Lotus Leaf Coatings: Technology Overview

The following brief descriptions are meant to introduce you to the possibilities for applying Lotus Leaf Coatings to
your products. Each formulation combines elements of these technologies customized for your application(s). Please
contact Mark Walztoni for more information at +(505) 603-5810 or at [email protected]

Durable Polymer/Aerogel Based Superhydrophobic Coatings; A Composite Material

Background

Aerogels are unique solids with up to 99% porosity. Such large porosities impart a number of useful properties to
aerogels, including high surface area, low refractive index, low dielectric constant, low thermal-loss coefficient, and
low sound velocity. However, the potential of aerogels has not generally been realized because conventional
supercritical aerogel processing is energy intensive and conventional aerogels lack durability. Furthermore, most
superhydrophobic coatings contain fluorine, which can be environmentally unfriendly and may not be cost effective to
manufacture. Thus, there is a need to overcome the limitations in producing durable and inexpensive
superhydrophobic aerogel coatings.

Technology

The coating consists of two materials: amorphous silica and a custom engineered polymer. Careful processing of the
material system produces a highly advanced nanocomposite coating. The coating can be applied to any type of
surface regardless of shape, size or composition by spin-coating, ink-jet printing, blade-casting, dip-coating, and
aerosol spraying. Abrasion resistance testing shows that the water contact angle of the thin film is reduced only by
10º to 20º in the worst cases, demonstrating the enhanced durability of the material. This means that the coating
does not need to be reapplied very often.

Applications/Advantages

Benefits of this material system include the durability and the optical clarity of the coating, which can be uncommon
for most superhydrophobic materials. The coating is transparent and requires only a very thin film (Less than 150
nanometers) to exhibit its exemplary properties. It stands out from other types of superhydrophobic materials
because it can be made inexpensively without complicated processing and applied to nearly any surface.
Applications for this invention would include self-cleaning surfaces, non-fogging displays, anti-icing, insulation for
mechanically abusive applications, sustainable corrosion protection, water collection in harsh environments and other
potential applications.

A Superhydrophobic Aerogel That Does Not Require Per-Fluoro Compounds or Contains Fluorine

Background

Among other things, the staggering costs stemming from corrosion of steel infrastructure, demonstrates a
tremendous need to develop multifunctional coatings that can outperform traditional coatings. In recent years many
different approaches have been tested for achieving corrosion resistant materials. Today’s most common two-layer-
coating method can include a hydrophobic bottom layer and a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic top layer used to
prevent water and/or salt ions from penetrating through the surface. However, most superhydrophobic coatings
contain fluorine, which can be environmentally unfriendly and may not be cost effective to manufacture. Thus, there is
a need to overcome these and other problems by providing a robust and inexpensive superhydrophobic coating that
does not contain fluorine.

Technology

This invention is a method to produce a superhydrophobic/ultrahydrophobic material that does not contain per-fluoro
compounds or fluorine. Like similar sol-gel based coatings that are water repellant, this material is prepared in a way
similar to film Aerogels; however, the surface chemistry responsible for the inherent material roughness and super
water repellency is comprised differently. This attribute makes the material less costly to produce and renders it safe
for biological applications. Also, by not utilizing fluoro-alkyl silanes and similar fluorinated reagents for its
manufacture, the material can be considered very environmentally friendly. Lastly, this material has the ability to be

Contact: Mark Walztoni Chief Business Development Officer [email protected] +(505) 603-5810 Page 1
 Lotus Leaf Coatings: Technology Overview
applied using a variety of methods such as aerosol spraying, dip-coating, spin-coating, or blade casting and it can be
produced consistently with extremely low refractive indices as well as optical clarity.

Advantages and Applications

 Cost Effective
 Environmentally Friendly
 Safe for Biological Applications
 Does not contain per-fluoro compounds or fluorine
 Water Repellency
 Corrosion Prevention/Surface Protection
 Anti-Microbial Coatings
 Anti-icing
 Fabric Protection from Liquids and Stains
 Defogging of Display Panels and Lenses
 Drag Reduction and Anti-Fouling Properties in Marine Environments

Preparation of Hydrophobic Coatings

Background

Nature makes use of hydrophilic/hydrophobic coatings in very unique and effective manners. Take for example the
Lotus flower that grows in muddy/murky waters yet emerges and remains remarkably clean. The leaves of the Lotus,
as well as many other flowers, seem to cause water to bead up and roll off, taking any contaminants or parasites
along with it. It is now recognized that the fascinating fluid behaviors observed for the Lotus plant arise from a
combination of the low interfacial energy and rough surface topography of waxy deposits covering their leaves.

If there was a way to harness this capability within certain fields the implications could be profound. For instance
properly placed hydrophilic/hydrophobic regions would allow for the collection and directed control of rolling droplets.
This control would give the ability to create container-less, surface tension confined fluidic devices that are non-
fouling, easy to clean, and allow transport of highly concentrated fluids with no loss to the walls. The ability to control
collection and flow allows for the coalescence/mixing of droplets, which provide an ability to perform highly controlled
reactions upstream of fluidic analysis.

Technology

This technology describes a method for making a coating, particularly a hydrophobic coating. This coating mimics the
self-cleaning properties of a lotus leaf and reproduces the “lotus effect.” The coating will cause water droplets to bead
up. At very shallow angles of inclination or with the slightest wind, water droplets actually roll rather than flow, a
property known as super-hydrophobicty. This method of coating will enable water droplets to entrain particle
contaminants and parasites, thereby cleaning them from the surface. It is now recognized that these fluid behaviors
(rolling and bouncing of liquid droplets and self-cleaning of particle contaminants) arise from a combination of the low
interfacial energy and rough surface topography of waxy deposits covering the surface.

Applications/Advantages

 Coating of pipe interiors to enhance fluid flows and allow fluid velocities to remain constant
 Coatings can be used to surface treat stones, works of art, or objects that can deteriorate due to
environmental factors
 Ship hull lining and propellers
 Coating of swimming apparels to reduce drag in water movement
 These coatings can be used to coat the inside of pipes resulting in a phenomenon that appears to break
boundary condition rules governing fluid flow. The interface between the pipe, which has been coated with a
super-hydrophobic, and the flowing fluid, exhibits a frictionless effect which causes the water to roll at the
interface, instead of the traditional “no-slip” conditions, allowing fluid velocities to remain constant
throughout. Millimeter slip-lengths have been measured in macro-scale tubing that suggest a two to three
order of magnitude reduction in the pressure/energy required to pump water in micro-fluidic channels.

Contact: Mark Walztoni Chief Business Development Officer [email protected] +(505) 603-5810 Page 2