Water repellents are currently an emerging trend today because of the substantial benefits they bring for industrial and personal use. Hydrophobic properties can be applied in virtually any type of surface. Products like NeverWet repel water by applying layers of two different types of solutions. It is commonly used to protect an item, or surface, from collecting dirt. In wet countries like Canada, we need a product like this to protect our shoes, bags, and other belongings, so we will not have to purchase a new one anytime soon.
To see a demonstration of its hydrophobic properties, click here. I purchased this product to test it
Superhydrophic Technology
Every household and food business uses condiments, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, and barbecue sauce. Most individuals have encountered that instance when they have to keep on shaking the bottle to get the very last bits left inside. As for the others, they simply it throw away and open a new bottle.
MIT specifically developed a new product, LiquiGlide, to address these types of problems. Unlike other brands, it is specifically made to handle food products, which means no harmful chemicals used. Varanasi, one of the founders of LiquiGlide, even claims that the formula is safe enough to be eaten. The product is meant to be applied in bottles and food containers. Moreover, the formula changes depending on the contents inside the bottle. Given that, they can actually control the flow of the liquid inside the container. Perhaps a great insight is to find out the optimal speed of each type of liquid when flowing inside the container.
Implications
Waterproofing, in general, is very beneficial for consumers. Investing a small sum to protect an expensive bag is both environmentally and financially justifiable. Prolonging the life of a product will mean less waste, and more savings.
On the other hand, LiquiGlide is currently working with large CPG companies, such as Heinz, to test its feasibility. They are gearing towards building a new industry standard in the future. Global food waste levels are rising at an increasing rate, capping at 1.3 Billion tonnes as of 2011. That translates to a few hundred billion dollars down the drain. Setting a new industry standard in the future will significantly aid in reducing food waste. Not only that, it makes recycling easier to manage simply because the bottles are free from leftover liquids.
Billions of dollars of product are thrown out each year because they get stuck in the packaging. Applying LiquiGlide’s technology to consumer packaging would eliminate this waste since 100% of the product would be able to evacuate from the package, making your product more ‘green’. See LiquiGlide in action
The future of hydrophobic surfaces
Entering other industries is the logical way to expand the business. Anything to do with liquids is a business opportunity. In fact, companies, like NeverWet and LiquiGlide, are in the process of entering other categories like cosmetics products (lotions), manufacturing, and aviation. As businesses head this direction in the future, this will become a significant contributor in reducing global waste.
Further Reading
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2014/01/16/liquiglide-will-likely-set-industry-standards/
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679878/mits-freaky-non-stick-coating-keeps-ketchup-flowing
http://www.liquiglide.com/green/
http://www.liquiglide.com/technology/
Hey Alvin, great post and I agree that this new hydrophobic technology is a game changer. I blogged about LiquiGlide a few weeks ago and I really see these kinds of products making a huge impact around the world. I think that one change that this innovation will bring to the world, besides the waste and cost savings, is a different mindset to consumers. Like you said, when people struggled to get the last bits of product out of the bottom of a bottle they never thought twice about opening a new package. But now that these products are out there, I think people will realize how much waste they were creating. People will realize how much more substance they can get from the same package, or how much longer they can use a tube of toothpaste before having to throw it out. We can never really see how much we waste because its hidden in a tube or bottle. But with products like LiquiGlide, now we can see it, experience it and feel it in our wallets. Hopefully that will create a society that is more aware of their actions and think twice before purchasing or throwing something away.