Bugs - self-cleaning wings?

Brousing today's science news turned up a bit of research on the
self-cleaning properties of titanium dioxide - a pigment used in
'superwhite' paints.

From a Science Daily story on self-cleaning bathrooms:

"The particles work by absorbing ultraviolet light below a certain
wavelength, exciting electrons and giving the particles an oxidising quality
stronger than any commercial bleach."
"These nanoparticles then kill microbes and break down organic compounds.
And because surfaces coated with titanium dioxide have another property
called 'superhydrophilicity' -- meaning droplets do not form -- water runs
straight off the surface, washing as it goes."

Now, highly oxidizing properties doesn't sound to great when applied
directly to epoxy/carbon structure but it might be possible to build up
layers that would get the bug cleaning properties of titanium dioxide on the
surface and still protect the underlying structure.

Just thinking outside the box.

Bill Daniels

Yeah, but what if you lean up against your glider and it starts dissolving
your butt?

just thinking inside the box,

bumper

"Bill Daniels" bildan@comcast-dot-net wrote in message
news
Brousing today's science news turned up a bit of research on the
self-cleaning properties of titanium dioxide - a pigment used in
'superwhite' paints.

From a Science Daily story on self-cleaning bathrooms:

"The particles work by absorbing ultraviolet light below a certain
wavelength, exciting electrons and giving the particles an oxidising
quality stronger than any commercial bleach."
"These nanoparticles then kill microbes and break down organic compounds.
And because surfaces coated with titanium dioxide have another property
called 'superhydrophilicity' -- meaning droplets do not form -- water runs
straight off the surface, washing as it goes."

Now, highly oxidizing properties doesn't sound to great when applied
directly to epoxy/carbon structure but it might be possible to build up
layers that would get the bug cleaning properties of titanium dioxide on
the surface and still protect the underlying structure.

Just thinking outside the box.

Bill Daniels

bumper wrote:
Yeah, but what if you lean up against your glider and it starts dissolving
your butt?

just thinking inside the box,
bumper

Based on many of the pilots I've seen, I would say this could be a good
thing. Maybe the the seat belt should be coated with this too.

Chris

As long as it isn't a 5 point harness....

Craig

....kill microbes.... break down organic compounds.
..... droplets do not form -- water runs
straight off the surface, washing as it goes."

Perfect for us geezers..... I'd *INSTALL* a fifth belt and cancel the
half a Viagra pill per day... just enough not to pee on my shoes....
I'll have a self cleaning weenie....

From OSHA:

Acute exposu "The signs and symptoms of acute exposure to titanium
dioxide include physical irritation of the skin and eyes, with redness and
swelling."

Seems to me that all you'll get is jock-itch in a place that, for some
geezers, is hard to reach.


Ray Warshaw


wrote in message
oups.com...
...kill microbes.... break down organic compounds.
.... droplets do not form -- water runs
straight off the surface, washing as it goes."

Perfect for us geezers.....