New Nanotech Fabric Never Gets Wet

holy_calamity writes "New Scientist reports on a simple coating for polyester that renders it unwettable — even after two months underwater it emerges dry to the touch. Water cannot attach to the new fabric thanks to nanostructured filaments and a structure that traps a constant air layer. One potential use is for low-drag swim wear."

Comments

Is this a good idea?

[beh]

Water can't penetrate it - that means, rain stays outside... Good idea...

But it also means, all your sweat stays INSIDE... BAD idea...
I don't even want to know how soaked I'd feel after cycling for half an hour wearing a 'rain-coat' like that to keep me 'dry'!

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Andr T.]

Even worse, you can't wash it:

Unlike some water-resistant coatings, it remains more-or-less intact when the fabric is rubbed vigorously, although it didn't survive an everyday washing machine cycle.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[FishAdmin]

Even worse, you can't wash it:

Unlike some water-resistant coatings, it remains more-or-less intact when the fabric is rubbed vigorously, although it didn't survive an everyday washing machine cycle.

That's really not such a large deal; it repels liquids, and any solids could be sprayed off with a hose/faucet/whathaveyou. It couldn't really get dirty, so there would be no need to wash it beyond a surface rinse; the bigger threat is trapping your perspiration, like beh pointed out.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[gblackwo]

The worthwhile question your statement poses: You can't wash it, but can you actually get it dirty?

Re:Is this a good idea?

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

While some sort of one way fabric would be even better, and presumably awaits the next round of freaky nanotech, there is nothing stopping you from using macroscale features to deal with that problem. Strategically placed vent slits or similar should be able to let sweat out and allow a modicum of air circulation without letting rain in.

Cold weather gear would be trickier; but I suspect that the same basic mixed strategy approach would work.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[cowscows]

I'd imagine that with a little cleverness and effort, it'd be possible to come up with a rain jacket design that had a decent amount of venting in places that were adequately protected from rain. I own a jacket that has zippers under the armpits that you can open to allow some cooling. You still probably wouldn't be very comfortable running a marathon in it, but for day-to-day wear, I'm sure it could be quite comfortable. Designing in more venting wouldn't be impossible.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Sun.Jedi]

But it also means, all your sweat stays INSIDE... BAD idea...

It can't be as bad being completely painted gold. :D

I won't dispute any medical issues from being submerged in your own sweat -- IANAD. They did seem similar to me, however. The article did not mention if the waterproofing was one-way or both.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[aliquis]

Liquid water and water vapor isn't the same thing.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[gmuslera]

What about oil, or grease or sticky substances in general?

Maybe for normal clothing wont be good, but probably will have interesting applications in other fields.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[simcop2387]

if its anything like other coatings, certain things like oils will get on it and you'll never get them out.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Muad'Dave]

...can you actually get it dirty?

It didn't say it was Babyback Rib grease proof, just waterproof. There are an awful lot of tasty stain-producing things out there that aren't water-based.

Have you ever eaten sardines in mustard sauce, or better yet, John West Kippers in Sunflower oil? As I say, "If you ain't got sauce all up in your eyebrows, you ain't doing it right."

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Drakkenmensch]

If you can get it dirty, this may yet be the case of a cloth that is machine washable and comes out dry from the machine. Or better yet, washes out simply by brushing off the stain with the back of the hand.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[theTrueMikeBrown]

I don't think that that would really be a problem - the sweat can still evaporate and leave as water vapor

Re:Is this a good idea?

[0100010001010011]

You just need to activate the built in drier and you'll be fine. Comes in handy when you fall off your hove^H^H^H^H bike and you need to dry off.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Muad'Dave]

Wouldn't it be nasty if the outside were hydrophobic and the inside hydrophylic - your sweat would be yanked into the material and violently ejected from the other side! You'd look like your own Vegas water fountain show as you ran along.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[R2.0]

As millions of high school wrestlers will attest, wearing an impermeble garment can be done. Hell, I used to SLEEP in a loose PVC top to sweat off water before a match. The possible consequences include dehydration, heat stroke/exhaustion, and repelling your love ones with your stench.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Lostlander]

Or as your name suggests it could be used to line the inside of a desert suit a la dune. Collect the moisture and recycle it.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Phase Shifter]

I don't even want to know how soaked I'd feel after cycling for half an hour wearing a 'rain-coat' like that to keep me 'dry'!

Liquid water can't adhere to the surface of the fibers. Water vapor should be able to penetrate the fabric just fine--which is exactly the way you want it if you plan to avoid heat exhaustion while biking.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[yanyan]

I imagine this would make good sweatsuit material. Not that the current ones aren't already effective...

Re:Is this a good idea?

[marcosdumay]

It is still great for water-colling electronics. There are probably several other applications, it is just a matter of thinking about them.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[srussia]

Or as your name suggests it could be used to line the inside of a desert suit a la dune. Collect the moisture and recycle it.

Forget the water recycling, Muad'Dave just invented a perpetual motion machine! Although the buttered cat may constitute prior art.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

John West... the best.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[sexconker]

Give it to Mike Rowe.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[msoori]

So, how do I wash this shirt?

Re:Is this a good idea?

[sexconker]

RTFA.
It got destroyed in the washing machine.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[ccguy]

I'd feel after cycling for half an hour

What, you mean in these two decades since I last rode a bike there hasn't been any progress here? So exactly what have you guys been doing while we were making sure Moore's law didn't fail?

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

What about oil, or grease or sticky substances in general?

The porn industry is dying to know.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[hondo77]

I don't even want to know how soaked I'd feel after cycling for half an hour wearing a 'rain-coat' like that to keep me 'dry'!

That's why good cycling rain jackets have vents.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[NatasRevol]

How the hell is this insightful?

Chemically, yes they are the exact same thing.

Physically, they're always present together in dynamic equilibrium. There is always a vapor pressure with liquid water, at least at the temps & pressures of clothing.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[famebait]

BO and other odors are (by definition) volatile and may or may not be able to condense on the material...

Re:Is this a good idea?

[DanZ23]

This is how Gore-Tex works. You can actually sit on water and it will not come thru the membrane, but water vapor passes thru.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[D_Blackthorne]

Wouldn't it be nasty if the outside were hydrophobic and the inside hydrophylic - your sweat would be yanked into the material and violently ejected from the other side! You'd look like your own Vegas water fountain show as you ran along.

Actually I would hope it could be made to do that; it would then make for perfect athletic gear, especially in the rain!

Re:Is this a good idea?

[geekoid]

Umm, it can't get dirty. If no liquid can stick to it, then it could only get dusty.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[geekoid]

If it only doesn't get wet fro water, then you would use chemicals to remove those stains..since water doesn't really remove your examples anyways.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[aliquis]

Because they will work totally different on the fabric? Just as your shoes won't react to water vapor in the same way as they do with ice ...

The vapor has small "parts", the fluid water is held together in bigger parts. Just because a fluid don't pass the fabric the vapor don't need to have the same problem. See Goretex or any other functional fabric.

Just because the fabric don't get wet by the fluid water don't mean vapor can't pass it, it may be so but it don't have to.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[geekoid]

Read the article.

It's not a 'coating'.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not like other coatings, though. That's the point. Neither oil nor water wets it. You'll never get them out because you'll never get them *in*.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

What about oil, or grease or sticky substances in general?

So, not washing your clothes would be enough.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[arashi no garou]

Well if you're eating John West products, you'll need a bear-resistant cloth. Back to the drawing board!

Re:Is this a good idea?

[ChrisA90278]

But it also means, all your sweat stays INSIDE... BAD idea...

No, not at all. This coating would act just like Gortex. Vapour could pass but not liquid

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Nevermind that either - you could make a perpetual motion power plant out of the stuff. We're rich!

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Culture20]

Capes and robes make a comeback just like cyberpunk predicts.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[e2d2]

From the article (emphasis mine):

"Lead researcher Stefan Seeger at the University of Zurich says the fabric, made from polyester fibres coated with millions of tiny silicone filaments"

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Retric]

It might work well as a lining for winter clothing. If it repels water it's going to trap air and as long as you can clean the outside it's probably not a big deal it it stains. I expect evaporated moisture would still pass though so you could still get moisture out without letting the rain in.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[strength_of_10_men]

The new coating is produced in a one-step process, in which silicone in gas form condenses onto the fibres to form nanofilaments. The coating can also be added to other textiles, including wool, viscose and cotton, although polyester currently gives the best results.

I dunno, the article's description makes it sound suspiciously like a coating to me

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey Poindexter, bears are mostly made of water and therefore no threat to someone wearing this new fabric. Duh.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Otter Popinski]

Your raincoat is fitted desert fashion.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[fprintf]

I have worn drysuits that are made of breathable fabric. While underwater they do not let any liquids inside (except for a tiny bit of occasional seeping at the wrist, ankle and neck gaskets) and yet as soon as I come to the surface the fabric starts to breathe. Since I am a sailor, not a diver, I spend most of my time above water so the breathability is key. I haven't taken the suit diving (nor would I since you need specially designed suits) as I am pretty sure the breathability doesn't help when underwater for a long time.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[fprintf]

How does this work? I thought the chemicals were the same size H2O, just that there was more space between the molecules in water vapor. Is there water tension or some other force that stops the water molecules from separating in liquid and seeping through the fabric?

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Muad'Dave]

It seemed the proper way.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Rogerborg]

If no liquid can stick to it, then it could only get dusty.

Because of course there are no liquids other than water. Except troll spittle.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[imsabbel]

Phase transitions are very real, and they are not just "more space between molecules". Try a high school physics text (hell, dont you learn stuff like "surface tensions" with insects in grade school?)

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

I have a low dew point, you insensitive clod!

Re:Is this a good idea?

[BattleApple]

so.. what if you get dirt on it?

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Lazyrust]

Im guessing you'd have to dry clean it.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why the hell are you posting?

You obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Most of this was covered in high school chem. Best of luck in your continued interactions with the physical world. Dynamic equilibria are great, but try not to get killed by any transient phenomena today.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Damn, I meant high dew point.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[chthonicdaemon]

I would imagine that the cloth is vapour-permeable, so the sweat will be able to get out by evaporating and passing through the fabric.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[flappinbooger]

dry clean?

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Trapping Perspiration?

This is a good thing, now the fat guys can ditch the pit stains.

