together on the finished screen. [1] [2]
Nanize develops PFAS-free polysilazane coatings and lists electronics and displays among its application areas. Its public materials describe easy-clean and smudge-repellent finishes, as well as work on selected optical polymers. A customer can use those descriptions to start a project around the actual cover glass, film or molded plastic it wants to evaluate. A finished display needs evidence for visibility, touch behavior and cleaning after repeated use. [3] [4]
What Causes a Fingerprint to Show on a Display
A touch transfers a small amount of residue to the surface. The residue can spread, gather in a pattern or remain in the ridges left by the finger. The contrast between those areas and the surrounding surface makes a print visible. Lighting, viewing angle and whether the display is on or off can change the appearance. A test that looks good in one setup can reveal different marks under another. [1]
On a glossy dark surface, small changes in reflected light can be conspicuous. On a textured anti-glare surface, the texture can affect how visible residue is and how readily it wipes away. The buyer needs to choose the condition its users care about. A phone with the screen off, a bright kiosk in daylight and a display inside a vehicle are all plausible test settings, but each puts emphasis on a different aspect of appearance.
An anti-fingerprint surface can be designed around several related goals. A formulator may aim for lower oil wetting or better removal with a cloth. A designer may want marks to be less conspicuous during use. A brand may value a consistent touch feel. Commercial language often groups these goals under anti-smudge, so the technical specification should identify which outcomes the buyer expects to see.
For a manufacturer, clarity about the goal changes the test. If the aim is to hide marks, assess visibility under repeatable lighting and viewing conditions. If the aim is to reduce cleaning, define the residue, cloth and endpoint and measure the effort needed to reach it. If touch feel matters, assess the finish after repeated use as well as on a new sample. Each result helps explain a different part of the user experience.
Oleophobic Hydrophobic and Anti Glare Surfaces Explained
An oleophobic surface is designed to resist wetting by oil. A hydrophobic surface is designed to resist wetting by water. A material can interact differently with liquids of different chemistry. A water bead can be an easy demonstration of water behavior, while oil and fingerprint-residue tests provide evidence about what the user sees after touching the surface. Ask which liquids and methods support a supplier’s claim. [1] [5]
Anti-glare treatments are used to manage the appearance of reflected light, often through surface texture. Anti-reflective treatments are designed to reduce reflected light through optical design. An anti-fingerprint finish targets residue and cleanability. A display cover can combine more than one function. The complete stack should be evaluated because changing the outer surface can affect optical appearance and touch. [2]
A hard coat has another role. It can be part of the strategy for resistance to scratches or wear on a plastic or optical film. A separate easy-clean layer may then change how residue interacts with that surface. A supplier developing a multifunctional layer can compare it against the existing combination. The design still needs evidence for each performance property the buyer expects.
Marketing terms such as fingerprint-resistant describe the intended effect. Apple, for example, describes oleophobic surfaces on iPhone models and explains that the effect can diminish over time with normal use and certain cleaning practices. That illustrates why a display brand benefits from evaluating a finish after wear and specifying the care routine for the finished product. [6] [1]
What Nanize Has Published on Optical Surfaces
Nanize uses polysilazane chemistry to develop functional coatings. Suitable formulations can form hard, ceramic-like layers on compatible materials. Its technology materials discuss anti-soiling work on selected polymers including polycarbonate and polythiourethane, and its applications page describes easy-clean and smudge-repellent finishes for displays. These descriptions provide starting points for development with a cover or film supplier. [3] [4]
The company also reports marker-removal tests on treated TPU. That test involves a defined contaminant and a particular substrate. A display project can build on the approach of comparing treated and reference samples while choosing the oils, residues and cleaning methods that matter to its own users. A result for marker on film can support a decision to explore a candidate. The display claim should come from an evaluation on the intended construction. [3]
Nanize reports full cure in under a minute below 100 °C on selected metal samples. A display cover or plastic optical component can have a different heat budget and construction. The supplier can discuss when the coating would be applied in the manufacturing sequence and how the actual material would be evaluated for appearance, adhesion and dimensional stability. A pilot gives the production team data for the intended process. [3] [7]
The buyer can define which surface receives the finish. A cover glass before bonding is different from a fully assembled module with an adhesive, print or other treatments. Testing a representative layer helps select candidates. Testing the complete stack reveals whether the new finish interacts with the optics, appearance or assembly steps that the product already relies on.
How to Test an Anti Smudge Coating
Measure visibility and removal of a defined residue
Use the same residue and application method on a current production reference and a candidate surface. Inspect both in lighting that represents the use case. Record the viewing angle and whether the display is active. Then compare how much effort it takes to reach a defined clean condition. Photos and measured results can document different aspects of the same test.
