In today's era that pursues efficiency, aesthetics and practicality, anti-fingerprint boards, as a new type of surface material, are gradually becoming the darlings of multiple industries. From home appliances to architectural decoration and then to consumer electronics, anti-fingerprint boards, with their unique performance advantages, not only solve the pain points of traditional materials such as easy surface staining and difficult cleaning, but also achieve significant improvements in aesthetics, durability and user experience. This article will delve into the definition, working principle of anti-fingerprint boards and their wide applications in multiple fields, helping readers fully understand the significant value of this innovative material.

The definition and working principle of anti-fingerprint boards

Anti-fingerprint board is a composite material that endows the material with anti-fingerprint, anti-fouling and anti-corrosion properties through special surface treatment technology. It usually adopts nano-coating technology to form an extremely thin and strong protective film on the surface of stainless steel, galvanized sheet or other substrates. This protective film can effectively prevent the adhesion of fingerprints, oil stains and other dirt, while enhancing the corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the base material.

From a technical perspective, the implementation principle of anti-fingerprint is mainly based on the physical properties of surface energy and contact Angle. Anti-fingerprint film (AF film) increases the contact Angle by reducing the surface energy of the material, causing liquids (such as water or oil) to roll off in beads and be difficult to spread and adhere. This is similar to the self-cleaning effect of lotus leaves, but the way it is achieved is different - lotus leaves rely on ultrafine nanostructures, while anti-fingerprint films reduce surface energy through chemical film formation. At present, the mainstream anti-fingerprint material is organic fluoride, whose molecules contain low surface energy groups (such as -CF₃), with a surface energy as low as 6.17mJ/m² and a contact Angle of up to 115°. It is the only material that can meet the requirements of long-term weather resistance.

According to the differences in coating composition and process, anti-fingerprint boards can be classified into three major categories: inorganic coatings (such as silicon dioxide SiO₂), organic coatings (such as fluoride coatings and acrylic resin coatings), and mixed coatings. Among them, the inorganic coating is transparent and colorless, does not affect the color of the substrate, and has stronger weather resistance and corrosion resistance. Organic coatings have better water and oil resistance and are suitable for large-scale production. The hybrid coating combines the advantages of both and is optimized for specific requirements.

The core advantages of anti-fingerprint boards

The anti-fingerprint board has been able to quickly gain market recognition mainly due to its series of outstanding advantages. These advantages not only solve the pain points of traditional materials but also bring a brand-new usage experience.

Outstanding anti-fingerprint and easy-to-clean performance are the most obvious advantages of anti-fingerprint boards. Through special coating treatment, the surface of the anti-fingerprint board hardly absorbs grease and sweat. After being touched by fingers, there are almost no marks left. Even if there are stains, they can be wiped clean easily, and no special metal cleaner is needed. Some chemical cleaning agents can instead blacken the surface of ordinary stainless steel plates, while anti-fingerprint plates completely avoid this problem. This easy-to-clean feature significantly reduces the time and effort required for daily maintenance, making it particularly suitable for areas prone to dirt such as kitchens. According to technical data, the coating of the anti-fingerprint board significantly reduces the adhesion of organic substances such as grease and sweat to the surface of stainless steel, leaving no stains after wiping.

Enhanced corrosion resistance and service life are another major highlight of anti-fingerprint boards. The anti-fingerprint coating not only prevents dirt but also serves as a physical barrier between the metal surface and the external environment, effectively blocking the erosion of oxygen, water vapor and corrosive substances. In a humid environment, ordinary stainless steel is prone to rust or discoloration, while anti-fingerprint plates can remain bright and new. Research shows that the protective film of anti-fingerprint stainless steel plates can prevent the metal surface from being easily scratched, has high hardness, and is not prone to peeling, powdering or yellowing, which greatly extends the service life of the product. Especially in coastal areas or high-humidity environments, this advantage is more obvious.

The excellent processing performance makes anti-fingerprint boards more advantageous in industrial production. The specially treated anti-fingerprint board is still suitable for general processing such as bending and stamping, and will not affect the subsequent procedures. This means that manufacturers can proceed with complex molding after completing the anti-fingerprint treatment without worrying about coating peeling or damage. This flexibility has greatly reduced the production difficulty and increased the yield of finished products.

