Nanotech gets rid of the fog

Oct. 20, 2005
A foggy mirror can slow your shaving, but a foggy windshield can ruin your whole day.

Two glass slides were placed in a freezer then brought out into humid air and positioned over a photo of a lotus. Slide one carries MIT's antifog coating. Slide two doesn't.


Neither might be a problem in the future if engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have their way. They've invented a nonfogging coating made of alternating layers of silica nanoparticles and a polymer called polyallyamine. The silica in the coating strongly attracts water, forcing water droplets to make smaller contact angles with the surface. This flattens the droplets, letting them merge into a transparent sheet rather than letting them form individual light-scattering spheres.

The same coatings can be engineered for better antireflective characteristics, reducing glare, and maximizing the amount of light passing through. This would be useful for greenhouses and solar panels. Currently, the coatings are more durable on glass than plastic, but the MIT team is optimizing the coatings for all surfaces.

Sponsored Recommendations

NEW Low Profile, Ultra Compact Power Supplies

March 13, 2024
Learn more HERE about Altech's Power supplies!

Altech's Liquid Tight Strain Relifs Catalog

March 13, 2024
With experienced Product Engineers and Customer Service personnel, Altech provides solutions to your most pressing application challenges. All with one thought in mind - to ensure...

Industrial Straight-Through Cable Gland

March 13, 2024
Learn more about Altech's cable glands and all they have to offer for your needs!

All-In-One DC-UPS Power Solutions

March 13, 2024
Introducing the All-In-One DC-UPS, a versatile solution combining multiple functionalities in a single device. Serving as a power supply, battery charger, battery care module,...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!