COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Ohio State University engineers are designing super-slick, water-repellent surfaces that mimic the texture of lotus leaves.
The engineers say the patent-pending technology could lead to self-cleaning glass, and could also reduce friction between the tiny moving parts inside micro devices.
Scientists have long known that the lotus, or water lily, makes a good model for a water-repellent surface, said Bharat Bhushan, the Howard D. Winbigler Professor of mechanical engineering at Ohio State.
The leaf is waxy and covered with tiny bumps, so water rolls off.
Bhushan said he realized that the same texture could be exploited to reduce friction between moving parts on machines. Small machines, such as those under development in the fields of micro- and nanotechnology, can't be lubricated by normal means, and would especially benefit from the technology.
"In general, what's good for water-repellency is good for fighting friction," Bhushan said.
He and his colleagues have built the first computer model that calculates the best bumpy surface for different materials and applications. With the right kind of texture, manufacturers could make self-cleaning windows.