If the product experiences several types of residue, choose a small set that represents the most important ones. A phone may see skin oils and everyday contact. A public terminal may see residue after frequent use and cleaning. A production display may be touched by people wearing gloves. Each scenario can change which property makes the largest difference to the buyer.
Characterize wetting and the optical stack
ASTM D7334 describes advancing contact-angle measurement for coatings, substrates and pigments. Contact-angle data can help characterize how a chosen liquid wets the surface. Record the test liquid, surface and method. A lab can pair wetting data with observations of fingerprint visibility and cleaning, because those measures answer different questions. [5]
For transparent plastics, ASTM D1003 describes methods for haze and luminous transmittance. A display team can choose measurements that fit its cover stack and add checks for reflectance, color and appearance where relevant. The sample construction and measurement method should be consistent across the comparison. Record results before and after the relevant service exposures. [8]
Repeat the comparison after cleaning and wear
Choose repeated contact and cleaning exposures that match the application. An indoor personal device and a public terminal may be cleaned at different frequencies and with different materials. Test the candidate and reference with the manufacturer’s intended care process. Inspect the surfaces after defined intervals to see whether the finish changes gradually or develops localized wear.
Where the display already has a matte or anti-glare finish, evaluate how the texture looks after cleaning. A candidate coating may alter gloss or how the display looks at an angle. Compare the result with the product’s existing appearance specification and with any display touch and optical requirements that matter to the buyer.
Include touch and real handling
A person may notice a change in finger glide before noticing a difference in a lab score. Test relevant touch interactions with the completed display or cover. An equipment manufacturer can also check whether the touch system continues to meet its requirements after applying the candidate. Those checks matter when the coated layer is part of the assembly users actually interact with.
An installer or assembler can assess what happens before the product reaches the user. Packaging materials, handling and film removal may affect a newly coated surface. Check it after the same sequence the supplier expects in production and shipping. A coating that works on a protected coupon may need a different process to arrive in the same condition at assembly.
Where Manufacturers Can Evaluate Easy Clean Displays
Personal devices and accessories offer a familiar application. A supplier of cover glass or a transparent film can compare smudge visibility, cleanability and touch feel while maintaining the optical characteristics of the product. If the surface is part of an existing line, the supplier can also measure appearance after its usual handling and assembly steps.
Public kiosks and payment terminals offer a different set of priorities. Many people can touch the same surface between cleaning cycles. The operator may care about whether the screen stays readable and how quickly it can be cleaned. A coating assessment can include the condition before and after normal service and the time required to return the display to the desired appearance.
Industrial control panels and other equipment displays may face cleaners, gloves, dust or shop residues. A cover supplier and equipment manufacturer can choose one representative use case and evaluate the coating on the approved construction. A useful trial measures readability and touch performance alongside cleanup. The customer can then decide whether the surface would help the people maintaining the equipment.
Vehicle interior displays and gloss trim are another possible route. A manufacturer can study smudge visibility under different lighting and after repeated cleaning. The finished component needs to preserve the design team’s visual and functional requirements. A coating development project can start with representative pieces and move to the actual component when the preliminary results support it.
Bringing an Optical Coating Into Production
Define the substrate and process boundaries early. For a glass cover, record the existing treatments and what happens before and after coating. For a transparent polymer or film, identify the allowable heat exposure, dimensional limits and handling steps. A candidate finish should be evaluated on the substrate version the production team plans to buy.
A coating line needs consistent application and inspection. The areas around edges, markings and handling points can reveal differences that are hard to see on a small sample. Inspect more than one batch and record where defects occur. The production team can use those records to decide which measurements belong in routine quality checks.
Agree on the appearance reference with the product team. A display can be judged differently depending on lighting, angle and image content. A known reference part and a documented inspection method help the supplier and buyer evaluate the same result. Add numerical limits where they reflect what matters, such as a permissible range for haze or gloss.
Then compare the entire manufacturing process. A short cure can matter when it reduces time or heat at a stage that limits the line. Include preparation, coating, handling, assembly and inspection in the comparison. The buyer needs to know the cost per accepted cover or display assembly and the conditions under which the process stays within specification.
Interpreting a Display Coating Trial When Results Differ
Sometimes the first samples give different answers. A finish may remove residue more easily and look glossier than the brand’s reference. Another sample may keep the intended appearance and feel different when swiped. Review each outcome against the role it plays in the product. A display used in a bright public area may place more weight on visibility than a surface evaluated mainly for easy cleaning.
Use the observations to identify where a candidate needs more work. If marks are most visible under one lighting condition, repeat the comparison with a defined viewing angle and reference. If cleaning results differ between operators, agree on a repeatable endpoint. If results vary across parts, check the substrate lot and application records. These steps help a team decide whether variation comes from the test, the process or the finish itself.
The comparison can also reveal which property the current stack handles particularly well. For example, an established textured cover may have the appearance the designer wants after months of service. Treat that result as a requirement in the next trial. A candidate has a stronger case when it improves the target property and keeps the aspects of the current display that users and product teams already value.
