P2i

About P2i

P2i is a nanotechnology development company that delivers liquid-repellent and waterproof coatings for products across a wide range of sectors, including electronics, lifestyle, life sciences, filtration, and military. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Stephen Coulson, the company originated as a spin-out from the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). The core technology was initially developed to protect military clothing from chemical agents and maximize comfort.

The company's primary business involves working directly with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to integrate its nano-coating technology into their production processes. P2i offers flexible business models, including deploying full coating equipment solutions to a customer's factory or providing service processing at its own facilities. This B2B model serves clients by enhancing their products' durability and reliability against liquid damage from accidents and environmental conditions. P2i's technology has been used to protect over half a billion devices, with partners including major smartphone brands like Motorola and Huawei.

P2i's technology uses a pulsed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process to apply an ultra-thin polymer layer to a product's surface. This coating, often a thousand times thinner than a human hair, lowers the surface energy, causing liquids to bead up and roll off rather than being absorbed. The process is applied at the end of the manufacturing line and can treat the entire device, inside and out. The company has developed a portfolio of coatings that offer different levels of protection, from splash-proof (IPX1-2) to full immersion barrier coatings (IPX3-8), and has also developed halogen-free and PFAS-free solutions to meet environmental standards. In 2010, P2i acquired Surface Innovations Ltd., expanding its patent portfolio to include technologies like anti-bacterial and super-hydrophilic coatings.