The US Navy informed that it is developing a new ship coating that will reduce fuel and energy costs. Namely, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is sponsoring work by Dr. Anish Tuteja, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Michigan, to create an omniphobic coating. This coating is clear and can be applied to numerous surfaces.
Specifically, omniphobic coating can repel almost any liquid and can reduce friction drag. This is the resistance created by the movement of a hull through water. This could save fuel and reduce energy costs, as the ship doesn’t have to fight as much water resistance while maintaining speed.
Dr. Ki-Han Kim, a program officer in ONR’s Sea Warfare and Weapons Department, stated:
A significant percentage of a ship’s fuel consumption [up to 80 percent at lower speeds and 40-50 percent at higher speeds] goes toward maintaining its speed and overcoming friction drag. If we could find a way to drastically reduce friction drag, vessels would consume less fuel or battery power, and enjoy a greater range of operations.
The coating can be sprayed, brushed, dipped or spin-coated onto numerous surfaces, and it binds tightly. The coating can also resist scratching, denting and other hazards of daily use.
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Dr. Tuteja’s team is now carrying out further tests on the omniphobic coating, and they plan to have it ready for small-scale military and civilian use within the next two years.
You can see a demonstration of how the coating works in the following video