Coated electrical or electronic device protected from liquid penetration

Abstract

An electrical or electronic device comprising a polymeric coating, formed by exposing;the device to pulsed plasma comprising a compound of formula (I), where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are as defined in the specification, for a sufficient period of time to allow a polymeric layer to form on the surface of the electrical or electronic device. Devices of this type are protected from contamination by liquids, in particular environmental liquids.

1 . An electrical or electronic device having a polymeric coating, formed by exposing said device to pulsed plasma comprising a compound of formula (I) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R 1 , R 2  and R 3  independently are selected from hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl or aryl optionally substituted by halo; and R 4  is a group X—R 5  where R 5  is an alkyl or haloalkyl group and X is a bond; a group of formula —C(O)O(CH 2 ) n Y— where n is an integer of 1 to 10 and Y is a bond or a sulphonamide group; or a group —(O) p R 6 (O) q (CH 2 ) t — where R 6  is aryl optionally substituted by halo, p is 0 or 1, q is 0 or 1 and t is 0 or an integer of 1 to 10, provided that where q is 1, t is other than 0, for a sufficient period of time to allow a protective polymeric layer to form on the surface of the electrical or electronic device. 
       
     
     
         2 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 1 , which is selected from communications devices, sound or audio systems devices, computers or computer-related components, outdoor lighting systems, or electrical or electronic devices used in transport vehicles, washing machines and dishwashers; or components of any of these. 
     
     
         3 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 2 , which is a sound or audio system device. 
     
     
         4 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 3 , which is a loudspeaker, microphone, ringer or buzzer. 
     
     
         5 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 4  comprising a microphone that comprises a foamed plastic cover and the polymeric layer is present thereon. 
     
     
         6 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein any alkyl chains in R 1 , R 2  or R 3 , have 1 to 6 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         7 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of R 1 , R 2  and R 3  is hydrogen. 
     
     
         8 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein R 3  is an alkyl group such as methyl or propyl. 
     
     
         9 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (I) is a compound of formula (II)
   CH 2 ═CH—R 5    (II)
   where R 5  is as defined in  claim 1 , or a compound of formula (III)
   CH 2 ═CR 7 C(O)O(CH 2 ) n R 5    (III)
 
   where n and R 5  are as defined in  claim 1  and R 7  is hydrogen, C 1-10  alkyl, or C 1-10 haloalkyl.   
     
     
         10 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein R 5  comprises an alkyl group having in the range of 6 to 12 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         11 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein R 5  comprises a perfluoroalkyl group of formula C m F 2m+1  where m is an integer of 1 or more, preferably 1-20, and more preferably 4-12 such as 4, 6 or 8. 
     
     
         12 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 9 , wherein the compound of formula (III) is a compound of formula (IV) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R 7  is as defined in  claim 9 , and x is an integer of 1 to 9. 
       
     
     
         13 . An electrical or electronic device according to  claim 12 , wherein the compound of formula (IV) is 1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate.