Protecting phone screens using non-Newtonian fluids

Non-Newtonian fluids are fluids that do not behave as you might expect and change viscosity (how it flows)  when they experience a sudden force.

Shear thinning fluids flow quicker when they are struck (an example is ketchup which flows quicker when you hit the bottom of the bottle it is in) and a shear thickening fluid becomes more solid like when it is struck (a good example is custard and oobleck).

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have studied non-Newtonian fluids to see how well they can be used to help protect the screen of mobile phones.

Read more about this in a recent article by the Institute of Physics: Protecting phone screens with non-Newtonian fluids.

Further information

Find out more about non-Newtonian fluids click here.

Follow these links for information about the functionality of the materials in an mobile phone and their sustainability (YouTube video).