Prioritize Oil Release and Friction
Use repeated touch and wipe conditions representative of the product, then compare appearance and contact angle.
- Defined finger-soil or oil
- Wipe material and pressure
- Initial versus aged touch feel
Engineering Overview
Define the Retained Cleanability Requirement
Anti-fingerprint coating lowers the surface energy of glass so water and oils spread less and contamination releases with less wiping. A high initial water contact angle is useful, but it does not fully describe fingerprint visibility, oil repellency, friction or end-of-life performance.
The RFQ should state the abrasion load, rubbing material, number of cycles, cleaner chemistry and acceptance limit after testing. For AR or AG combinations, the complete stack must preserve optical performance and adhesion.
Approve the aged surface, not only the new coating.Initial and post-test contact angle, wipe behavior and appearance should use the same controlled method.
AF Glass Technical Overview
| Surface function | Oleophobic and hydrophobic easy-clean top surface |
|---|---|
| Initial contact angle | Project target; commercial reference examples commonly begin above 100 degrees |
| Retained performance | Minimum contact angle or cleanability after agreed wear and exposure |
| Optics | Transmission, haze and reflection checked before and after coating |
| Combined stack | AF over AR, AG+AF or AG+AR+AF after sequence validation |
| Durability | Abrasion material, load, speed, cycles and cleaner defined |
| Approval | Contact-angle data, visual wipe comparison and golden sample |
Reference ranges are used for discussion only. The quotation identifies the controlled values and inspection method.
Build the AF Durability Plan
Select the dominant exposure to see what should be measured before and after testing.
Prioritize Cleaner Compatibility
Specify every cleaner, concentration, dwell time and cycle count instead of using a generic chemical-resistance claim.
- Cleaner list and concentration
- Wet contact and wipe cycles
- Post-test haze and appearance
Prioritize Retained AF Performance
State the rubbing material, load, stroke, speed and cycles, then measure the retained surface function.
- Steel wool, eraser or cloth
- Load and cycle definition
- Minimum post-test contact angle
Prioritize Stack Compatibility
Evaluate spectral shift, coating adhesion and AF durability on the final AR construction.
- Reflectance/transmission before and after
- Residual color
- AF adhesion and cleanability
Common Anti-Fingerprint Glass Configurations
The AF layer is the user-contact surface; the optical and mechanical layers beneath it change the validation plan.
Touch Display
AF Cover Glass
Easy-clean outer surface for touch displays, kiosks and control panels.
Low Reflection
AR + AF Glass
Anti-reflective stack protected by a compatible oleophobic top layer.
Matte Touch
AG + AF Glass
Controlled glare with a surface designed for easier oil release and cleaning.
Automotive Interior
Durable AF Interface Glass
Validated against customer cleaners, abrasion and temperature/humidity cycles.
Appliance Control
Printed AF Panel Glass
Graphics, display windows and touch zones coordinated with the easy-clean surface.
Technical Education
Why Contact Angle Alone Does Not Describe Fingerprint Removal
A water droplet measures wetting by one liquid under one geometry. Fingerprints contain oils, salts and particles, while wipe performance depends on adhesion, surface friction and the cloth or cleaner used. Two coatings can start with similar water contact angles yet differ in oil repellency or durability. A practical specification combines initial and aged contact angle with a controlled wipe or visual soil-removal test that reflects the real product.
Low angle: spreads
High angle: beads
Measure before and after wearTrack AF Performance Before and After Exposure
Clean substrate preparation and controlled deposition are only the start. Release data must include the retained surface result.
Production Route
- 01Specification Review
Lock substrate, coating side, optical or electrical target, test method and downstream process.
- 02Substrate Preparation
Complete cutting, CNC, edge work, cleaning and any compatible strengthening before the controlled coating step.
- 03Surface Processing
Apply the selected etch or coating route with orientation, masking and handling controls.
- 04Functional Inspection
Measure the page-specific optical, surface or electrical characteristics and record uniformity.
- 05Cosmetic Release & Packing
Inspect controlled zones and protect the functional surface against contact and contamination.
Release Checks
Contact angleInitial value and minimum after each durability test
CleanabilityDefined soil, wipe material, pressure and cycles
FrictionInstrument or comparative tactile target where required
OpticsTransmission, haze, reflection and visible coating marks
ChemicalsNamed cleaners, concentration, dwell and cycle count
AppearanceSmears, rainbow, nonuniformity and edge effects
Inspection conditions and acceptance limits are linked to the approved drawing and coating specification.
AF Glass Questions From Touch-Surface Buyers
A credible AF specification includes aging and a repeatable cleaning method.
What water contact angle should I specify?
Choose an initial and retained target based on the application and test method. A new-coating number alone does not define service life.
Does AF coating prevent all fingerprints?
No. It reduces wetting and can make oils easier to remove, but fingerprint visibility still depends on lighting, glass color, roughness and contamination.
Can AF be applied over AR coating?
Yes for compatible stacks, with spectral performance, adhesion and retained contact angle validated on the final construction.
How should AF durability be tested?
Define the rubbing material, load, speed, stroke, cycles and any chemical preconditioning, then measure contact angle and cleanability afterward.
Will AF affect capacitive touch?
The coating is very thin, but the complete glass thickness, sensor, adhesive and controller still require touch validation.
Can AF be used on AG glass?
Compatible AG+AF constructions are possible. Confirm haze, gloss, touch feel and post-abrasion cleanability on samples.
RFQ and Manufacturing Review
Define Initial and End-of-Test AF Performance
Include: Glass drawing and user-facing side | Substrate and strengthening route | Initial contact-angle target | Post-abrasion acceptance limit | Cleaner list and exposure cycles | AR/AG and printing stack | Visual and tactile sample approval.
The quotation should include the test sequence that represents handling and cleaning in service. The review identifies the proposed substrate, coating route, measurement method, sample plan and open technical points.
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- +86 19860070065
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