The excellent appearance texture and touch experience are also the reasons why anti-fingerprint boards are so popular. The surface of the anti-fingerprint board has an oily luster and a soft touch, while retaining a good metallic texture. Compared with ordinary metal surfaces, anti-fingerprint plates feel more delicate and smooth, providing a more comfortable user experience. This advanced touch sensation is particularly popular among consumer electronics and high-end home appliance manufacturers, enhancing the overall grade of the products.

The environmental protection feature is an advantage that anti-fingerprint boards cannot ignore. Anti-fingerprint steel plate is one of the earliest materials to pass environmental protection certification. No harmful substances are added during the production process, and no harmful gases are released during use. Some advanced products, such as ENIETN's EGL0202, adopt a single-liquid design without baking, which is easy to operate and highly effective, further reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution during the production process.

The multi-field applications of anti-fingerprint boards

Anti-fingerprint boards, with their unique advantages, have been widely used in multiple industries, especially in fields where there are high requirements for product appearance and cleanliness, where their value is even more prominent.

In the field of home appliances: An ideal choice for kitchen appliances

In home appliance manufacturing, anti-fingerprint boards are the most widely used. The surfaces of kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, microwave ovens and dishwashers are often made of stainless steel. These devices are usually placed in relatively humid environments like kitchens and are prone to oil stains and fingerprints, which brings trouble to cleaning. The application of anti-fingerprint coating can effectively reduce the frequency of cleaning, keep the appearance of household appliances clean and tidy, and extend their service life. According to industry data, the research and production of fingerprint-resistant boards originated in Japan and entered commercial production in the early 1980s, initially to meet the requirements of users in the home appliance field. During the production process of home appliances, many components need to be touched by workers multiple times. The sweat stains on the workers' hands form contamination on the surface of the parts, affecting their appearance. Anti-fingerprint technology has perfectly solved this problem.

Architectural decoration: The lasting brightness of public Spaces

In modern architecture, stainless steel materials are often used in curtain walls, guardrails, elevator interiors and other places. Especially in high-end office buildings or shopping malls, the stainless steel surface of elevator shafts always appears particularly important. The use of anti-fingerprint coatings can ensure that these public facilities remain bright and new for a long time, reducing the cost of daily maintenance. Stainless steel anti-fingerprint, as a subfield of stainless steel decoration, is mainly applied in industries such as elevators, home appliances, and decoration. It has extremely strong corrosion resistance and provides a firm and durable protection for the surface of stainless steel decorative plates. Especially in areas with high foot traffic, anti-fingerprint boards hardly need to be wiped frequently to maintain a good appearance, which is crucial for maintaining the overall image of the building.

Consumer electronics: Enhancing product experience

The shells and frames of electronic devices such as smart phones and laptops also extensively use stainless steel materials. These products have an exquisite appearance but are prone to leaving fingerprint marks, which affects their beauty and user experience. The addition of anti-fingerprint coating technology not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the product but also improves the user experience. In the field of consumer electronics, anti-fingerprint boards are often used in combination with AF film technology. Through low surface energy fluoride, they achieve highly efficient anti-fouling, waterproof and wear-resistant performance, ensuring that the equipment remains clean and beautiful for a long time. The coating of mobile phone casings meets the appearance requirements of high-end products for "smooth hand feel and anti-fingerprint residue", and has become an important means for the differentiated competition of smart phones.

Catering equipment: A new height of hygiene standards

Anti-fingerprint coatings have also been widely applied to stainless steel products such as commercial kitchen equipment and tableware. This type of equipment, when exposed to cooking fumes and hand sweat for a long time, the surface of traditional materials is prone to become greasy and black. However, anti-fingerprint technology can reduce the adhesion of oil stains and dirt, making cleaning more convenient and meeting the high hygiene standards of the catering industry. Especially in fast food chains and large-scale catering enterprises, anti-fingerprint stainless steel kitchenware has significantly reduced the workload of cleaning, improved hygiene standards, and decreased food safety risks.

Other special applications: such as nano refractory boards

Anti-fingerprint technology is also applied in a wider range of material fields, such as nano-refractory boards. This type of sheet is made with multi-layer coating, new-generation acrylic resin and electron beam curing technology, featuring a smooth surface, good touch, durability and scratch resistance, as well as resistance to acidic solutions. As countertops, they can be attached to substrates such as particleboard or multi-layer board, and can also be used on high-molecular solid boards, commonly known as antistatic boards, which are high-strength flat plates with resin decoration formed by high-pressure polymerization and integrated coloring of wood fibers and thermosetting resins. This type of product features wear resistance, heat resistance, anti-permeability, easy cleaning, no deformation and bright colors, meeting the requirements of modern cabinet usage. Some even add matte and low reflective properties.

