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Self-Cleaning Glass
Chris writes "Consumers across Europe can now purchase self-cleaning glass that promises to keep windows free from dirt. The key to Activ glass is an ultra-thin coating only 40nm thick applied to the glass surface during the manufacturing process. The coating, which is based on titanium dioxide, works by combining the two beneficial effects. First, the ultraviolet wavelengths in sunlight react with a photocatalyst to break down organic debris on the glass. The second feature is that the coating is hydrophilic, meaning that when rain hits the glass, it doesn't form droplets. Rain water flows down the glass in a sheet and washes the dirt away."
When are they going to make my plates and cups self-cleaning too?
... but last night I swear they were serving my beer in a self-emptying glass, and that was much less convenient. This morning, my hangover suggests that I may have been helping out.
Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
Sounds like this would be good for Mars rovers and the like. One of the problems that we have with rovers is that the glass on the photo cells get dirty and degrades the power output of the cells. I know that it doesnt rain on Mars, but this glass and some wind might prevent the degredation from reaching beyond some critical value.
Welcome to the land of the free...pay toll ahead...no photography...please open your bag...
No, I'm pretty sure that it is hydrophilic. Hydrophobic means it repels water, which would cause the water to form droplets, in order to reduce the surface area. Since it's hydrophilic, the water is attracted to the coating, which makes the water sheet.
-David Ziegler
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That would be a hydrophobic coating. Hydrophilic attracts moisture.
You're on the right track, but reaching the wrong conclusion. A hydrophobic material would cause water to bead up on the surface, as the adhesiveness of the material would be much less than the cohesiveness of the water. This is a hydrophilic material, at least in a sense, because the water adheres to the surface so well that it counters the cohesiveness of the water. I say in a sense, because I think a hydrophilic material usually absorbs water.
Of course, I could be totally off.
"...At the end of the day"..."when everyone goes home, you're stuck with yourself." RIP Layne Staley
The Window Cleaners Union should take a leaf out of RIAA's book and (a) ask Congress to pass the DWCA (Dirt Window Cleaners Act), and (b) sue Pilkington. After all, this new-fangled glass will put them out of business!
A few weeks ago I found out that there was a dead bird in my chimney (sp?). I only found out when there where hundreds of flies in my house, all covering the windows. All the shops were closed, so I couldn't buy a spraycan with which to kill all the flies. Openening the windows didn't do the trick so the only viable option left was to swat them. You should have seenm those windows after I was finished. Lots of organic debris on the glass, but there isn't a self-cleaning window in the world that could keep itself clean with a carnage like this.
PPG is one of the largest manufacturers of residential windows and they have produced windows using the self-cleaning coating for several years now.
http://www.ppg.com/gls_sunclean/
maru
According to Google there are over 1500 references to self cleaning glass, quite a few manufacters are already selling it, Pilkinton (uk glass company) and Sunclean seem to be the market leaders though Pilkington seem to claim "the worlds first". The BBC reported this technology in 2001, in 2002 Saint-Gobain Glass won a Siemens Award for innovation for their version
http://www.ppgsunclean.com/
http://www.activglass.com/
http://www.afgglass.com
http://www.saint-gobain-glass.com
One step closer to transparent aluminum.
(Hello... Computer?)
M@
Krispy Cream is people
With this stuff, we won't need any jizz-moppers anymore! Read on:
Randal: [reading magazine] Have you ever wondered how much the average jizz-mopper makes per hour?
Dante: What's a jizz-mopper?
Randal: He's the guy that cleans up the nudie booth after each guy jerks off.
Dante: Nudie booth?
Randal: Yeah, nudie booth. You've never been in a nudie booth?
Dante: I guess not.
Randal: Oh, it's great. There's this glass wall between you and these chicks, and they put on a show for you for like 10 bucks.
Dante: What kinda show? [customer walks up to counter]
Randal: They do the weirdest, craziest shit you like to see chicks do. They insert things into any opening on their body-ANY opening.
Dante: Could we not talk about this now?
Randal: The jizz-mopper's job is to clean off the glass after each guy shoots a load. I don't know if you noticed, but cum leaves streaks if you don't clean it right away.
Customer: I will never come to this place again!
Dante: I'm sorry? [I could have sworn he says 'excuse me']
Customer: Using filthy language in front of the customers, you both should be fired.
Dante: I'm sorry, I guess we got carried away.
Customer: I don't know if sorry could make up for it, you've highly offended me.
Randal:Well, if you think that's offensive, check this out! [shows him graphic picture from porn mag] I think you can see her kidneys!
Customer: Aaaaargh!
One extra insight -- what does the customer bring up to the counter?? You guessed it! Paper towels and glass cleaner! Hahaha, what an incredible movie
Berto
coat my 16 month old son with this? He gets dirty within 30 seconds of coming out of the bath.
;-]
Please make sure to leave air and sight holes.
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There are three kinds of people: those who can count, and those who can't.
(sorry, couldn't resist)
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