News Chemistry

Blueprint to repel oil and water

The texture of surfaces could be designed so that both water and oil can bead up and thus flow off

By Sid Perkins

- More than 2 years ago

A new set of design criteria could enable engineers to invent and manufacture surfaces that can repel almost all liquids, even oily fluids long noted for their ability to foul water-repellent surfaces.

TOTALLY PHOBIC This mat is coated with a fluorinated polymer and acts like a bed of nails that can support droplets not only of water (dyed blue), but also of oil (hexadecane, dyed red).