Silica-based coating
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab have developed an alternative to polymer-based paint by creating a durable, reflective, and inexpensive replacement material out of glass. Glass paint is made of modified silica—one of the earth’s most abundant materials. By tweaking it, Jason J. Benkoski, Ph.D created potassium silicate—a material that, when sprayed on a surface, dries quickly and becomes both water-resistant and highly reflective.
The reflectivity of the paint allows the materials it is applied to resist excess heat gain and, by extension, corrosion, and degradation. The paint is designed to expand and contract with metal surfaces and, being an inorganic compound, last longer than its organic counterparts. Possible applications for the paint range from naval ships to playgrounds. This affordable material offers a more efficient and environmentally-conscious way to paint surfaces of all sizes.
Contact: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Baltimore, MD, USA.
