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Nano particle coating repels ice

PITTSBURGH (UPI) -- A coating developed at the University of Pittsburgh repels freezing rain and could be applied easily to roads, planes and power lines, researchers said.

The nano particle coating developed in the Swanson School of Engineering belongs to a class of water repellants known as superhydrophobic coatings, doctoral student Liangliang Cao said in a release Thursday.

The coating was inspired by water-resistant Lotus leaves, which have microscopic ridges that reduce the surface area to which water can adhere, Cao said.

Cao's team created resins from nano particles of silica and applied it to frozen aluminum plates to simulate freezing rain. Resins with silica particles less than 50 nanometers in size completely prevented icing, Cao said.

Water touched the air pockets between the particles and fell away without freezing. Cao produced similar results when he used the coating on a commercial satellite dish, the university said.



Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 10/30/2009
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Posted Comments:

11-02-2009 09:44
John Davis wrote:

Nano Particle Coating Reples ICE

If applied to roads.. I am concerned about not so much Rain and Ice, as I am oil.. Many cars slowly leak oil onto the road surface.. Normally this is not an issue, but in a mild rain it rises to the surface.. Will this coating affect this problem.. Make it worse, better, no effect?

One thing that needs to be addressed

now, when it comes to Satellite dishes, airplanes, and even windshields..... GOOD PRODUCT it appears.. But on roads it needs to be tested against oil.




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