The technological development and future trends of anti-fingerprint boards

Since its inception, anti-fingerprint board technology has experienced rapid development, evolving from the initial simple coating to the current multi-layer composite technology, with its performance and application scope continuously expanding. In the future, anti-fingerprint board technology is expected to develop in the following directions:

Material innovation will drive the performance improvement of anti-fingerprint boards. Although the current mainstream organic fluoride materials have good effects, they are relatively expensive. Researchers are exploring new low surface energy materials, such as silicon-based fluorine materials, whose contact angles can reach over 115° and dynamic friction coefficients are as low as 0.03, offering superior performance. Meanwhile, inorganic coating technology is also advancing. The silica coating treated by nanotechnology performs outstandingly in terms of weather resistance, corrosion resistance and high-temperature resistance, making it suitable for more demanding environments.

Process improvement will enhance the cost performance of the anti-fingerprint board. The single-component stainless steel anti-fingerprint coating without baking has gained market recognition due to its simple operation and outstanding effect. In the future, with the popularization of efficient technologies such as electron beam curing, the production efficiency of anti-fingerprint processing will be further enhanced and the cost will be further reduced. The application of multi-layer coating technology will also become a trend, such as the collaborative application of HC film (hardened film) and AF film (anti-fingerprint film). The former provides support hardness, while the latter endows anti-fouling performance. The combination of the two meets the dual demands of "high hardness + easy cleaning".

Environmental protection performance will become an important direction for anti-fingerprint board technology. With the increasing global requirements for environmental protection, the production and use of anti-fingerprint boards will pay more attention to green and environmental protection. Inorganic adhesives are used instead of ordinary urea-formaldehyde resin adhesives, and no harmful substances such as phenol are added. The product has the characteristics of being green and environmentally friendly. Some advanced products, such as the Thousand-Year Boat anti-bending Marine ecological board, are cold-pressed with formaldehyde-free inorganic glue added. The glue itself does not contain harmful substances such as formaldehyde and phenol, and the formaldehyde emission is far lower than the national standard.

Multi-functional integration is another trend in the application of anti-fingerprint boards. Future anti-fingerprint boards may combine anti-fingerprint performance with other functions such as antibacterial, anti-mold, and anti-virus. For instance, the Thousand-year Boat anti-bending Marine ecological board surface is mainly made of melamine paper surface and uses dual inorganic antibacterial agents of zinc ions and graphene as raw materials, achieving broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, 0-level anti-mold, highly efficient formaldehyde removal, TVOC removal and graphene dual antibacterial and antiviral effects, forming a six-dimensional intelligent protection system. This multi-functional integration greatly expands the application value of anti-fingerprint boards.

Conclusion

As an innovative surface material, anti-fingerprint boards, with their outstanding anti-fingerprint, easy-to-clean and corrosion-resistant properties, are changing the limitations of traditional materials in multiple fields. From household appliances to buildings, from consumer electronics to catering equipment, the application of anti-fingerprint boards not only enhances the aesthetic appeal and durability of products, but also greatly improves people's living experience. With the continuous advancement of technology, anti-fingerprint boards will develop in the direction of being more environmentally friendly, more efficient and more functional, providing more possibilities for various industries.

In the future, we can look forward to the further integration of anti-fingerprint technology with other cutting-edge technologies such as nanotechnology and smart materials, creating even more outstanding surface materials. These materials can not only meet the basic functional requirements, but also self-repair according to environmental changes (such as the thermal repair characteristics of nano-refractory plates), or adjust the surface properties according to the user's needs. The development history of anti-fingerprint boards tells us that although the progress of surface material technology seems minor, it can bring about a huge improvement in the quality of life. This is precisely the value of technological innovation.

Yuantu is a manufacturer of UV high-gloss boards and a provider of peripheral equipment for fireproof boards. Our main products include fire-resistant boards, uv high-gloss boards, fireproof boards, wall panels, and anti-fingerprint boards. If you are looking to choose fireproof boards or fire-resistant boards, we welcome your inquiries!