A liquid contact indicator model for warranty abuse detection in portable electronics

Portable electronic makers have introduced a liquid damage indicator (LDI) tape in their products to detect warranty abuse caused by water damage. They refused to provide warranty service for a device that has triggered the LDI tape. However, a LDI tape exhibits inconsistencies in characteristics and that can lead to improper warranty denials. In this study, we conducted life tests to evaluate the performance of LDI tapes and developed an empirical model for liquid contact that describes the performance of the indicator for the benefit of the public. Then, we validated the model by a nonparametric survival analysis and temperature cycling tests with two smartphone sets.