[PLUG-TALK] Waterproof USB Thumb Drives

[Michael Rasmussen]

Keith Lofstrom wrote:
> It might be possible to keep water off with such a coating, but the
> usual problem is the stuff that is IN the water.   Sodium is probably
> the nastiest - it is a small atom, very diffusive in most solids, and
> when it gets into silicon it acts like a dopant and screws up the
> electronics.  Referring back to the original problem, the problem is
> finding/making a USB key that can survive a trip through a washing
> machine, and laundry soap is full of sodium, as well as caustics that
> can eat the thin metal traces on the board.

Perhaps the answer is in the solution.  Switch to actual laundry soap instead of
detergent.  Your clothes won't be Tide(tm) bright, but they will last longer,
especially the wools.

-- 
   Michael Rasmussen, Portland, Ore, USA
  Be Appropriate && Follow Your Curiosity
        http://www.patch.com/words/