A science exhibit created by scientists from Nottingham Trent University is due to travel to Mumbai, India for an international exhibition.  Physicists from the university’s School of Science and Technology have been invited to present their work at Techfest 2010, where their exhibit – entitled ‘Natures Raincoats’ - demonstrates the ways in which they are working to create super water repellent surfaces similar to those found in nature. 

Described as ‘Asia’s largest technology extravaganza’ Techfest celebrates science and technology from a across the globe with the intention of making it more easily accessible to the masses.  The invitation for Nature’s Raincoats to display at this year’s event follows its appearance in 2009 at the prestigious Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in London.

Professor Glen McHale, Dr Mike Newton and Dr Neil Shirtcliffe from the University’s School of Science and Technology, created the ‘Nature’s Raincoats’ exhibit in collaboration with theoretical physicists Professor Julia Yeomans and her research group from the University of Oxford.  Together, their aim is to better understand the ways in which nature has evolved and adapted to interact with water, and in doing so, consider ways in which these adaptations can be recreated artificially.

Much of the team’s work is focussed on the creation of superhydrophobic surfaces – surfaces that are extremely water repellent. By observing natural phenomena such as leaves, butterfly wings, diving beetles and water spiders, they have been able to use mathematics, experiments and computer simulations to better understand nature’s own unique technologies. The team has then been able to devise various ways of creating man made materials with the same properties.

The Nature’s Raincoats exhibit incorporates live demonstrations and experiments that demonstrate the principles behind the scientist’s work.

Professor McHale and his colleagues explain how by coating surfaces with a microscopic ‘bed of nails’, materials and their interaction with water can be compared to theoretical predictions. The ‘nails’ in question are just one-to-ten millionths of a metre in diameter and give the materials remarkable superhydrophobic properties.

These and other processes have the potential for a wide and varied range of applications, from the development of self-cleaning and waterproof fabrics, to materials that would allow ships to move faster through water.

Professor McHale, said: “Our work deals with the fascinating and challenging opportunities posed to us by the hidden details of nature. We’re all really pleased that we’ve been asked to take Nature’s Raincoats to Techfest 2010.”

You can learn more about the work and science behind the exhibition at the Nature’s Raincoats website – www.naturesraincoats.com

For more information, visit: www.ntu.ac.uk