Testing of Hydrophobic and Super-Hydrophobic Coatings

National Technical Systems (NTS)

Coatings provide critical asset protection in some of the harshest operating environments. With advanced coating materials being introduced at an ever greater pace, applied to everything from consumer products to medical and industrial electronics, the need to understand their performance qualities is essential.

Hydrophobic and Superhydrophobic coating is a nanoscopic surface layer that repels water. Droplets hitting this kind of coating can fully rebound in the shape of column or pancake. In industry, super-hydrophobic coatings are used in ultra-dry surface applications. The coating causes an almost imperceptibly thin layer of air to form on top of a surface. Super-hydrophobic coatings are also found in nature; they appear on plant leaves, such as the Lotus leaf, and some insect wings. Hydrophobic coatings such as the NeverWet product, can be sprayed onto objects to make them waterproof. The spray is anti-corrosive and anti-icing; has cleaning capabilities; and can be used to protect circuits and grids.