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bean

bean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

AUG 29, 2005 07:42 PM

Researchers at MIT have uncovered the solution to fogged-up glass. A coating they developed combats the phenomenon that causes water particles to condense on the surface of glass.

The coating, a thin sandwich of transparent plastic and layers of silica particles too small to be seen with the naked eye, works by attracting water more strongly than the glass does. This flattens each of the water droplets, smearing them over the surface in a see-through layer.

"The coating basically causes water that hits the surfaces to develop a sustained sheeting effect, and that prevents fogging," said Michael Rubner, a materials scientist who led the research.



For more information, NPR has an interview with Rubner in which he explains exactly how the coating works.

Naturally, automakers have expressed interest, but the technology is still probably a couple of years away from being ready for mass production.

alpha_hazard

alpha_hazard

Fort Collins, CO
April 2004

AUG 30, 2005 09:02 AM

what were they using on anti-fog ski goggles four years ago then?

MisterSatan

MisterSatan

Portland, OR
August 2002

AUG 30, 2005 09:13 AM

alpha_hazard said:
what were they using on anti-fog ski goggles four years ago then?


Magic, duh.

rottenart

rottenart

Norman, OK
February 2004

AUG 30, 2005 09:14 AM

alpha_hazard said:
what were they using on anti-fog ski goggles four years ago then?



elf blood.

bean

bean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

AUG 30, 2005 09:23 AM

alpha_hazard said:
what were they using on anti-fog ski goggles four years ago then?


Other coatings exist, but wear off over time or have other drawbacks. I don't what they're using on goggles, or if there's something that works better on them because they're smaller or what. One of the cool things about this technology is that it will work on harsh applications like windshields.

Telltale

Telltale

USA
May 2004

AUG 30, 2005 10:13 AM

Fuck you, defog!

I'll have to smash my windshield in a couple years so I can get it with my insurance.

I mean, there will have to be a horrible break in my windshield done by someone else in a couple years... yeah... that's what I meant.

d20

d20

San Francisco, CA
September 2003

AUG 30, 2005 10:17 AM

still no cure for cancer.


/fark.

MetaTag

MetaTag

United Kingdom
September 2002

AUG 30, 2005 10:35 AM

alpha_hazard said:
what were they using on anti-fog ski goggles four years ago then?



Detergent is what they use, me thinks.

An old trick for your shaving mirror. Smear some soap on the glass, which will stop it steaming up. But you need to keep on applying soap every now and again.

A permenant coating would be cool.