scratchfree

Scratchfree is a marketing term used to describe materials and surface treatments that are designed to resist scratching. Unlike a standardized scientific specification, scratchfree denotes coatings or substrates that have been treated to reduce scratching from everyday use and incidental contact. The term has appeared in consumer electronics, optical components, automotive finishes, and protective gear, usually accompanied by specific performance claims based on company testing.

Technologies associated with scratchfree surfaces include hard coatings such as diamond-like carbon (DLC), inorganic oxide coatings, ceramic and glass-ceramic overlays, and specialty plastics with improved wear resistance. For glass, hardened or chemically strengthened glass and tempered or ion-exchanged variants, sometimes in combination with an anti-scratch layer, are common. In polymers, clear protective overcoats or UV-curable resin layers are used to improve abrasion resistance. Some products rely on surface texturing or lubricious topcoats to reduce friction and visible wear.

Applications span smartphone screens, camera lenses, wearable devices, automotive windshields and instrument panels, as well as industrial tools and optical components. Effectiveness depends on the coating thickness, adhesion, hardness, and the nature of the contact forces. No scratchfree surface is truly scratch-proof; sustained or sharp abrasion can still cause damage, and coatings may wear over time or react to chemicals or cleaning agents.

Measurement of scratch resistance varies between manufacturers, with tests such as pencil hardness, nano-scratch testing, and tribological wear tests used to support claims. The lack of a universal standard means scratchfree remains a marketing-oriented descriptor rather than a universally defined property.