Seriously though, on a normal shirt where would the perspiration go? It would either soak into the shirt, possible evaporate, but mostly stay where it was.

Of course, the whole more-or-less-airtight-when-zipped issue could get smelly

Re:Is this a good idea?

[gringer]

Bit like Gore-Tex, you mean?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gore_Tex

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Sweat is not water

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

You're RIGHT! That's horrible. I hope they never make rain gear out of RUBBER...
</sarcasm>

Re:Is this a good idea?

[skastrik]

It might be very flammable too, since it traps some air for fuel. Even under water!

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

You're confusing fibers with fabric. Just because water can't penetrate the fiber doesn't mean it can't penetrate a fabric knit from those fibers. It all depends on how big the gaps between the fibers are.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[arashi no garou]

Wow. Poindexter. Oh snap, I've been told.

Go watch a few youtube videos and you'll get the joke. Then again...

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

As a quick solution, a removable interior lining would allow for washing of at least the part that touches you, while keeping water outside. Not the best solution, but it solves part of the washing problem.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[IllForgetMyNickSoonA]

Hyperhidriosis is not necessarily related to body weight. It's not only the "fat guys" who get pit stains.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Okay, game over. I can't tell if you're serious in telling me that I didn't get your joke. You either beat me in this game of stupidity-chicken, or are an idiot who didn't understand that my reply was a satire of a know-it-all.

To make it clear: just because a fabric never gets wet and bears are largely composed of water, it does not mean that the fabric in question is impervious to bears.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[aliquis]

I don't know, but just as solid carbon can be seen in various crystals/shapes as graphite and diamonds which will indeed have very different properties although they is the same atoms I guess the water differ somehow to.

Probably like gas = move around fast enough to be able to break lose from each other and travel around as single molecules.
Water = For whatever reason the molecules really want to stick together. For instance if you put a pencil under the tap and turn on the water and tilt the pencil the water will travel together on the surface of the pen and eventually fall of as drops if there is enough force to pull them off from the rest of the water. But at least they don't seem to fall of as single molecules.
Ice = And finally ice starts to form as single crystals which grows on, doesn't it?

Someone else with more knowledge would had to explain it, but anyway I guess they is arranged in various patterns holding the molecules in place with different stiffness.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[juhaz]

Yeah, bit like. In that it would use the same marketing phrases but different in that it would actually work.

Because goretex is neither breathable or waterproof in the real world.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[Anonymous Coward]

Just out of curiousity, how much do those suits cost and where can you find them?

Re:Is this a good idea?

[againjj]

Um, yes it is. Do you think it is made of oil? Or maybe you are being a pedant, since sweat is impure water containing salts and such.

Re:Is this a good idea?

[epine]

I'd imagine that with a little cleverness and effort, it'd be possible to come up with a rain jacket design that had a decent amount of venting in places that were adequately protected from rain.

Or you could shop for an hour in the pre-fall season at any outdoor clothing store in Vancouver, BC, if your definition of "rain" is every shade of grey from mist to drizzle.

Re:Welcome!

[Anonymous Coward]

Sounds like my wife, Ba-ZING!

funny but.

[LWATCDR]

I was wondering if it could be used for Ships to lower their drag, or to line the inside of pipes.
Not the fabric mind you but the coating.

Re:funny but.

[Anonymous Coward]

My thoughts exactly. All high-efficiency watercraft seem to rely on putting a layer of air between the craft and the water, so this should be a good match.

Re:funny but.

[gblackwo]

I wouldn't want that anywhere near my water supply, 10 years later if that stuff flakes off, that could do some nasty stuff to your digestive system.

Re:funny but.

[QuantumPete]

You don't filter your water already??? You obviously don't live in London ;) QuantumPete

Re:funny but.

[LWATCDR]

I was thinking more of oil and or other industrial uses.

Re:funny but.

[MaxwellEdison]

I use the latest in nanofilters. Its holes are so small even water can't get through!

Re:funny but.

[hondo77]

I was wondering if it could be used for Ships to lower their drag...

Because steel absorbs so much water?

Re:funny but.

[bogeyjlg]

Because steel absorbs so much water?

No, but it would reduce the adhesion between the water and the steel which is to what the GP post was referring.

Re:funny but.

[Anonymous Coward]

Because steel absorbs so much water?

Because some people really do read the article.

In addition, the plastron layer can also reduce drag when moving from water by up to 20% according to preliminary experiments conducted by Seeger.

Re:funny but.

[Anonymous Coward]

What do you mean? We've been eating Teflon for years, and fine we just are, problems here no thinking with.

Re:funny but.

[VeNoM0619]

I'm more curious, does this make you easier to float because it has air pockets? Or easier to sink (preventing drag on water)?

Re:funny but.

[natarnsco]

But if water can't adhere to it, wouldn't it just pass right through the digestive tract along with other non-digestible objects like corn hulls and un-chewed peanuts?

Re:funny but.

[Dunavant]

There's no point in using this technology for ships.

Currently technologies of using an air bubble around the ship are already in use that drop the friction by up to 40% (article said this only works for a 20% reduction). The air stuff has the added benefit of helping to reduce the sound pollution of the ship as well.

Maybe you could try using both of them together but I doubt it since you have to repaint ship hulls so often. This would be way too expensive since I doubt it's just a paint you slap on.

Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/floating_on_air.php

Don't stand so close to me

[bossanovalithium]

Raincoat good, sweatstink bad.

Unwettables

[GMonkeyLouie]

I would make drinking glasses out of unwettable surfaces, as it would ensure that you waste none of your beverage.

Re:Unwettables

[ShadowRangerRIT]

Of course, if the bartender scrubs the glass you get a drink full of silicon nano-filaments. Decisions, decisions...

Re:Unwettables

[gblackwo]

You will never have to wash your glasswear again.

Re:Unwettables

[smooth wombat]

You will never have to wash your glasswear again.

Right. Because we wouldn't have to worry about lipstick, lip balm or other substances sticking to the outside of the glass.

A place which has lipstick on the glass at your table just screams hygiene.~*

*Testing out the new sarcasm tag

Re:Unwettables

[LeadSongDog]

Because we all need more polymethylsilsesquioxane nanofilaments in our diet.

Re:Unwettables

[Smauler]

Again?

Re:Unwettables

[Smauler]

A place which has lipstick on the glass at your table just screams hygiene.~

No, actually a place which has lipstick on the glass at your table is a place in which I'd be worried about the hygeine. Also, what was that funny squiggle at the end of your post?

I believe anyone who gives me a glass with lipstick or any kind of blemish on it should be executed since they obviously do respect me as a human being and therefore cannot be a valuable member of society.~

Re:Unwettables

[Landshark17]

Blemish on the glass? I just ask politely for a new one, just like I did that one time with the dirty fork.

Re:Unwettables

[Archwyrm]

I hope you didn't say anything about the dirty knife.

Unwettable = unwashable?

[Anonymous Coward]

Also: Classic movie time! Watch "The man in the white suit"...

Anonymous Coward

[Anonymous Coward]

immersion cooling?

Beware!

[RenHoek]

In reference to this article I would like to direct readers to the movie "The man in the white suit" to learn more about the dangers of creating nanotech clothing.

Re:Beware!

[Kemanorel]

Missed it by that much... 4-ish minutes, actually.

Re:Beware!

[Anonymous Coward]

Bonus points for referring to a movie starring Obi-Wan.

Sex Applications

[Anonymous Coward]

Put this on a condom?

Re:Sex Applications

[neokushan]

And have the ejaculatory fluids do what, exactly? Swish around, just waiting to drip out?

Re:Sex Applications

[Mushdot]

You could coat ping pong balls in it and fire Thai ladies across the room.

Re:Sex Applications

[Smauler]

That's what they basically do now, and is kind of the point. One of the reasons Latex is used for condoms is it's water (and other fluid) repellent qualities. What else do you expect the liquids to do apart from swish around, just waiting to drip out?

Methinks a permeable condom wouldn't sell too well.

Re:Sex Applications

[Anonymous Coward]

sure, would be re-useable, you know after you shake the fuck out of it.

would make good table cloth

[nobodylocalhost]

i wonder if they tested this in oil. if it is both water resistant and oil resistant, it would make a very good material for table cloths, chair cover, couch cover, pillow cover, etc.

Re:would make good table cloth

[HexaByte]

Not table cloths! I agree with the others, but in most cases (I have young kids) I want a spill to be absorbed down to a non-porous backing. That way when the milk/juice/water spills, it doesn't spread it everywhere else on the table, getting everything else wet. Especially my laptop!

Re:would make good table cloth

[TheStonepedo]

Perhaps you should
(1) not serve dinner on your desk
or
(2) put the laptop away when eating with kids.
Rumor has it children need supervision beyond the occasional glance away from Slashdot.

More use than clothing.

[Anonymous Coward]

This stuff would be great under roofing tiles/shingles. This has FAR more uses than clothing.

Re:More use than clothing.

[RayMarron]

Where's my mod points when I need them? Parent AC has an interesting idea there!!

Re:More use than clothing.

[sexconker]

I bet it's extremely flammable.

Re:More use than clothing.

[Beyond_GoodandEvil]

I bet it's extremely flammable.
Probably no more so than the existing water barrier asphalt.

It traps a layer of air

[Anonymous Coward]

So is it air-tight as well?

unless you rub it

[Anonymous Coward]

and... the coating comes off when you rub it gently... You could coat anything in anything hydrophobic and get the same effect. Something permanent or durable would be a nice announcement.

Pool Time

[Anonymous Coward]

Even Worse.... try jumping into a pool with that... u'll end up with your face on the ground

Re:Pool Time

[famebait]

I don't think it renders water massless.

Practical applications

[Leafheart]

There are many important places where we can use it, besides gain an edge on competitive sports (yeah, I know, money talks).

• If the coating can be used on anything else, I say we have a pretty serious application on anything that deals with salty water.
• Still on the topic of swimming, how good it is the thermal isolation on this things? Can it be made to better diving suits?
• Ship sails that do not get wet.
• Protective clothes and other fabric for people on icy\snowy places. Specially mountaineers and the guys down at Antarctica.
• Is it only water or any liquid? I mean, can I spray alcohol and it won't stick? What about mud? Will it only be the earth particles on the cloth and the liquid will pour off?

Re:Practical applications

[Anonymous Coward]

How about umbrellas that don't leak?

