Self-Cleaning Surfaces

Self-Cleaning Surfaces

Self-cleaning materials have a great deal of attention lately, both in research and commercial applications because of their huge potential applications and benefits. The advantages range from reducing maintenance cost to protection from environmental pollution. The ultimate consequence in developing the self cleaning fabrics is that use of things like chemicals, energy, manpower and water can really be limited The examples include paints, glasses, ceramics, plastics, metal surfaces, tiles and textiles, etc. Already, the shirts, blouses, skirts and trousers have been developed which shrug off ketchup, mustard, red wine and coffee stains. Also, the tiles , glasses and paints are also in market.

To realize self-cleaning material surfaces two alternative principal ways have been applied: the development of super hydrophobic or the development of superhydrophilic surfaces. The lotus’s self cleaning effect stems from its surface being extremely hydrophobic. On superhydrophobic surface, a drop rolls across, picking up dirt and carrying it away, as the water and dirt have greater affinity for each other than either does for the surface. Interestingly, the exactly opposite phenomenon, superhydrophilicity has also come up to develop self-cleaning surfaces. For the preparation of these thin layers mainly photocatalytic active metal oxides or sulphides have been applied.

Nanotechnology is providing great impetus for synthesis of these materials by offering its technologies and strategies.  It could take about half a decade for the retail market for self-cleaning cloths and linens to launch as the technology developed so far still needs refining and tremendous research work is underway. It is anticipated that self-cleaning property will become standard feature of future textile and other commonly used materials to maintain hygiene and prevent the spreading of pathogenic infection.

Credits: Article Contributed by- Soumya Jain