DOE Announces Super Water Repellant Material

The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has announced the development of a material so good at repelling water, it displays what its inventor calls the "Moses effect."

According to ORNL, the easily-made material is capable of maintaining a microscopic layer of air around surfaces even when they are totally submerged in water. "What I developed is a glass powder coating material with remarkable properties that cause water-based solutions to bounce off virtually any coated surface," stated inventor John Simpson in a press release.

ORNL suggests that the patent-pending super waterproofing material could lead to the development of wide range of new or improved products, including windshields, eyewear, clothing, building materials, road surfaces, ship hulls and self-cleaning coatings.

"Staying dry in a rainstorm may only have a small personal value," Simpson added, "but reducing the energy required to transport products by boat or barge or extending the life of bridges or buildings would have a great value to society and individuals alike."

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a part of the vital system of national research laboratories operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, a Cabinet-level agency.

Also See:
Links to the National Labs
Future of War Think-Fest at Sandia Labs