Re:Practical applications

[SlowMovingTarget]

Don't forget Fremen water measuring devices in windtrap reservoirs.

Re:Practical applications

[squoozer]

I've not RTFA but my guess is that this will only work water. It's not like PTFE (Teflon) which is almost inert it's a nano-material that traps a layer of air. The water probably can't wet the fabric due to surface tension. Most liquids have very low surface tensions so would be able to wet the fabric. Water is rather unique in having a high surface tension due to extensive hydrogen bonding.

Re:Practical applications

[Beardo the Bearded]

For diving suits, you could make the outer layer out of this stuff. Your thermal protection has little to do with the outermost layer, except to restrict the amount of ambient water that touches your body. In the case of a wetsuit, you keep just enough water inside to keep it warm. A drysuit requires (in most cases) thermal undergarments. (I use a neoprene drysuit and thermal underwear when I dive.)

Nevertheless, having the exterior of your gear coated with this would greatly reduce your drag underwater, making for a much easier dive.

Hell, put it on your regulators and the salt water would just...leave. Ooh, I got a chill.

Also, I live in a rainy area, so a jacket made out of this material would be really nice.

Re:Practical applications

[phozz bare]

How about a car windshield that doesn't mist over in cold weather?

Re:Practical applications

[dwye]

> Ship sails that do not get wet.

Boat sails are already plastic (dacron, mylar, or kevlar are commonly used), so getting wet is not a problem. I do not know what sail-driven ships (like the Coast Guard's Eagle, or the Windjammer schooners used for Caribbean cruises) use, but the old canvas sails were deliberately wetted in light air, so as to catch every bit of breeze by expanding the threads in the fabric.

Unless not getting wet also keeps molds and mildew off, it will not have any great nautical usefulness, I fear.

Re:Practical applications

[absent_speaker]

I was thinking about underwater turbines. Dams have huge issues with barnacles attaching themselves to water intake pipes and to turbine blades. But if it only works on polyester.. ?

• Third world roofing (assuming it's cheap, it might be better than tin)
• Third world water containers/collector
• Fabric cups?
• Car interiors?
• collapsible pasta strainer :)

"New Nanotech Fabric Never Gets Wet"

[RemoWilliams84]

Yeah, and neither does your girlfriend. Ooh. On a more serious note, wouldn't this be more used by divers? Everyone keeps mentioning bikers, but I'm not sure that is a good idea.

Swimwear? Seriously?

[Taibhsear]

Talk about setting the bar low. What about skins for submersible craft. Stealth sub tech? I find it odd that, on /. of all places, the first thought to implement badass new technology is on sports...

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[kat_skan]

Indeed. This technology has vastly more important applications for making really cool videos and putting them on YouTube.

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[fotbr]

You'd rather continue the stereotype of war-mongering Americans?

My first thought was applying the coating to ropes, since I enjoy sailing. If the ropes won't get wet, they won't rot as easily, and might be easier to handle.

Besides, as far as submarines are concerned, stealth comes from being quiet. Don't see how this would do much to help absorb noise. It might help with speed, but probably not a whole lot. Low drag is a lot more beneficial when you've only got one human-power moving you, compared to a nuclear reactor and who-knows-how-much-shaft-horsepower.

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[Anonymous Coward]

I find the sportsmen in swimsuites and the race for who can buy the best suits instead of 'best swimmer of the day wins' rather unsportive. I suggest they must swim in the water to be named champion. You either swim in the nude or you're a cheater. Let's call the new sport Water Swimming Championships and laugh at the silly dry swimmers who are afraid of getting wet in the water.

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[MojoRilla]

Why not a swimsuit? People are already paying $550 US for a high tech swimsuit. Plus, making world record setting sports technology is a good way to market your product, even to other applications.

Also, swimsuits aren't life or death equipment meaning they won't require as much testing, adding this material doesn't require a redesign of the whole suit, the amount of material needed is very small, they don't require environmental impact studies (as boat coatings would), etc.

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[Taibhsear]

You'd rather continue the stereotype of war-mongering Americans?

Who said anything about war or weapons? Subs can be used for recon, science, rescue, etc. Cutting down drag can increase speed, engine efficiency, and decrease noise. Hard to find neat new sea critters when they hear you miles away. Hell, maybe even coat the propellers on large ships.

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[Cowmonaut]

While there are non-sport peaceful applications for the stuff, I hate it more than being called a warmonger when people assume liking the military/being in the military == warmongering.

I don't think there is a soldier alive that has seen real combat that wants to do that every day. Maybe a few one offs, but most of these people are doing it because they feel someone has to.

The sad part is they are right. This letter I think articulates the argument pretty well. There are bad people that will do bad things. You need your own kind of people that will stand up to them if you won't do it yourself.

And before you say "there are other ways" let me say you are right. There are. But the problem is those "other ways" don't work if only one side will go through with them, but violence can be responded in kind by anyone.

PS: I chose the most annoying looking page with the text of that letter. I apologize. You can find it elsewhere.

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[Anonymous Coward]

The first thing I thought of was spray-on condoms.

