Scientists find way to make metal super-waterproof without chemical coating

Using lasers, scientists at the University of Rochester have been able to make metals water repellent, or super-hydrophobic, without having to use temporary coatings.

Super-hydrophobic materials that do not rely on chemical coatings are in high demand, as they can be used for sanitation purposes and to prevent rusting. Chunlei Guo and his colleague Anatoliy Vorobyev used a precise laser-patterning technique to give the metals their new properties. "The material is so strongly water-repellent, the water actually gets bounced off," Guo said in a statement. "Then it lands on the surface again, gets bounced off again, and then it will just roll off from the surface."

As the water bounces, it also picks up dust particles, and that makes Guo excited. Super-hydrophobic materials could have many uses in developing countries, where water is scarce — for instance, a latrine could remain clean by incorporating super-hydrophobic materials, making flushing unnecessary. Watch the video below to see how this all works. —Catherine Garcia

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