As part of a laboratory-managed Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) effort, researchers from Seashell Technology, LLC (San Diego, California), and North Dakota State University (Fargo), successfully developed an ultrahydrophobic coating that can covalently attach to its substrate and provide corrosion prevention for military aircraft. The coating does not allow the underlying metal surface - in this case, aluminum alloy 2024 - to corrode. When it hits the coating, water beads into tight little spheres that simply roll off the surface. This key feature, which scientists first observed in ultrahydrophobic plants such as the lotus, is a result of incorporating surface roughness at the micro- and nanoscale levels.

Currently in Phase I of its research, the team successfully demonstrated that the coating can prevent corrosion on metal exposed to a saltwater spray for over 1,100 hours. The team's work also revealed that ultrahydrophobic coating samples exposed to 70°C conditions perform as efficiently as coating samples subjected to normal operating temperatures. In contrast, Seashell Technology researchers calculate that ultrahydrophobic technology cannot stop true freezing. However, they plan to test the coating's ability to reduce ice buildup on wing surfaces by inhibiting the presence of water droplets.

During their investigation, the STTR researchers also conducted experiments using the ultrahydrophobic coating on various types of paper and fabrics, ultimately producing a water-repellent cloth. This research shows great potential for the future development of ultrahydrophobic military uniforms. In addition to its potential to meet the needs of the Air Force and other military services, the technology could have significant use in the commercial sector for applications involving corrosion prevention and water repellency. (Maj J. Gresham, AFRL/AFOSR, (703) 696-7787)