Glossy Color Coatings for Buildings and Planes Made Possible

Topic: Materials Science

Scientists at Kobe University have developed a new way to create glossy color coatings that don't fade. These coatings can be applied to large 3D surfaces, like buildings or planes, and are made from non-toxic materials.

A team of scientists led by Hiroshi Sugimoto at Kobe University in Japan has created a new type of color coating that is both glossy and long-lasting.

Conventional color coatings rely on thick layers of pigment that can fade over time. They also add weight to the surface they are applied to. Structural color, like the colors found in peacocks' feathers, doesn't fade but requires precise alignment and changes color depending on the viewing angle. Sugimoto's team has been working on a new approach using silicon nanospheres.

Silicon nanospheres create angle-independent coloration, meaning the color stays the same no matter how you look at it. However, so far, these coatings have lacked luster. To solve this problem, Sugimoto's team packed the nanospheres in silica shells, which protects them and controls their spacing. This makes the color glossy.

In a recent paper published in the journal Small Structures, the team demonstrated that their coating can be applied to large 3D surfaces and is both glossy and non-iridescent. They also showed that adding a protective coating doesn't change the color. The coatings are extremely light, weighing only a few hundred grams per square meter.

This technology has many potential applications, including reducing the weight of plane coatings by several hundred kilograms. The materials used to make these coatings are non-toxic and can be sourced from the semiconductor industry.

Why It Matters

This breakthrough in color coating technology could lead to lighter, more durable buildings and planes, which is especially important for India's growing infrastructure needs.

Key Facts

• Scientists at Kobe University have developed a new type of glossy color coating that doesn't fade.
• The coatings are made from non-toxic materials and can be applied to large 3D surfaces.
• The technology has the potential to reduce the weight of plane coatings by several hundred kilograms.
• The coatings are extremely light, weighing only a few hundred grams per square meter.
• The materials used to make these coatings can be sourced from the semiconductor industry.

Key Terms

Silicon nanospheres

Tiny spheres made of silicon that create angle-independent coloration

Structural color

Colors created by the arrangement of tiny structures, like the colors found in peacocks' feathers

Implications

This breakthrough in color coating technology could lead to lighter, more durable buildings and planes, which is especially important for India's growing infrastructure needs.