Superhydrophobic surfaces are found on duck feathers and lotus leaves that repels water. A Chinese group, led by Junqi Sun, from Jilin University has achieved the same superhydrophobicity. The surface heals itself. If the surface gets nicked, it allows water from the air to cause the molecules to fill back in and bring back the hydrophobicity of the exposed surface.
Currently, flame-retardant fabric coatings that are found in children’s pajamas or fabrics on furniture can wash away overtime. Sun’s group took a flame retardant and put it in between the waterproof coating and cotton. The group tested the coating by placing a flame at the bottom of a 30 cm long strip of fabric for 12 seconds. They found that untreated cotton burned in 14 seconds while the treated on didn’t burn more than 4 cm before the flame extinguished itself.
Sun intends the coating for use in military coatings or any fabrics that has to withstand harsh conditions. More tests are currently being done.
For more information see ACS.org.