Posted on 11/21/2013 2:43:37 AM PST by Berlin_Freeper
US engineers have created the "most waterproof material ever" - inspired by nasturtium leaves and butterfly wings.
The new "super-hydrophobic" surface could keep clothes dry and stop aircraft engines icing over, they say.
The lotus leaf was thought to be the gold standard for staying dry in nature, but now a team from MIT in Boston say they have surpassed it.
By adding tiny ridges to a silicon surface, they made water bounce off it 40% faster than the previous "limit".
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
good for rain harvesting!
Very cool story. Thanks for posting. Goes to show that careful observational science can still make big contributions.
;-)
IIRC they’ve found that an ordered textured surface has less friction to water than a smooth slick surface and racing sailboats have that type of coating.
I think the 12 meter America had the coating.
Oh no, butterfly wings...here we go!
Need this for my jacket. Does it come in a spray? Camp Dry only lasts until the first wash, and you can’t buy Quarpel anywhere at any price.
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