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New Nanotech Fabric Never Gets Wet
Posted by
timothy
on Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:08 AM
from the good-for-lining-lunchboxes dept.
from the good-for-lining-lunchboxes dept.
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."
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Is this a good idea? (Score:5, Insightful)
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? (Score:5, Interesting)
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.
Parent
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Parent
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:4, Interesting)
Maybe for normal clothing wont be good, but probably will have interesting applications in other fields.
Parent
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:4, Funny)
What about oil, or grease or sticky substances in general?
The porn industry is dying to know.
Parent
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:4, Informative)
if its anything like other coatings, certain things like oils will get on it and you'll never get them out.
Parent
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:4, Informative)
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"
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
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: (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:4, Informative)
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 [cameronsbritishfoods.com]? As I say, "If you ain't got sauce all up in your eyebrows, you ain't doing it right."
Parent
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Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:5, Funny)
Give it to Mike Rowe.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
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Because of course there are no liquids other than water. Except troll spittle.
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:5, Insightful)
Cold weather gear would be trickier; but I suspect that the same basic mixed strategy approach would work.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Bit like Gore-Tex, you mean?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gore_Tex [wikipedia.org]
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:5, Insightful)
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.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
But it also means, all your sweat stays INSIDE... BAD idea...
It can't be as bad being completely painted gold [snopes.com]. :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: (Score:3, Informative)
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: (Score:3, Insightful)
Liquid water and water vapor isn't the same thing.
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Parent
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:4, Insightful)
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.
Parent
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:4, Informative)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
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? (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Is this a good idea? (Score:5, Informative)
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.
Parent
funny but. (Score:5, Interesting)
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. (Score:4, Insightful)
Parent
Beware! (Score:2)
In reference to this article I would like to direct readers to the movie "The man in the white suit" [wikipedia.org] to learn more about the dangers of creating nanotech clothing.
would make good table cloth (Score:4, Interesting)
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: (Score:3, Informative)
More use than clothing. (Score:5, Insightful)
This stuff would be great under roofing tiles/shingles. This has FAR more uses than clothing.
Practical applications (Score:5, Interesting)
There are many important places where we can use it, besides gain an edge on competitive sports (yeah, I know, money talks).
Swimwear? Seriously? (Score:5, Interesting)
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...
I know right? (Score:3, Interesting)
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 secon
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
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? (Score:5, Funny)
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?
When it's underwater does it get wet? (Score:5, Funny)
Does the water get it instead?
Nobody knows.
Particle Man.
old news. but cool! (Score:5, Informative)
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 [youtube.com]
Re:Welcome! (Score:5, Funny)
Sounds like my wife, Ba-ZING!
Parent
Re:Welcome! (Score:5, Funny)
I, for one, welcome our new unwettable overlords!
It's going to make wet T-shirt competitions far less entertaining :(
Parent
Re:Welcome! (Score:5, Insightful)
Too bad for Bill that Monica's blue dress didn't have that coating. Oh wait, does it work on THAT substance too?
Parent
Great news for slashdotters (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Re:Welcome! (Score:5, Funny)
Shouldn't that be 'I, for one, welcome our new unwettable overcoats!' ?
Parent
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Re: (Score:3, Funny)
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: (Score:2)
And have the ejaculatory fluids do what, exactly? Swish around, just waiting to drip out?