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?

[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?

[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?

[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?

[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?

[sexconker]

Give it to Mike Rowe.

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?

[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?

[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?

[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?

[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?

[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?

[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?

[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?

[flappinbooger]

dry clean?

Re:Is this a good idea?

[gringer]

Bit like Gore-Tex, you mean?

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

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.

[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.

[Anonymous Coward]

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

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!

More use than clothing.

[Anonymous Coward]

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

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?

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?

[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.

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:Welcome!

[telchine]

I, for one, welcome our new unwettable overlords!

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

When it's underwater does it get wet?

[Anonymous Coward]

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

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.

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:Unwettables

[LeadSongDog]

Because we all need more polymethylsilsesquioxane nanofilaments in our diet.

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:Welcome!

[Captain Hook]

I, for one, welcome our new unwettable overlords!

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

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.~

Hmph

[ewhac]

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

:-),
Schwab