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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 1 4 SURFACE ENGINEERING NEW SHIP COATING TRIMS FUEL COSTS The Office of Naval Research (ONR), Arlington, Va., is sponsoring work by Anish Tuteja, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Michigan, to develop a new type of omniphobic coating. The resulting chemical coating is clear, du- rable, applicable to numerous surfaces, and sheds just about any liquid. It may save the U.S. Navy millions of dollars in fuel costs, reduce the amount of energy that vessels consume, and improve op- erational efficiency. To engineer their coating, Tuteja and his team studied vast computer da- tabases of known chemical substances. They then entered complex mathe- matical equations, based on each sub- stance’s molecular properties, to pre- dict how any two would behave when blended. After analyzing hundreds of combinations, research- ers found the right mix. The rubberlike com- bo can be sprayed, brushed, dipped, or spin-coated onto nu- merous surfaces, and it binds tightly. The coat- ing also can withstand scratching, denting, and other common hazards. In addition, the way the molecules separate makes the coating opti- cally clear. Beyond reducing friction drag, Tuteja envisions other Navy uses for the new coating—includ- ing protecting equipment like sensors, radars, and antennas from weather. Tuteja’s team plans to have the new coating ready for small-scale military and civilian use within the next couple of years. onr.navy.mil. EARTHWORMS INSPIRE NEW BREATHING MATERIAL Earthworms are able to maintain cleanliness regardless of their dirty environments. This is made possible by a dirt repellent, lubricating layer, which repeatedly forms on their skin. Researchers at Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Germany, have now artifi- cially recreated this naturally occurring system. They developed a material with a surface structure that provides itself with lubricant whenever pressure is applied. Because the lubricated mate- rial reduces friction and prevents the growth of microbes, scientists envision numerous applications in industry and biomedicine. The scientists developed a materi- al made of soft plastic with droplets of silicone oil as a lubricant on the inside of the material. When pressure is ap- plied, the droplets change shape and migrate to the surface. The silicone oil then spreads evenly on the surface to form a water and dirt-repellent sliding layer. As pressure decreases, the drop- lets reform. In addition, this sliding lay- er can be removed and formed again and again with repeated application of pressure. The surface structure of the new material also plays an important role. The researchers emulated the rough skin surface of the earthworm to utilize the resulting adhesive properties when the lubricant forms. It is precisely this combination of rough surface and the lubricant droplets inside that differenti- ates the newmaterial. www.leibniz-inm. de/en. BRIEF Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., purchased a minority equity position in the parent of Trion Coatings LLC, South Bend, Ind., which is developing an environmentally friendly chrome plating technology. As part of its investment, Nucor is working with Trion Coatings to commercialize the technology and will construct a pilot facility at Nucor Fastener in St. Joe, Ind. nucor.com . Based on earthwormbiology, scientists developed a newmaterial that lubricates itself to keep clean whenever pressure is applied. The Office of Naval Research is sponsoring efforts to see how omniphobic coatings might reduce friction drag on ships, submarines, and unmanned underwater vessels. Courtesy of Robert Coelius.