P2i

P2i is a nanotechnology development company that works with manufacturers to produce liquid repellent nano-coating protection to products for the electronics, lifestyle, life sciences, filtration and Energy, and military and institutional sectors.[1]

P2i Ltd
TypePrivate
GenreNanotechnology
Founded2004
HeadquartersAbingdon, Oxfordshire, UK
Area served
Global
Key people
Ady Moores (Group Chief Executive)
Stephen Coulson (Founder and President Information Security)
Simon Vogt(Chief Commercial Officer)
Martin Tolliday(Chief Product Officer)
Ahilan Rabindran(Group Finance Director)
Websitep2i.com

The company was established in 2004 to commercialize technologies developed by the UK MoD's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory.[2] In further research and development, the company has identified innovative applications, equipment and processing methods, and now has 170+ patents, patent applications and utility model applications (Feb, 2019). In 2010 the company acquired Surface Innovations Limited, adding new technologies such as antimicrobial, super hydrophilic and protein resistance coatings.[3]

In addition to headquarters in the United Kingdom,[4] P2i has a processing facility in the United States,[5] offices in Shenzhen, China[6] and Taipei City, Taiwan,[7] and representation in Korea.[8] As of February 2016 P2i had deployed hundreds of its nano-coating systems globally, including factories in Brazil, Argentina, USA, China, India, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and the UK.[9]

Technology

The treatment decreases the surface energy of objects by adding an perfluorinated carbon polymer coating onto exposed surfaces. The coating reduces the disruption of intermolecular bonds within a liquid.[10] Liquids thus tend to bead up instead of penetrating or absorbing into the object.[11][12]

The treatment process coats objects using a pulsed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition apparatus at room temperature.[13][14] The coating is introduced as a vapor and ionized. This deposits a polymerized layer of the plasma monomers, which binds covalently and durably to the object's surface. The mild temperature and pressure conditions of this process permit a broad variety of items and materials to be treated.[15] Occurring at low pressure, the coating penetrates complex three-dimensional objects, protecting it internally and externally in the one process. The coating, being very thin, does not alter the look or feel of solid objects, or the vapor porosity of fabrics.[16]

History

P2i's process is based on the research and development work of Stephen Coulson and Jas Pal Badyal at Durham University.[17][18] Coulson's work was funded by the United Kingdom's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) which aimed to protect clothing from water and other liquids while maximizing comfort. P2i Ltd was established as a stand-alone company in 2004, as the first DSTL technology spin-out managed by Ploughshare Innovations (the DSTL's technology transfer company).[19]

On 13 July 2010, P2i announced the acquisition of Surface Innovations Ltd, a UK-based technology company with several functional nano-coating patent families in areas such as anti-bacterial resistance and liquid attracting (super wettable).[20]

Applications and brands

According to P2i's website, current applications for its technology are in the categories of ‘Electronics, Lifestyle, Life Sciences, Filtration & Energy and Military & Institutional’ [21] For consumer-facing products the company has created sector-specific trademarked brands. The ion-mask brand [22] was used in lifestyle products such as footwear, outdoor clothing and accessories (gloves and headwear). ion-mask products were on sale from several international footwear companies including Timberland,[23] Nike,[24] adidas Golf,[25] Hi-Tec,[26] Magnum Boots,[27] Van Dal,[28] Teva,[29] and K-Swiss.[30]

P2i's nano-coating,[31] is used in consumer electronics, focusing initially on the hearing aid sector where the company claims to be applied to 70% of the world's hearing devices.[32] In 2013, P2i diversified its marketing, replacing Aridion with the term Splash-proof, to identify the traditional hydrophobic layer technology.[33]

P2i has partnered with Motorola and Huawei and several other top smartphone brands,[34] as well as another leading Chinese manufacturers.[35] P2i has the capability to treat over half a billion phones in 2019.[36]

References
  1. "Applications". P2i. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  2. "P2i protects world's slimmest smartphone". Science Vale. 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
  3. "World Leader in Liquid Repellent nano-Coating Technology Acquires Surface Innovations". AzoNano. 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  4. "Location". MEPC. 2013. Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  5. "British firm P2i to open office at Herty". Savannah Morning News. 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  6. "P2i". Ombu Group. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  7. "Our new office in Taiwan - P2i". P2i. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  8. "Contact - P2i". P2i. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  9. P2i. "100 Million Smartphones Now Protected by P2i". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  10. Glass, Nick (18 January 2013). "Nano-coating provides watertight solution". CNN International. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  11. "Innovation". P2i. P2i. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  12. "MOTOROLA Splash Guard Feature Demo". YouTube. Motorola. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  13. "P2i Process - Electronics". YouTube. P2i. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  14. "P2i - Liquid Repellent Nano-coating Technology for Electronic Devices". Product Listing. Semiconductor-technology. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  15. "P2i Limited Achieves 27th Place in Tech Track Rankings". AzoNano. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  16. "Wet is Dry". ion-mask Microsite. Hi-Tec. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  17. "Durham University publications". Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  18. "Welcome to Professor Badyal's Research Group". Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  19. "P2i". Ploughshare Innovations. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  20. "P2i Water Resistant Micro Technology" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  21. "P2i Applications". Archived from the original on 2010-02-16. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  22. "P2i Ion-Mask Technology". Archived from the original on 2009-11-07. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  23. "Ion Mask Technology By P2i".
  24. "Nike Sportswear Presents the Lunar Wood TZ, Debuting at Retail on Dec. 11th 2009". Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  25. "adidas Golf chooses P2i's ion-mask technology to revolutionise performance and comfort in golf footwear". 2009-10-20. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  26. "Hi-Tec Wet is Dry featuring Ion Mask". Archived from the original on 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  27. "Magnum Essential Equipment featuring ion-mask". Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  28. "Van Dal Technologies". Archived from the original on 2010-09-06. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  29. "Links". Teva. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  30. "K-Swiss Kwicky Blade-Light Tech". K-Swiss. YouTube. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
  31. "Aridion Technology by P2i". Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  32. "P2i showcase award winning technology as EUHA marks five million hearing aid milestone for Aridion". 2011-10-19. Archived from the original on 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  33. "Dr Stephen Coulson introduces Dunkable". YouTube. P2i. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  34. "When will every smartphone survive a swim in the pool? We asked an expert". Digital Trends. 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  35. "About Us - P2i". P2i. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  36. "A low cost nano-coating to protect electronic devices from water". www.materialsforengineering.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
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