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[fotbr]

You'll note I said the sterotype of Americans being war-mongers, implying that it is not correct. However, it is how the rest of the world has looked at the US for the last 7 or so years, and if you look at most articles about technology being developed by, or developed for, or being used by the military, the majority of posts here are along the lines of "can't they find some use other than killing people" -- so now there's an article suggesting non-militaristic use of a new technology, and people are bitching that there's no military applications listed. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

As for the rest, I'm more of a supporter of the military than most on slashdot, even though medical issues prevented me from serving, so you can point your rant at someone else.

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[Degrees]

The TFA doesn't say if it has color or not. If the nano structures are small enough and transparent enough, it might make a nice windshield coating. I wouldn't mind a windshield with a permanent coating of Rain-X. Come to think of it, just regular windows would be nice to be permanently dry. No water spots, because the rain didn't have enough time to hang around and dry.

It would probably make a pretty good shower stall door / shower curtain coating.

Re:Swimwear? Seriously?

[mseidl]

Speaking of sports. Has someone notified Mr. Phelps in his tank at SeaWorld about this new technology for his suit?

Its a trap

[Anonymous Coward]

Its a tarp.

Re:Its a trap

[Redfeather]

Stay in the tarp! This is bath country!

What, no snarky comment about Dune?

[marquis111]

Reminds me of what the Fremen used to coat their underwater water stores.

I wonder what new and strange water behavior could be observed in a container lined in this. Would there be a meniscus -- either convex or concave -- when water was put into it? Or would the water huddle nervously in the middle, unsure of what do with itself?

Re:What, no snarky comment about Dune?

[iksbob]

A similar (maybe the same?) material has been in existence long enough for someone to make a toy out of it, exploiting just the behavior you're curious about. link.

Re:What, no snarky comment about Dune?

[Anonymous Coward]

If there is absolutely no adhesion between the water and this coating, it will most likely not form a meniscus.

Re:What, no snarky comment about Dune?

[not-my-real-name]

I would expect a convex meniscus. This happens when you put other liquids into a container that can't be wetted by them.

Re:What, no snarky comment about Dune?

[Eli Gottlieb]

From Slashdot I'd say we've been inventing a lot of stillsuit materials lately.

That sounds like a challenge to me!

[ProppaT]

I think men around the world are already lining up for the chance to pee on this stuff....

On a somewhat serious note, though, this stuff sounds like the perfect lining for urinals!

Good use!

[Anonymous Coward]

This stuff would be great for socks, and shoes for that matter. Oh and on a side note how about "prank diapers" ?

Re:Welcome!

[Anonymous Coward]

not uncommon for a post-op tranny.

Re:Welcome!

[telchine]

I, for one, welcome our new unwettable overlords!

It's going to make wet T-shirt competitions far less entertaining :(

a million and 1 uses

[ZWarrior]

What about a coating on windows to keep them clear? A type of wax coating on vehicles? Spiffy way to stop spilled wine from setting?

Re:a million and 1 uses

[Colourspace]

Pilkington in the UK have already developed a self cleaning glass, I don't know any of the tech details behind it though. I'ts been around a couple of years now.

Re:a million and 1 uses

[doti]

windshields?

When it's underwater does it get wet?

[Anonymous Coward]

Does the water get it instead?
Nobody knows.
Particle Man.

Old news

[Anonymous Coward]

Duck feathers do that too :)

Wish we could change the order...

[thered2001]

...of photo-icons which appear on these stories! Poor Einstein looks like he's going to get seriously injured by a falling motherboard. As far as this cloth goes, I don't see that it is necessarily stated that the it prevents water from permeating, just that the cloth itself doesn't get wet.

Soap?

[famebait]

How about soapy water?

sounds like the ultimate leisure suit

[swschrad]

a pocket protector and a parrot tie, and you're all set for an interview

It's a drag, man

[SleptThroughClass]

One potential use is for low-drag swim wear.

Yeah, it's a real drag having to get wet when going for a swim.

Re:It's a drag, man

[gruvmeister]

The purpose of low-drag swimwear is not to stay dry, but to reduce fiction, and therefore resistance, caused by moving through the water. Lower drag = higher speed for the same energy expenditure. And yes, this is probably the most useless possible application for this technology, but you've got to sell something to the people providing the funding. Much better ideas have been mentioned in this discussion already - sails, ship/sub coatings, extreme cold weather wear and raingear. Also, how about protective tarps, a replacement for tarpaper on roofs, umbrellas... the list goes on!

Re:It's a drag, man

[Aladrin]

You are the victim of a failed joke.

Re:Welcome!

[UnanimousCoward]

Too bad for Bill that Monica's blue dress didn't have that coating. Oh wait, does it work on THAT substance too?

old news. but cool!

[famebait]

Superhydrophobic surfaces and textile coverings have been around for a little while.
The news here is the one-step solvent-free process,
which will make industrialization a lot cheaper.

Youtube has lots on "superhydrophobic" and "nanotech fabric/textile"

Here's a cool demo: they sink a white sofa into a read bath, and pull it out again spotless:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ytrQs1B5QY

Great news for slashdotters

[slashnot007]

No more wet beds! Also this will be great news for the British public restroom officials. After years of experimenting with Wax paper as toilet paper they can now go high tech. (Can anyone explain to me why on earth the british public restrooms use velum-like TP?) The downside is that now when you accidentally pee in your trowsers, instead of getting a wet spot it all ends up in your shoe.

