This is a whole new kind of waterproof.
Posted 01.17.2013 at 1:00 pm
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In our zeal to bring you amazing news of superomniphobic proportions yesterday, we jumped the gun on the official press release and wrote about a U. of Michigan research team’s development of a hydrophobic material that works so well that it repels--nay, rejects--any known liquid you can throw at it. Today, the research team has released a video demonstrating just how amazing these surfaces are. These superomniphobic materials don’t just prevent liquids from soaking in--they make liquids bounce right off.
The applications of course are vast, ranging from military uniforms resistant to chemical or biological agents to coatings for ocean vessels that reduce drag to surfaces that simply never, ever get wet. See this happening up close and in slow motion in the video above.
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I want to wear a body suit covered with this stuff and then go swimming! As long as it’s not a heath hazard of sorts, I see a new Olympic swim suit being covered with this.
Oh and cover a car windshield too! Perhaps just cover the whole car.
Seriously, the uses and potential for this on just about everything seem boundless. Where can I buy stock in the company that starts mass manufacturing this stuff?
That is really cool!
I would use it to coat my clothes then no need to buy rainwear!
Dry Clean only of course.
If nothing sticks to it, why would you need to clean it? If it did get dirt on it, all you need to do would be to spray it with a hose or walk under a fountain.
So it won't have any wicking effect.....sounds like cloths would not be all that fun. You'd just be all sweaty inside them.
I'd also like to know if this stuff can be broken down by the body and what its bio-toxicity is. Also can it breakdown in a landfill?
Must coat my vehicles with this stuff.
This would be the best anti-constipation medicine, like no other, lol.
Nothing new, I've seen sprays out there you can use, but still very cool :)
Just saw a documentary on the planets decribing the acid rain on Venus. Hopefuly this will give us a way to explore the planet without the the "Rover" desolving to quickly. or maybe not at all!
Now you're thinking! Wonder how it holds up to liquid ethane/methane. Would make a great coating on a Titan boat/sub.
I wonder how well it holds up to wear. Can the coating be removed with friction?
@david_forbus,
You bring a great point! How well would this work with two surfaces coated in this stuff with beaded water as bearings to create more efficiant machines. If two moving parts never actually "touch" I would think there would be a lot of energy not lost to heat.
Pretty amazing stuff. I could see this becoming a big part of productions in the next couple of years. I wonder how much it costs to make?