Waterproof cases are designed to protect vulnerable items from contact with water during storage or transportation. They are mostly used when certain products that cannot touch water without suffering damage may be exposed to outside weather conditions or need to perform their function under water. Most waterproof cases are also crushproof and keep out dust and dirt because they are airtight.
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Waterproof cases are available a wide range of sizes and are either manufactured for the purpose of keeping specific items dry or for general-purpose use. These cases may be hard or soft sided. Hard cases are made out of plastic or aluminum while soft cases are made out of polymer plastics or reinforced vinyl. They are often lined with foam and closed by a zipper with rubber reinforcement or air-tight drawstrings. These cases remain airtight, even in underwater applications. Luggage, pouches and backpacks are also often made waterproof to protect any items kept inside them. Specialty cases protect items such as documents, medical supplies, firearms, computer components, laptops, satellites, scientific equipment, photo equipment, sensitive military equipment and many other parts and equipment which require sensitive handling. Waterproof cases are used by the scientific community, modern explorers, journalists, photographers, industrial manufacturers, medical personnel manufacturing and industrial companies, electricians, consumers and others.
Waterproof cases are manufactured from many different materials. Fabrication methods influence the strength, shock absorption and water resistance of a waterproof case, and different case materials offer different benefits. Metal cases fabricated from sheets of aluminum or steel offer an excellent strength-to-weight ratio though they may be heavier than other kinds of cases. They are fitted with rubber gaskets along the joints to seal out moisture and air. A more common and widely used material for waterproof cases is a rigid plastic such as polycarbonate, a versatile plastic that is extremely strong and very lightweight. It is nearly impossible to break and weighs much less than other comparable materials. Another plastic that is commonly used for pouches, handles and wheels is polyurethane. Waterproof plastic cases are formed through the process of blow molding, where a burst of pressurized air forces a stream of hot plastic to take the shape of a mold cavity, or through injection molding, where plastic is poured into a mold and cooled. Blow molded cases are not optimal for high impact, rugged applications though they may provide cost effective protection in medium to low impact shipping and transportation. Another method is to rotationally mold plastic waterproof cases. This is the process of rotating a mold while the plastic is being shaped into its final form.
