Scientists in Indiana have come up with an effective and efficient self cleaning material that acts as a state-of-the art oil stain remover. This self cleaning material can be used to coat various surfaces like plastic, glass and a range of other materials. With the coating in place, you would be able to simply wipe way the oil stains with water without using strong, environmentally-unfriendly detergents and solvents. Read more about Water and Wastewater Utilities of the World

This self cleaning material can also be added to common window cleaning sprays and to automobile windshields and other glass surfaces to prevent fogging. According to Jeffery Youngblood, PhD, lead researcher on the project the coating is so effective that the moment water is introduced to the surface the oil comes right off. Youngblood, further surmised that since the self cleaning material effectively eliminates the need for the use of detergents and solvents it is an extremely eco-friendly way of keeping kitchens and industrial machine shops clean, areas that have to contend with regular oil spills.

The self cleaning material has other applications as well and can be used in a myriad of industrial and consumer products. These include household cleaners; water filters that separate water and oil, easy to clean paints, sealants for floors that repel oil spills in auto repair shops and home garages. The anti fog properties of the self cleaning material can also be used in eyewear and windshields, from fog free scuba masks to every day lenses.

Water and Wastewater Utilities of the World

One of the primary advantages of using the self cleaning material would be the reduced dependency on detergents to clean oil spills in industrial and residential settings. These detergents are major contributors to the pollution of the earth’s water. Each year tons of phosphates and detergents are introduced to the water table through the use of household detergents. These in turn promote algae growth which depletes oxygen leading to the death of marine life and making the water unsafe for swimming. Youngblood added that the self cleaning material was so potent that it could also be used to reduce the amount of detergents used in laundering clothes.

According to Youngblood pure water in itself does not remove oil however when coupled with a coating of the self cleaning material it can act as a potent super detergent. The research team including Youngblood, spent years researching polymers that could be added to surfaces with the goal of repelling water.

The self cleaning material is comprised of a bottom layer of polyethylene glycol and an upper layer of a Teflon like material. These layers have opposing effects; while the bottom layer attracts water and the top Teflon like layer prevents the passage of oil. So, the final effect is the creation of a material that holds a film of water and repels oil. Currently, most research in the area of self cleaning material was channeled in the direction of using various surfaces to achieve the self cleaning effect however, Youngblood’s team’s findings have added a new dimension in the form of using additives or coating to get the self cleaning material effect.

After the introducing the self cleaning material the team is the now analyzing its applications when used with different types of metals and ceramics. The preliminary tests conducted by the team on anti fog coatings have been encouraging so far. The team is confident that they will soon be able to introduce the self cleaning material commercially.