Bounce - ballistic ballet of water balloons taiis

The lotus effect taken to the extreme - droplets bounce on a nanostructured surface in a ballistic ballet of water balloons. The surface is coated with a hydrophobic ultrathin layer. The surface is now super-hydrophobic. Nothing can touch it. Contact: R. T. Rajendra Kumar, rak@mic.dtu.dk. Music: taiis.mymusic.dk

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• nanotechnology
• superhydrophobic
• selfcleaning
• lotus
• effect
• tension
• ballet

[NanoClips]

thanks... !... we are now trying to calculate what will be the perfect shape of the small towers on the surface that gives this effect... so maybe we can come up with something more insane... or even better, something more useful :)

[Lozzlepoppleful]

erm...i dont get any of the scientific stuff :/ but it looks awesome

o

[NanoClips]

@Lozzlepoppleful .... the scientific stuff is this: the surface is covered with tiny posts or towers, like the chin of a man who has not shaved for 1.5 day :)... when the droplet hits the "hairy" part of the surface, they air trapped between the hairs, make it difficult to touch the "skin"... they bounce off the air between the hair, so to speak. We have then made "special" hairs... which have like a small pellet or ball at the end (like a lollipop)... this makes the bouncing much stronger....

[12popcorn12]

fake

[NanoClips]

Actually, you can do this experiment yourself. Let droplets fall on a teflon pan, and you will see the droplets bounce - not as nicely as here (we use a more hydrophobic surface), but they will bounce. You have to look reaaaaally closely, and of course: you will see it at normal speed.

[terrasidius]

amazing

[Elvarks]

So that's how they made that on the National Geographic HD channel

[johnesco]

just as a contrary note: I doubt it's fake.

[djnick21]

Look up super hydrophobic solids. Maybe do some research before you post so as not to make yourself look like a cretin.

[NanoClips]

its a nanopin film, where the pins have been treated with a teflon like (very very thin) coating.

[NanoClips]

thank you - we take that as a compliment. Yes, it does look amazing :)