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ramé-hart instrument co.
December 2013 Newsletter |
| Self Cleaning Army Fatigues |
|
In recent months we've taken a closer look
at a variety of tools and technologies that have been developed for and
are
being used to make surfaces hydrophobic. (e.g.,
Sep 2013, Hydrobead vs. NeverWet,
Aug 2013, my Puma Clyde sneakers made superhydrophobic with
NeverWet;
Feb 2013, how to build a superhydrophobic surface;
Jan 2013, LiquiGlide and ketchup). Of all of the potential
applications for superhydrophobic surface treatments, one of the most
challenging and useful is making clothes self-cleaning. And perhaps nowhere would self-cleaning clothes be more of a boon than in the
military. Soldiers, who can get really dirty in the field, are often
deployed to remote locations and can go days or weeks between trips to a
washing machine.
Scientist Quoc Truong at the Army's Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) with the assistance of a ramé-hart goniometer has developed over the past five years a superomniphobic coating for army fatigues.1 Treated uniforms will repel dirt, dust, water, oil, and liquids of all types. Dr. Truong has developed this coating technology, which employs both micro- and nano-level surface modifications, in cooperation with researchers at MIT and Luna Innovations (both are also ramé-hart customers). These researchers have used contact
angle, roll-off angle, contact angle hysteresis, and a variety of other
tests to quantify the effectiveness of the treated fabric surfaces.
Future developments of this coating include the addition of
antimicrobial agents to keep fungus, mold, and other undesirable
microorganisms from growing. Additional agents may be used to improve flame
resistance and reduce odor. It's projected that this technology will be
deployed by the US Army in large scale in the next five years. We will
keep you posted. |
| ramé-hart in India |
|
For many years ramé-hart instrument co. has had a solid
presence in India. Our presence there, however, has greatly expanded
over the past eight years during which time we have worked closely with Labline Scientific Instruments, our exclusive agent in the region.
This month we were fortunate to host
the visit of Labline representative Vijay Joshi who traveled from Mumbai
to our New Jersey headquarters to receive product training and updates.
Mr. Joshi is responsible for the successful sale and installation of
nearly two dozen ramé-hart instruments throughout India. His polished
customer services skills, technical expertise, knowledge of the local
market, and unflinching dedication to excellence make him a perfect fit
for working with ramé-hart. We look forward to many more years of
working in mutual cooperation with Labline and Mr. Joshi in India. |
| Wetting of Real Surfaces |
|
Our associate, Professor Edward Bormashenko, at Ariel University in Israel, has recently published a new
book, Wetting of Real Surfaces, which explores the nature of
superhydrophobic, superoleophobic, and superhydrophilic surfaces. Topics
also include wetting models using Young, Wenzel, and Cassie-Baxter
equations, roughness, contact angle hysteresis, as well as novel methods
for describing wetting behavior. For more details, see
the brochure here (http://tinyurl.com/m5fhy4k). |
| Happy Holidays |
|
Thank you for your business in 2013 and we
look forward to working with you in 2014, our 53rd year of continuous
operation. All of us here at ramé-hart instrument co. wish you and yours
a safe and pleasant holiday season and a superhydrophic New Year. |
|
Regards,
Carl Clegg |