How to Estimate the Value of Easier Display Cleaning
The operator can start with time spent on a recurring task. In an illustrative fleet of 35 public terminals, a trial that saved three minutes per terminal at one weekly cleaning would save 105 minutes a week, or 91 hours over 52 weeks if the result held. The operator can use its own service schedule and costs to determine how much value that represents.
The device maker may value another outcome. If a surface maintains its appearance better through use, it may improve the customer experience or reduce appearance-related returns. If a coating adds defects during manufacture, the factory will see a cost before those potential benefits materialize. Measure both the production effect and the service effect so the decision accounts for the whole product.
Identify the party that owns each result. The coating supplier can report the material and process. The display supplier can evaluate the cover and finished stack. The operator can track cleaning and service conditions. When those records use the same sample and reference, the business can connect the change in material to the outcome it wants to buy.
Use the pilot to determine which claims are useful to the market. A brand may want to describe cleaning after repeated use or the visibility of marks under ordinary viewing conditions. The evidence should identify the exact construction and test. That lets customers understand what the finish does and helps the manufacturer decide how it should be cared for.
Choosing Between a New Cover and a Process Change
For a manufacturer planning a new device, a coated cover or film can be evaluated early in the design. The team can include appearance, optical and handling requirements in the initial supplier discussion. For an established product, the buyer may want to keep the cover construction and evaluate whether a new top surface fits the approved process. Those routes have different development schedules.
A service organization may see another opportunity when replaceable cover panels are already part of its maintenance program. It can discuss an approved replacement construction with the equipment supplier and compare routine cleaning on representative units. If the improvement holds, the buyer can estimate how quickly the new surface would reach the installed fleet through ordinary replacement.
A product with a replaceable protective film can be assessed separately from a bonded cover glass. The supplier should measure the resulting stack for touch response and optical clarity after its normal installation process.
Nanize Leadership and Display Development Partners
Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Dr. Kingsley Iwu leads the scientific work behind Nanize’s formulations and curing. CEO David Hogg brings experience in industrial technology commercialization. Chief Commercial Officer Jerry Stokes is a point of contact for display makers, cover suppliers and partners. CFO and co-founder Håvard Lillebo brings the finance perspective on development and scale-up. [9]
An optical coating project is a practical way for these functions to work with a customer. The buyer defines the display and target property. A materials partner proposes a formulation to compare. A factory or converter determines whether the process fits the production line. The purchasing decision can then draw on both the performance data and the cost of producing a consistent surface.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anti Fingerprint Coatings
Is an oleophobic coating the same as an anti fingerprint coating
Oleophobic describes oil-wetting behavior. Anti-fingerprint describes the intended outcome for visible marks or cleanup. Oil repellency can contribute to that outcome. Compare the finished surface for mark visibility and removal using the conditions the user will encounter, and include wear and care in the evaluation. [1]
Can an anti smudge coating also be anti glare
A display stack can combine both functions. Anti-glare and anti-smudge performance are evaluated with different methods. A supplier should provide data for the actual combination on the finished cover, including how it looks after use and cleaning. [2]
What is a good way to compare an easy clean display finish
Use the current finish as a reference. Compare the same residues in representative lighting and record how much effort is needed to remove them. Repeat the comparison after relevant cleaning and wear. Add optical and touch measurements appropriate to the product so the buyer can evaluate the entire experience.
Can Nanize coat both glass and plastic
Nanize describes work on glass and selected polymers. The grade, finish and cure conditions need to be matched to the intended part. A display team can start with a representative cover or film and evaluate appearance, adhesion and cleanability before moving to the finished device. [3] [4]
How long does an anti fingerprint coating last
The useful life depends on the coating, substrate, amount of contact and care routine. A product-specific durability statement should be based on measurements after conditions that reflect the intended use. Look for the property measured, the number or type of exposures and how the surface was assessed afterward. [6] [1]
Discuss a Display Coating Application With Nanize
Nanize welcomes display manufacturers, cover glass and film suppliers, contract coaters, development partners, investors and relevant event organizers. Share the surface construction, intended cleaning routine and the optical or appearance requirements. Contact Jerry Stokes at js@nanize.com for commercial inquiries or Dr. Kingsley Iwu at ki@nanize.com for technical discussion. [10] [9]
Sources
1. Surface Engineering review of anti-fingerprint surfaces
2. Society for Information Display overview of front-of-screen technologies
3. Nanize coating technology and test results
4. Nanize coating applications
5. ASTM D7334 for advancing contact-angle measurement
6. Apple guidance on oleophobic surfaces and cleaning
7. Nanize technical feature with FTIR and cure data
8. ASTM D1003 for haze and luminous transmittance of transparent plastics