Search NASA⌕ Search

DOE OSTI · 1985029

Durable Super-Repellant Materials for Stretchable and Flexible Personal Protective Equipment

Abstract

The goal of this report is to summarize findings from development of new flexible protective coatings with superhydrophobic properties. For many practical applications, the durability of such coatings must far exceed what it currently possible. We aimed to develop coatings that can be integrated into personal protective equipment to provide an additional barrier that can shed and reduce the spread of infectious liquids. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the importance of PPE for frontline healthcare workers. Developing durable protective coatings could have both immediate impacts during the pandemic and long-term benefits in multiple industries.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Larimer, Curtis J., Addleman, Raymond Shane, Chouyyok, Wilaiwan, Pennell, Samuel M.. 2022-03-01. Durable Super-Repellant Materials for Stretchable and Flexible Personal Protective Equipment. https://doi.org/10.2172/1985029

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related reports

Cyclic moisture reactivation of calcium sorbents for long duration thermochemical energy storage

The transition to a flexible and reliable energy infrastructure, using electro-thermal energy generation technologies such as geothermal, concentrated solar power, and nuclear, usually demands simultaneous advancement of thermal energy storage (TES) to support on-demand electricity generation and industrial applications while mitigating the inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources and power outages from direct energy generation. Among TES technologies, thermochemical energy storage (TCES) based on calcium looping emerges as a compelling high-power energy storage candidate due to its high reaction enthalpy, compatibility with elevated operating temperatures, and abundance of low-cost materials. However, the long-term durability of calcium-based sorbents for TCES is hindered by surface sintering and particle aggregation, leading to performance degradation over repeated thermal cycles. This study explores a moisture hydration-based strategy to regenerate a degraded calcium sorbent and mitigate performance degradation for long duration TCES. The addition of moisture transforms calcium oxide into calcium hydroxide and produces intercalation water layers, associated with a regenerated surface area and reduced calcium oxide crystallite size. Both these effects are beneficial in restoring the sorbents' reactivity for carbonization. Additionally, an optimized hydration-assisted reactivation protocol balances the recovered energy storage capacity with heating penalty required for moisture removal from hydrated samples, resulting in an enhanced energy storage capacity up to 176% compared to benchmark sorbents that undergo cycling without reactivation after 60 cycles. In conclusion, these results highlight the potential of hydration-assisted reactivation to enhance the long-term performance of TCES, providing an effective pathway to advancing electro-thermal storage technologies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