METHODS FOR APPLYING A COATING OVER LASER MARKING

摘要

Coatings for filling cracks within anodic films formed from, for example, a laser marking process are described. The cracks generally have widths of nanometers in scale and can extend from an external surface of an anodic film to an underlying metal substrate. The coatings fill the cracks to prevent liquid and contaminants from entering the cracks and reaching the metal substrate, thereby preventing corrosion of the underlying metal substrate. The coatings can be hydrophobic such that water is wicked away from the cracks. In some cases, the coatings are fluoropolymer coatings. Methods include spray-on techniques that provide a thin and uniform layer of the coating. The spray-on technique can be configured to spray on a fluoropolymer precursor onto the anodic film such that the fluoropolymer precursor diffuses into and polymerizes into the fluoropolymer coating within the cracks.

主权项

1. An enclosure for an electronic device comprising a metal substrate, the enclosure comprising:
an anodized metal portion having an anodic film formed from the metal substrate, the anodic film having a crack that defines a channel that extends from an external surface of the anodic film to a transition region of the anodic film proximate to the metal substrate; and a polymerized hydrophobic material infused within the channel so as to prevent ingress to the metal substrate.