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Car Paint Changes With Temperature

Posted by Zonk on from the ooo-shiny dept.

PlayfullyClever writes "It's now common to build materials which can change colors depending on their surrounding environment because of progresses made in colloid chemistry. But now, German researchers have gone a step further. They've used ion bombardment and gold metallisation to produce new particles whose bonding behavior can be chemically tailored. This could lead to new shimmering car finishes which can change with temperature or humidity, new cosmetics, but more importantly, to new applications in optical data processing"

26 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. All the ricers by doubtless · · Score: 5, Funny

    All the Ricers Rejoice!

    Now we're not limited to Type-R stickers anymore!

    --
    geek page at KY speaks
    1. Re:All the ricers by moro_666 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Who gives a [censored] about the temperature ?

      The car should be black for the rest of the world, and cute yellow for my girlfriend. So she woulnd't mind if i buy it ("cause it's soooo cute"), and i'd still have a solid nice macho black car.

      Even better would be if she'd see a small cute renault, whereas i'd see a '67 mustang ...

      --

      I'd tell you the chances of this story being a dupe, but you wouldn't like it.
  2. Pimped! by isecore · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can already hear Xzibit running like mad to get this stuff. Cars that change colors? You've officially been pimped!

    --
    I enjoy large posteriors and I cannot prevaricate.
  3. Real Scientific Applications... by Chris+Bradshaw · · Score: 4, Funny

    This could mean a great deal for real scientific applications such as the "aura detector" http://www.amasci.com/freenrg/aura/aura.html

    --
    Get your Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool Here for FREE! - http://fedora.redhat.com
    1. Re:Real Scientific Applications... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      Insightful? Try Bunk

  4. New: The Mood Car by jmp_nyc · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just in time for the next wave of 70's nostalgia.
    -JMP

  5. we had this years ago by rebug · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hypercolor shirts were awesome!

    --

    there's more than one way to do me.
    1. Re:we had this years ago by LordLucless · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Not only awesome, but therepeutic.

      When I was a kid, I had chickenpox. My case was an especially severe one, and I was bedridden for a while with high fevers, which we kept down through medication. I just lay in bed in my hypercolour shirt, and when it started to change colour (due to the fever beginning to rise), Mum could tell the meds had worn off and I needed another dose. Better than mucking around with thermometers every half hour or so.

      --
      Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
  6. I don't get it by the_humeister · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe it's just me, but what's so great about using this as car paint? Certainly the article could have expanded on other uses. On the other hand, it might pretty good for my low-rider

    1. Re:I don't get it by iggymanz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I was think of the opposite for a car to become more visible for purposes of safety: during the day and in good weather your car is its normal color, but turns white or light pastel color at night, dark during daytime snowstorm, yellow-green during fog, etc.

  7. Police car chases by cciRRus · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They have just made police car chases a lot more harder, and interesting as well!

    --
    w00t
  8. Hotwheels: Now in full size! by Ismilar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Anyone remember those Hotwheels toy cars that changed colour with hot and cold water? Or Hypercolour T-shirts? No? I think this technology is a little late for the 80's...

  9. Be on the lookout for... by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 4, Funny

    1 Adam 12, 1 Adam 12...be on the lookout for a GREEN Chevy sedan. Unless its after 6 PM or so....then be on the lookout for a BLUE Chevy sedan.

  10. Possible flaw by MirrororriM · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I forsee one possible flaw with this technology. I am from Michigan and we see hot summers and cold winters. In winter, your hood will be much warmer than the rest of your vehicle due to the engine heat. I would think you would end up with blotches all over your car. In summer, the air conditioning, I would think, would produce similar results.

    --
    Content Management System: A pretentious way of saying "text editor."
  11. Wow.. they invented something that already exists. by Torawk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Well I don't know if it works the same way but there is temp sensitive automotive paint you can buy now:

    http://www.alsacorp.com/products/xposurepaint/xpos urepaint_prodinfo.htm

    -Torawk

  12. Computer cases! by Sandman1971 · · Score: 5, Funny

    A better use of this technology would be to use the paint on computer cases and CPU fans, not cars! Yes, I'm a geek.

    --
    It's better to burn out than to fade away
    1. Re:Computer cases! by pickyouupatnine · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Well.. anything with a temperature regulation requirement. I suppose the question would be, what sort of temperature constraints do these paints work under? Or can they be 'configured' to work under any fixed range?

      --
      _Vishal www.squad9.com
  13. Colors that attract heat by aussie_a · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This could be used to change the car to a color that attracts heat when it's cold, and repels heat when it's hot. It might help somewhat with the heat and cold, but would the particles add more heat so the heat repelling functions don't really work? I'm thinking no, as I believe it happens on a micro-level, but I could be wrong.

  14. Coming soon... by winkydink · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...to a a Type-R near you. Huge rear wing that applies downforce to the wrong wheels optional.

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  15. parking lot by lposeidon · · Score: 5, Funny

    its hard enough to find my car in a parking lot when it has normal paint. imagine trying to find your car when it changed colors. its down right impossible.

    --
    Lizard "Never let them set limits on your mind!"
  16. Gives a whole new meaning to the term "hot car"... by Zhe+Mappel · · Score: 4, Funny

    The job of a car thief is hard enough without also having to consult the Weather Channel for opportune times to strike. ;-)

  17. Alternative Automotive by Associate · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Paint parts of the car engine. I wouldn't mind knowing that when my intake manifold turns from white to red that it is at normal operating temperature. But if it should happen to turn purple, it's running too hot.

    --
    Someone hates these cans.
    1. Re:Alternative Automotive by `NS · · Score: 5, Informative

      According to a friend of mine, helicopter mechanic, they already do this to some degree. The gearbox for the tailrotor is painted with a paint which will change colours if it is goes over the maximum allowable temperature. It does not change back to its original colour after cooling down.

  18. Re:we had this years ago and it was crap then too. by kholburn · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah: hypercolor shirts that changed colour when you changed temperature - showed where you were sweaty etc.

    A car that has a big red splotch on the bonnet just above the engine when it warms up.

    That's got to be useful for something, NOT.

  19. intercoolers & radiators by doubtless · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually this might be useful if it's coated on radiators or intercoolers for testing and comparison purposes. You can visually inspect the efficiency of the product.

    --
    geek page at KY speaks
  20. "Changing color due to humidity" by Nova+Express · · Score: 3, Funny
    Cars can already change color due to humidity. It's called "rust". Look for this amazing shade in the 1974 Ford Pinto, or the 1989 Yugo.

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

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