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The material's robustness will be key because of the high-performance applications that GE is targeting, says Gareth McKinley, a mechanical-engineering professor at MIT. He thinks that out of the two different approaches to making the superhydrophobic metal, altering the material surface itself would last longer. With a coating, he says, "there's a possibility that it's going to come off or flake off. So something intrinsic to the material will be more robust."
Blohm says that both approaches--roughening the metal or coating it with a textured material--might have their advantages, depending on how the material is used. "Most of the environments we're looking at with metals are rather harsh, whether it's temperature, moisture, corrosion, or other contaminants," she says. "So in some applications, you might choose textured metals that might be more robust, but in others, you might want to have the coating carry the performance with options to replace the coating."
The researchers are testing many different models of superhydrophobic metals. They are tinkering with the texture of the metals and coatings to see what works best in certain harsh environments. The material would eventually have to be tailored to the application, Blohm says. "If we feel good about [a material]--one we know that might be more expensive and maybe not robust enough for the environment, but we see performance in those model textures--then it's worth the investment," she says. "Then we'll work on making it manufacturable and robust in a specific environment."
Electroplated metal could be used to make self-healing construction materials, car parts, and machinery.
A new adaptive polymer coating combines unusual chemical properties to help maintain a clear view.
Biological Paradigms and Biomimetics
The 'Lotus effect' noted here is an excellent example of a biological paradigm at work, one that has evolved in certain plants to keep their leaf surfaces clean. New biological paradigms are being revealed on an almost weekly basis and thanks to on-going developments in nanotechnology these too are inspiring new engineering and material science developments leading to valuable and exciting product innovations. More examples of biological paradigms proving especially useful can be found at http://www.biomimeticsregistry.net If nothing else, these biomimetic developments should further underscore the urgent need for conserving biodiversity, something which is being lost at a very alarming rate.
like a lotus flower that pristinely rises from the muddy water, materials using the lotus effect will have dirt washed away with the water that glides smoothly off them.
Well that works for water soluble forms of dirt. Oils on the other hand may not be so easily removed if the surface interactions prove to be hydrophilic.
This might be very useful in solar energy, both in the collector, but also the heat exchanger.
Possible problem I see here is that hydrophobic film will have low temperature stability and if the film is not covalently bonded to the substrate it just “sits” on it until...
This textured hydrophobic surface could help engines to reach their optimum operating temperature much faster, as well as to ward off corrosion. I believe that a deep texture could handle oil without degradation, allowing the oil to drip off once the engine reaches its operating temperature. This is a technology with numerous possible applications.
Sir,
Can this technology be used in the steel industry? I would like to know if a sheet of steel can be bent or formed after this product has been applied or does it have to be applied to a product in it's formed state. How would this application work if it were to be applied to a coil with line speeds in excess of 500 FPM? What is the life expectancy of this product? Thanks in advance.
Manufacturing in the United States is in trouble. That's bad news not just for the country's economy but for the future of innovation.
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lawrence.smallman
1 Comment
ship application?
Would using this technology on ship hulls not only reduce resistance but also reduce corrosion?
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phoenix
172 Comments
Re: ship application?
An excellent question Lawrence. Can anyone give him some feedback on it? Plus, would this application also help repel barnacles?
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