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(Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Defense)
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have found a way to make ultrathin surface coatings robust enough to survive scratches and dings. The study found that the rapid evaporative qualities of a specialized polymer containing a network of dynamic bonds in its backbone help form a water-resistant, self-healing coating of nanoscale thickness. The new material, developed by merging thin-film and self-healing technologies, could be used in self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-fogging, anti-bacterial, anti-fouling, or enhanced heat exchange coatings.