Re:Great news for slashdotters

[blackest_k]

izal

horrible stuff but it can be left unattended in a public toilet without getting stolen. maybe it's better than nothing. maybe not.

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Izal_Toilet_Paper__Review_5481965

apparently they made a batch of it 60 years ago and its still not gone.

it is getting rare these day, but probably because public toilets are rare in the uk these days. They have mostly been replaced with Macdonalds. Around the world. MacDonalds toilets are usually clean and safe.

Re:Great news for slashdotters

[Squeeonline]

Only until they develop nanofiber-shoes. I have an idea for anti-gravity... Since humans are about 80% water, if someone tries to stand on enough of this material (naked obviously), will they hover? On a serious note, could this be a new coating for torpedo/submarines?

This would be great for swimwear

[Anonymous Coward]

Probably decreases friction, and when you get out your swimwear is dry and you can hop right in the car or whatever.

Re:This would be great for swimwear

[famebait]

Provided you wear all-over swimwear.

ex

[Spaham]

sounds like my ex wife

I know right?

[hellfire]

Hell the first thing I thought of wasn't sports, but safety. Is this something you can make work clothes out of so that if you work on a boat or pier, if you fall in, can it be made so your clothes don't absorb water and make it harder for you to swim to safety. If the water doesn't get absorbed, you could put a layer of insulation underneath it to help stay warm in cold water to help defend you from hypothermia.

But obviously the money is in selling a swimmer a $10,000 swimsuit so they can shave .02 seconds off their swim time in the hopes of beating Michael Phelps in the next olympics.

Re:I know right?

[The Living Fractal]

"But obviously the money is in selling a swimmer a $10,000 swimsuit so they can shave .02 seconds off their swim time in the hopes of beating Michael Phelps in the next olympics."

Except that Phelps will have it too.

I guess this means...

[Rod Beauvex]

...Your jacket is now dry!

And the new name of said material...

[Anonymous Coward]

Scotch Guard!

Re:Welcome!

[Narnie]

It's going to make wet T-shirt competitions far less entertaining :(

Though I can see it as the new fabric of choice in the porno industry, replacing latex & pleather.

Wow!

[kpainter]

I think I want a leisure suit made out of this crap!

What?

[jovius]

Low drag underwear?

Re:What?

[danlock4]

Just what I want... underwear that doesn't absorb any potential leakage, allowing it to leak out onto my pants or the floor.

Wet?

[damonlab]

Obligatory Twilight Zone reference - "What's wet?"

I would have just Rendered it Pink.

[jellomizer]

All this work all they need to do is Render it Pink and put a SEP field around it.

Re:I would have just Rendered it Pink.

[jellomizer]

Um I think I accidentally unlocked an easter egg.

Old idea?

[CmdrPorno]

Looks like they've invented... Closed cell foam!

Well, so if the fabric never gets wet -

[MindPhlux]

Does the water get it instead?

Re:Well, so if the fabric never gets wet -

[BattleApple]

the water gets fabricked

Re:Welcome!

[Captain Hook]

I, for one, welcome our new unwettable overlords!

Shouldn't that be 'I, for one, welcome our new unwettable overcoats!' ?

Roofing

[Anonymous Coward]

And, short of a hail storm, never need to replace it again.

Mass market and expense

[KalvinB]

If this stuff costs thousands of dollars per square yard it would be financially viable for swimsuits and other items that use smaller amounts. A single win as a swimsuit would probably pay for itself in endorsements. However it would quickly become economically unsound for large items. It's probably not worth hundreds of millions of dollars to coat a sub with it.

Existing waterproof+breathable fabrics do that

[bigtrike]

Most existing "waterproof" and "breathable" fabrics supposedly have holes too small for liquid water to enter, but water vapor can pass freely. I have a rain jacket made of this material, and it is quite great.

New Olympic Swim Records...

[merlinokos]

here we come!

Amazing...

[Xerolooper]

They've invented Scotchgardâ. Wow another in a long line of new old inventions.

Potential use

[Anonymous Coward]

"One potential use is for low-drag swim wear."

-- Another one is underwear for senior citizens.

The cold war is over....

[the_raptor]

The cold war is over, no one is interested in the best military equipment, price rules. The stealthy Seawolf subs got cancelled in favour of the cheaper Virginias.

And the best thing is...

[dvh.tosomja]

And the best thing is, most components of that material do not cause cancer!

Great for raincoats or

[Brass Cannon]

manufacturing low drag boat / submarine hulls...

Umbrella

[dhanson865]

How about an umbrella?

I know I've often wished my umbrella wasn't a damp sponge once I bring it inside. Being able to shake the surface water off helps on a traditional umbrella but not being damp to the core would be a big improvement.

Tents

[emeraldemon]

It seems like way too often I go camping and it rains, and even the "waterproof" tent lets water in, especially seeping underneath where you sleep...

Re:Is this a good idea? Too bad you can't wash it

[davidsyes]

because throwbacks to the 70's might have been hoping to stink/sweat-free do the boogey oogey oogey dancin' shoes...

As for gmulsera's

"What about oil, or grease or sticky substances in general?"

Compressed-air-blowing? Dry cleaners' chemicals (might be bad for the wearer who doesn't disrobe...) UV cleaning and gentle-fine-brushing?

