New Paint Based On Titanium Nanoparticles Creates Self-Cleaning Surfaces

hypnosec writes: Scientists have created a paint that provides self-cleaning surfaces and can maintain them even after being wiped, scratched, or scuffed. The paint, composed of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, is delivered as a suspension in ethanol containing the chemical perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (abstract). Once the coating is applied to a surface, the ethanol must evaporate for 180 seconds before it is ready for use. Depending on the surface, the coating can be sprayed, dipped, or painted.

Comments

Sounds cool

[oodaloop]

Can't wait to spray my kitchen counter-tops with this difficult to pronounce but presumably safe material!

Re:Sounds cool

[Anonymous Coward]

If it's transparent, I want it on my windshield. Even if it wears off after a year, this is still a major win.

Re:Sounds cool

[Anonymous Coward]

The joke is going to be on humanity when our kidneys get clogged with nano particles. Careless manufacturing and reckless use of nano particle anything could be trouble in the future. But don't worry nothing will happen for 10 or more years, then we will have to create new laws and regulations and try to remove the stuff like we do lead paint and asbestos. Carry on people, no worries!

Re:Sounds cool

[fahrbot-bot]

The joke is going to be on humanity when our kidneys get clogged with nano particles.

Stop being so alarmist. Our lungs will get clogged way before that.

Re:Sounds cool

[OzPeter]

Careless manufacturing and reckless use of nano particle anything could be trouble in the future. But don't worry nothing will happen for 10 or more years

All ready being noted. Not 10 years down the track. Sunscreens as a Source of Hydrogen Peroxide Production in Coastal Waters

Conservative estimates for a Mediterranean beach reveal that tourism activities during a summer day may release on the order of 4 kg of TiO2 nanoparticles to the water and produce an increment in the concentration of H2O2 of 270 nM/day. Our results, together with the data provided by tourism records in the Mediterranean, point to TiO2 nanoparticles as the major oxidizing agent entering coastal waters, with direct ecological consequences on the ecosystem.

Re:Sounds cool

[drinkypoo]

If it's transparent, I want it on my windshield. Even if it wears off after a year, this is still a major win.

You can use Rain-X and have it wear off after a week, or one of the many various hydrophobic coatings-in-a-can and have it last maybe a month, right now.

If I rode a motorcycle I'd put it on the visor, that actually seems practical.

Re:Sounds cool

[daenris]

Production of nanoparticle titanium dioxide is definitely hazardous. Titanium dioxide dust, present during production, is a possible carcinogen. Nanoparticle titanium dioxide has also been shown to cause genetic damage in mice. That said, I don't think there's evidence that the nanoparticles or powder present in paint pigment and sunscreen, for example, actually cause adverse effects in humans to this point, so it's unclear whether these coatings would be a concern or not.

Re:Sounds cool

[sjames]

Nano particles can cross the blood brain barrier. What makes you think that's A-OK? Surely that warrants caution at the least?

Lilly pads and similar have a significant nano-structure, not a coating of nano particles.

The only thing self-cleaning is a soap bar

[NotDrWho]

Everything else always ends up requiring my help, whether it SAYS "self-cleaning" or not.

perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane

[Anonymous Coward]

TiO2 is not the magic ingredient here, I think that's fairly obvious.

Safe and Tested?

[Anonymous Coward]

It sounds so safe and fully tested, here is an MSDS:
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/MSDS/MSDS/DisplayMSDSPage.do?country=US&language=en&productNumber=667420&brand=ALDRICH&PageToGoToURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sigmaaldrich.com%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct%2Faldrich%2F667420%3Flang%3Den

STABILITY AND REACTIVITY
Reactivity: No data available
Possibility of hazardous reactions: No data available
Conditions to avoid: May form explosive mixtures in air. Direct sources of heat..

TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Acute toxicity: No data available
Inhalation: No data available
Dermal: No data available
Skin corrosion/irritation: No data available
Serious eye damage/eye irritation: No data available
Respiratory or skin sensitisation: No data available
Germ cell mutagenicity: No data available

ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
Toxicity: No data available
Persistence and degradability: No data available
Bioaccumulative potential: No data available
Mobility in soil: No data available

What could go wrong with all the NO DATA? /sarcasm

Re:Safe and Tested?

[king neckbeard]

It's not fully tested. However, I'm also not seeing any indication that this is being commercially released yet. So, perhaps it's a bit early to be complaining about not having tested it enough.

Dammit, I can't wait that long

[OzPeter]

the ethanol must evaporate for 180 seconds

I can only wait for 179 seconds. This stuff is useless for me.

This material has been used on windows

[Streetlight]

For many years you can buy windows or window glass with this nano-particle titanium dioxide applied which made windows self cleaning. It sounds like the paint is just an extension of the earlier technology. Besides, which is harder to clean: your counter top or the outside of a half-dozen windows three stories up on your house? Sure, some windows are easy to clean because either the frames tllt inwards or are removable from inside, but not having to bother to do any cleaning sounds best to me

Re:Isn't Titanium Oxide

[Coren22]

Yes. It is Titanium Dioxide which is what makes white paint white.

I am assuming that the secret sauce here is the perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane. Whatever the hell that is...

Re:Advances in toilet technology?

[sexconker]

When you stop using the toilet.

Crayons

[aaronb1138]

As the oldest of 5 children, one thought came to mind. How well does it stand up to crayons? I would assume from the hydrophobic nature it will have no problems with water based markers, though I am curious on how well it handles Sharpies and other solvent based ones.

Re:Crayons

[linear a]

I'm wondering if it can ever be painted over again without having to strip the old stuff off. Probably yes with the right (perhaps custom) primer I'd guess.

old idea that was on /., but for CO2

[WindBourne]

This is the same idea, but applied to breaking down CO2.

Re:Long term safety

[Ralph Wiggam]

It's already being studied. Asbestos is dangerous because it creates naturally occurring nanoparticles. It's not chemically toxic.

These types of manufactured nanoparticles, including carbon nanotubes, won't see widespread use until they're shown to be safe.

Re:Isn't Titanium Oxide

[fustakrakich]

I'm guessing most everyone has already been exposed to some level of nano-particles already.

The old timers call it smoke, or dust... in L.A., smog.

magic ingredient: perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane

[slew]

AFAIK, FDTS is already used to coat MEMS-like devices (e..g, microfluid channels and nano-lithography stamps) because it chemically forms a monolayer coating that is lubricating and moisture resistant. Unfortunately, it is a bit nasty as it is highly corrosive, flammable chemical that smells a bit like hydrochloric acid.

The interesting thing with this is that they found a way to coat titanium dioxide nanoparticles (the same stuff in sunblock and some white paints) with it and create a suspension in ethanol so you can apply it like paint over an adhesive and it drys in a way that sticks to the adhesive in a way that they claim to be somewhat robust against damage. Here's the video and some supplementary material...

I'm not exactly sure how the adhesive (basically claimed to use "evo-stick" apparently some ethyl-acetate based adhesive like superglue available in the UK) sticks to the coated nanoparticles, but still is lubricating on the other side though (a similar problem with non-stick frying pans). There doesn't appear to be much discussion about this and my chemistry-fu is a bit rusty... Maybe some kind of covalent layer bonding or something...

Re:Isn't Titanium Oxide

[Anonymous Coward]

A fluoroorganosiloxane makes a coating of teflon-like molecules (like T-Fal(R)) that can adhere to metal oxide surfaces. You can find similar fluoroorganosiloxanes in glass/coating protection products.

I think that this is interesting but if someone wants to do this cheap, then use diatomaceous earth that is coated with this compound. I sometimes wonder why that our nano-nano science needs to make something that is already found in nature.

Re:Long term safety

[Ralph Wiggam]

Correct. And carbon nanotubes are structurally pretty similar.