Scientists Develop New Invisible Waterproof Coating
By Martin Halfpenny, PA News
Scientists have developed an invisible coating that will waterproof almost anything including mobile phones, it was revealed today.
The revolutionary nanometre-thick coating was first researched to protect soldiers’ suits against chemical and biological warfare agents by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down and the University of Durham.
The new invention, which is three times more water repellent than Teflon, could radically change sportswear, clothing, mobile phones and medical devices.
art from its military uses Dstl is now trying to capture the civilian market as it launches a joint venture with industry.
Dstl and investment fund Circus Capital Technology have united to create a new company called P2i Limited based at Porton Down, which will make and market the coating.
The coating is an invisible ultra-thin polymer coating where water beads up on a surface like mercury, protecting the material or device it has been applied to. It has very low surface energy of only one third that of Teflon.
Stephen Coulson, P2i’s technical director said: “Now we can coat even the most complex-shaped objects whatever they’re made of – practically any material including textiles, plastics, glass, metal and wood will benefit – and in the case of textiles, they retain their durability and breathability.
“We’ve developed a process that is simple to set up, has low power consumption and operating costs, uses very small amounts of chemicals and produces very little waste.” 