Don't they already use something like this...

[Peet42]

...on the towels in public restrooms?

Fail.

[Anonymous Coward]

FTFA:

"The combination of the hydrophobic surface chemistry and the nanostructure of the coating results in the super-hydrophobic effect," Seeger explained

Not to sound alarmist, but

[Phizzle]

Have there been any studies done on how this interacts with the human body? There have been many "wonder materials" that in the long run turned to be people hostile - asbestos, Teflon, whole slew of oil based synthetics, etc...

New submarine skin

[thepacketmaster]

Knit some of this stuff over top of a submarine shell, and you should get incredible speed improvements. Anyone need a nano-submarine sweater?

Re:Welcome!

[Strep]

I can't believe that no one has yet made a reference to the Jetson's episode...

Hmph

[ewhac]

This is nothing new. It sounds like the napkins in half the restaurants I visit.

:-),
Schwab

Video Games

[YenTheFirst]

This explains why, in almost every video game I've ever played, the character can emerge from the water absolutely dry. :P

New Nanotech Fabric Never Gets Wet

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, I had a girlfriend like that once...

polyester leisure suit larry

[sgt scrub]

Polyester leisure suits have been keeping women dry for years.

Pantyhose for ice cold bitches

[Anonymous Coward]

Never get wet, you get it??

condoms material

[Anonymous Coward]

great, another material for condoms

Hey about using it for a Stilsuit

[Anonymous Coward]

It'd make a great desert suit, all you'd need to add is a water reclamation device. It'd be great for dry diving suits.

Swimwear???

[Opr33Opr33]

I admit I only read the summary (not that you expected more) but I'm surprised that most of the sports comments focusing on the sweat problem. As the summary pointed out, low drag swimwear would be an important potential use for this. As the last olympics highlighted, fabrics for swimwear play an important role in competitive swimming. My area of interest however, the sweating would be important since after I exit the water I still have biking and running left. :-)

Re:Swimwear???

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, God forbid that the athletes actually compete on a level playing field based on their physical prowess. You get so much closer to the authentic Olympic spirit when athletes from first-world countries use expensive artificial aids, just like in ancient Greece, where the thought of Spartans and Athenians alike competing naked would have been shocking.

Coarse Weave

[anorlunda]

Unwettable fabric would not necessarily be a water barrier. It depends on the tightness of the weave.

What use for a coarse weave unwettable fabric? How about an inner liner for diapers? Fluid leaks out but the absorbant outer layer prevents it from leaking back in. It would even dry out the captured #2.

Any other slashdotter ideas for coarse weave unwettable?

Uh Oh

[keiofh]

This spells certain death for wet t-shirt parties world wide!

not sledding approved

[Anonymous Coward]

yeah, but let me tell you, you do NOT want to coat the bottom of your sled with it.

don't let your cousin empty his mobile home's septic tank into the storm sewers either.

By Shampoo

[Anonymous Coward]

This idea was invented by Shampoo.

Re:Welcome!

[Anonymous Coward]

Sounds like my wife

Really? She's always wet for me! /me ducks

Anonymous Coward

[Anonymous Coward]

Space ghost: Gimme some of that!

I was more thinking...

[Cryacin]

coat munitions with this. Underwater artillery anyone? Provided of course that the thin layer of air still holds post muzzle velocity.

That's it!

[uniquegeek]

That's it. All sports should be naked. I'm female, so I suspect it will be less of a problem for me. We had quite a discussion about the physics of the nude (male) cyclist who rode through the city a couple months ago.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Is it just me . . .

[Anonymous Coward]

. . . or is there a Japanese-fetish-porn category in this somewhere?

Wetting my pants?

[Anonymous Coward]

So, what happens if i pee in my pants? Do i have to change my shoes then?

Re:Welcome!

[Anonymous Coward]

There you go!

Would that float your boat on air?

[brrgo]

If you covered a boat hull with it would you be floating the boat on the water or on air?
If it's floating on air, could you call that levitating a boat?

Don't know if I should thank em' or hate em'

[burtosis]

So this means the chance of seeing a hot chick get her shirt wet and reveal something will go down dramatically, but also means I probably wouldn't have that memory of a big hairy dudes ass crack either.

Using for car windshield

[SlashdotRookie]

How about using it on car windshield? Wipers won't be needed then perhaps.

Re:Welcome!

[karo_80]

that's not good, that makes you sound bad.

I'm an Aspie that hates water Cover my body in it!

[Anonymous Coward]

I have Asperger's Syndrome and have ALWAYS had issues with water touching my skin.

I want a full bodysuit made of this stuff! Please make the inner lining fluffily soft and breathable.

(Once I'm IN water I don't have a problem with it. Getting into it though and being wet/dry at the same time really, really, really, really irritates me)

Re:Welcome!

[danieltdp]

Man, stop lying. You are a slashdotter: that rubber doll is not your wife and it is your job to get it wet.

Similar Research Area

[xdor]

I was reading recently about how construction of video application PCB board requires solders that are curved rather than at right angles to facilitate high-bandwidth signaling and reduce noise.

If it was possible to create a nano-scale insulation that by construction encourages the repulsion of electrical energy in a given wave-length the improvements for digital and analog signaling would be immense.