Simple Method Yields A Wrinkly, Durable, Water-Repellent Coating

ckwu writes: Superhydrophobic coatings that make water droplets dance and roll off of a surface show promise for applications such as self-cleaning cars, buildings, and food processing equipment. A new method creates a durable superhydrophobic coating by combining two common materials—Teflon and a shrinkable plastic—in a few simple steps. The researchers took inspiration from work done with the polystyrene material found in Shrinky Dinks--the children's crafting kit. They deposited Teflon onto a similar material called PolyShrink, heated it, and found that the Teflon formed a crinkled surface that helped water to bead and roll off easily. The best results came from putting Teflon onto polyolefin, a shrink wrap material. What's more, the surface is durable and repels water even after being scratched.