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September 2022 |
| Superhydrophobic Antiviral Surfaces |
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During the pandemic, the importance of
developing and using personal protective equipment (PPE) that is
both hydrophobic (self-cleaning) and antiviral became more clearly
recognized.1 Researchers in England have recently
proposed a novel method for producing multitier hierarchical
structured surfaces that possess both these properties.2
The method employs creating self-assembled, multitier structured surfaces with antiviral and hydrophobic properties. And it relies on both a nanostructured surface design as well as surface-active chemical groups to dictate how the surface responds to virus particles within a drop of liquid. The method employs both microstructure and nanostructure topology to control how the surface coating interacts with molecules and its surroundings. This method outperforms single-tier functional structured surfaces in several ways, including the ability to overcome droplet-pinning effects. Moreover, the methodology provides a straightforward path to robust structured coatings that retain both hierarchical microstructure and nanostructure features and allow for the exploitation of surface-active functional groups. Another key feature is mechanical robustness which is often absent in novel surface designs. All of this is accomplished with low cost materials and a scalable spray application process that requires no specialized equipment. It's proposed that this novel method supports advances in biotechnology, materials engineering, and surface science research. Notes |
| Tech Tip |
| If you have a ramé-hart instrument Model 190 or higher that is less than 20 years old, it uses our standard Fiber Optic Bulb. See this page to order. The Fiber Optic Bulb is only rated for 40 hours of use. But that's if it's run at full intensity. Since our instruments only require reduced intensity, the bulb will typically last much longer. In fact, it's not uncommon to get several years out of a bulb. However, when the bulb goes out, you are dead in the water until it's replaced. We recommend keeping a couple of spare bulbs on hand for when that day comes. It's easy to replace the bulb and this video shows you how step-by-step. |
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Regards,
Carl Clegg |
