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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."
if its anything like other coatings, certain things like oils will get on it and you'll never get them out.
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."
Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
I don't think that that would really be a problem - the sweat can still evaporate and leave as water vapor
The new MSV alpha
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.
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." A. Carlson
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.
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
sudo ergo sum
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.
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"
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
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!
HexaByte - he's a square and a half!
Bit like Gore-Tex, you mean?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gore_Tex
Ask me about repetitive DNA