Would a coating of this stuff make good anti fouling?

[Anders_P42]

Would this nano technology make the perfect anti fouling? It repels water so well the marine life would never touch the hull?

Nissan are testing it as a paintwork treatment for self a cleaning car:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...Nissan-develops-worlds-SELF-CLEANING-car.html

Impressive stuff.

Anders

 

[targa31]

The reduction in drag could be a game changer on engine power requirements?

 

[newWave]

I believe it needs air now and again in order to keep it's hydrophobic properties, so no ga as an anti foul.

 

[Whitelighter]

Surely it would have a value as a coating for covers or applied to the hull/topsides after cust and polish to keep salt water etc off

 

[Murv]

I believe it needs air now and again in order to keep it's hydrophobic properties, so no ga as an anti foul.

I think that's right, it traps a layer of air to make it effective so no use under the waterline as far as I understand it.
I wonder how far away a similar product is that would be suitable though?

 

[wipe_out]

You never know the boat may just lay on the top of the water on it's side if it's hydrophobic..

 

[Anders_P42]

A coating for my glasses would be handy.

 

[Marine Reflections]

I have been following the development of Super hydrophobic coatings (anything with a contact angle above 150º) for nearly ten years now.

Try buying some!

The first company I approached was in the states - Ross industries, who were developing 'Never Wet' that claimed a contact angle of 165º.

I got very excited at being the first in the country to offer a Super hydrophobic application for surfaces.

After many years of "it's almost available" the mickey mouse version Ultra ever dry was introduced. The contact angle is close, but It has no real durability and therefore completely useless.

I do wonder if an industry killer such as Never Wet would have even been allowed onto the market. The applications are endless, circuit boards, props, overhead electric cables etc.

I can't help but think that this would have been a punch in the stomach for far too many big players in the protection industry.