From: rudolph wratten (cowthief_at_worldnet.att.net)
Date: Fri Aug 04 2000 - 13:53:36 EDT
Hello.
A lot of laptops are coated with a metallic coating for EMI protection, then
whatever coating/finish is applied.
The metallic coating is usually applied with an etch agent, most, but not
all of this agent is washed away, sweat, as you have found, is a really
great reagent.
-----Original Message-----
From: John Goodman <jgood_at_well.com>
To: Thinkpad_at_cs.utk.edu <Thinkpad_at_cs.utk.edu>
Date: Thursday, August 03, 2000 8:12 AM
Subject: TP finishes
>I have a 5/98 vintage TP600 that's been a stalwart performer in
>all respects except finish... I don't think my sweat is particularly
>corrosive, but after regular use the "paint" where my wrists
>rested (near the speakers) started to blister and peel away.
>
>Seeing what looked like bare bright metal underneath the paint,
>I thought I'd clean things up and applied some aromatic
>solvents. Unfortunately, the metallic-looking surface then
>started to give way, so I stopped in a hurry.
>
>What's especially curious is that the bright chrome-appearing
>areas, after cleaning the blistered paint away, gradually became
>black due to skin contact over time. And this evolved black
>finish doesn't scratch, seems a lot more durable than the
>original paint. At this point, the only possible cosmetic repair
>for my laptop would be to replace the entire upper part,
>embracing the keyboard, speakers, and including the RGB IBM
>Thinkpad logo next to the LCD screen close switch... :-)
>
>I'd really like to know what's going on with these reactions.
>How can plated plastic acquire a durable flat-black finish just
>by skin contact? What I hope is that newer models have a far
>more durable "finish", or are much more resistant to this kind
>of trouble. Is this the case? I don't mind matte plastic finishes
>being burnished to glossy by usage over time, like my TP space-
>bar where my thumb touches. But graceful aging is important
>for expensive machinery, is it not? At least the letters on the
>keys have yet to wear away.
>
>JG
>
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