Devices in the future may be smudge-free thanks to candle soot and some German ingenuity
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Researchers in Germany have come up with a coating that that repels oils, leading to a smudge-free surface. Best of all, the process is simple and inexpensive.
The researchers from Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, came up with the processes by holding a glass slide over a candle until a deposit of soot was left on the surface. They then coated the soot in a silica shell and heated the glass up to 600 ºC, which causes the black soot to become transparent.
Once the process was complete, they sprayed various oils onto the slide to test the effects of the treatment. What they found was, the oils droplets bounced up and down on the surface.
In addition to glass, the coating also works on aluminum, steel, and copper. The versatility, simplicity, and practicality of the solution makes the idea of smudge-free smartphones, tablets, and laptops a realistic possibility.
source: Technology Review via Engadget
The researchers from Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, came up with the processes by holding a glass slide over a candle until a deposit of soot was left on the surface. They then coated the soot in a silica shell and heated the glass up to 600 ºC, which causes the black soot to become transparent.
Once the process was complete, they sprayed various oils onto the slide to test the effects of the treatment. What they found was, the oils droplets bounced up and down on the surface.
In addition to glass, the coating also works on aluminum, steel, and copper. The versatility, simplicity, and practicality of the solution makes the idea of smudge-free smartphones, tablets, and laptops a realistic possibility.
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Droplet bouncing off of a coated surface |
source: Technology Review via Engadget
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11 Comments
1. vantenkiest posted on 05 Dec 2011, 18:26 4 0
I used to do that for glass blowing when i was like 15
it works
4. remixfa posted on 05 Dec 2011, 19:01 8 5
that sounds like fun. Maybe I'll take a class when i have more free time. :0)
6. ledbetterp3 posted on 06 Dec 2011, 01:16 3 0
Ikr, I think people do it because they are haters and have nothing better to do, don't worry, I thumbed you up remixfa lol.
9. rendHELL posted on 06 Dec 2011, 08:55 1 1
agreed....
8. rendHELL posted on 06 Dec 2011, 08:55 1 1
i thumb you up too but... dont you have to review remix??
10. robinrisk posted on 06 Dec 2011, 09:24 2 0
well, since taco has like 5 accounts now, he might have thumbed down 5 times.
7. Forsaken77 posted on 06 Dec 2011, 01:25 0 0
Cool... so now after I use the phone I can play a mini-game with the oil on the screen all beaded up, lol.
