Metal materials now have the potential to be water-repellent thanks to new laser technology developed by scientists at the University of Rochester, new research describes.
Water-repellent, or super-hydrophobic, materials have many potential implications, such as rust prevention, anti-icing, or even in sanitation uses.
Most current hydrophobic materials rely on chemical coatings, but in this new study researchers developed a powerful and precise laser-patterning technique that creates an intricate pattern of micro- and nanoscale structures, giving the metals their water-resistant properties.
"The structures created by our laser on the metals are intrinsically part of the material surface," lead researcher Chunlei Guo added in a statement - meaning it won't rub off.
"The material is so strongly water-repellent, the water actually gets bounced off. Then it lands on the surface again, gets bounced off again, and then it will just roll off from the surface," he explained further.
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