The growing use of electronics in industrial, defense systems, medical devices and consumer electronics have heightened the challenge for manufacturers to guarantee the reliability of their products. One major obstacle to electronics reliability is the intrusion of moisture, a persistent threat particularly prevalent in highly humid environments. The entry of water into electronic systems results in the following consequences:
- Elevated dielectric constant
- Initiation of ionic corrosion
- Growth of tin whiskers
This causes the electronics to degrade, which leads to intermittent faults followed by a total failure.
Many electronic products are now either waterproof or water-resistant. But what is the difference between them?
Waterproof vs Water-Resistant
| Waterproof | Water-resistant |
| A waterproof material is impermeable, meaning that no water can penetrate or exit the material. | A water-resistant material is permeable, meaning that it can be penetrated, especially at high moisture levels |
| It provides protection for a longer period. | It will prevent water penetration to a certain level only. |