Learn More About Waterproof Standards for Touchscreens

Because a display screen contains various delicate electronic components, most of which can be easily damaged by moisture and stop working properly, every user cares about waterproofing—no matter where the product is used.

In products with touchscreens, the front cover material itself is usually waterproof. So, when we talk about waterproofing for touch products, we normally mean protection on the backside. The back of the display relies on the customer’s housing for waterproofing. Here, the focus is on sealing the cover to the housing, and also sealing the connection area between the touchscreen and the display.

Waterproofing for the touchscreen cover assembly on the customer’s product:

This is a common requirement. Customers often specify a certain level of sealing performance, such as an IP rating. The IP rating shows how well the housing can keep out dust and liquids. In this case, choosing the right double-sided tape is usually enough to achieve good waterproof results.

Waterproofing between the display and touchscreen:

Although some touchscreens are bonded to the display with optically clear adhesive (OCA), the sensor part may still be exposed. So, we use RTV sealant along the edges where the touchscreen and TFT display are joined.

Functional waterproofing for touchscreens:

Customers often use touchscreens in wet conditions where water drops may be present. The touchscreen should still work properly with water on it—recognizing intended touches and avoiding accidental touches caused by water running down.

Water Rejection

Water rejection means the touchscreen can avoid accidental touches when liquid is present, and return to full function once the liquid is removed. Since water conducts electricity, it can interfere with the touchscreen’s electric field, making the screen act as if a finger is touching it—even when there is none.

For example, if you spill coffee on your phone, you don’t want it to start making calls or sending emails while you’re wiping it. Once the screen is dry, it should go back to normal.

This is the most common and important factor in waterproof touchscreens, because liquid will stay on the surface in real use. The screen must recover without false touches. However, basic water rejection does not support touch operation on a wet surface—that requires wet finger tracking.

Wet Finger Tracking

Wet finger tracking means the touchscreen can still follow your finger’s position even with water on it. Water on the surface can cause errors in touch detection, lowering accuracy. With wet finger tracking, the touchscreen stays accurate enough for tasks like making calls or sending messages.
For water, an error of 1–2 mm is usually acceptable for most basic operations.

PCB Waterproofing:

Here the solution is usually to add a conformal coating (also called protective coating) to the PCB. This is a thin clear layer applied over the circuit board to protect the electronics from environmental damage, which extends their life.

Waterproof Rating Definitions and Standards:

IP Rating
The IP (Ingress Protection) rating system was created by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It classifies how well a device is protected against solids and liquids.

The IP rating has two numbers.

• -The first number shows protection against solids like dust.
• -The second number shows protection against water.
  Higher numbers mean better protection.

First Digit – Solid Protection

Digit	Protection Level	Description
0	No protection	No special protection against contact or foreign objects.
1	Protection against large solids	Protects against large body parts (like a hand) and objects larger than 50mm.
2	Protection against medium solids	Protects against fingers and objects larger than 12.5mm.
3	Protection against small solids	Protects against tools, wires, and objects thicker than 2.5mm.
4	Protection against granular solids	Protects against most wires, small tools, and objects larger than 1.0mm.
5	Dust protected	Dust may enter, but not in harmful amounts. Contact with live parts is prevented.
6	Dust tight	Complete protection against dust. No dust enters.

Second Digit – Liquid Protection

Digit	Protection Level	Description
0	No protection	No special protection against water.
1	Protection against dripping water	Vertically falling drops have no harmful effect.
2	Protection against dripping water (tilted)	Vertically falling drops have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted up to 15 degrees.
3	Protection against spraying water	Water sprayed at an angle up to 60 degrees from vertical has no harmful effect.
4	Protection against splashing water	Water splashed from any direction has no harmful effect.
5	Protection against water jets	Low-pressure water jets from any direction have no harmful effect.
6	Protection against powerful water jets	High-pressure water jets or heavy seas have no harmful effect.
7	Protection against temporary immersion	No harmful effects when immersed in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
8	Protection against continuous immersion	Can withstand continuous immersion in water under conditions specified by the manufacturer.

IPX Rating
IPX rates only waterproof ability, not dust protection. The scale runs from 0 to 9, with higher numbers meaning stronger waterproofing.
For example:

• -IPX4 means protection against water splashes from any direction.
• -IPX8 means the device can withstand continuous immersion underwater (depth and time defined by the maker).

ATM Rating
ATM is often used for wearable devices like smartwatches. For example:

• -5ATM means suitable for swimming.
• -10ATM means suitable for diving sports.

Your Trusted Touch Technology Partner

Waterproof ratings are key indicators of how well a touchscreen can resist water and dust. Understanding IP, IPX, and ATM ratings helps you choose the right touchscreen for your needs.

If your application requires reliable touch performance together with strong waterproof protection, feel free to contact us. We can provide a tailored waterproof touch display solution based on your requirements.

MICRON delivers cutting-edge solutions based on copper metal mesh technology, including touch films, transparent antennas, transparent heating films, and EMI shielding films. Holding over 60% of global patents in metal mesh technology, we are committed to innovation, backed by a dedicated R&D team and stringent quality control to ensure product durability and reliability.