Spray on liquid glass is on the way
Researchers have announced a new spray on liquid glass, which they claim is transparent, non-toxic and that can protect a wide range of surfaces from water, radiation, dirt and bacteria.
The coating is said to be flexible and breathable which makes it suitable for use in almost unlimited applications.
According to patent holder Nanopool, the liquid glass spray consists of silicon dioxide extracted from quartz sand, into which water or ethanol is added, depending on the type of surface to be coated. The spray (SiO2 ultra-thin layering) has no additives and the nano-scale glass coating bonds to the surface due to the quantum forces involved. The manufacturers claim that it has a long lasting antibacterial effect due to the fact that it is difficult for the microbes landing on the surface to divide or replicate.
Because the coating is non-toxic and easy to clean, potential applications are enormous. Nanopool is currently in discussions with a number of companies, including the National Health Service and so far trials have been carried in processing and hotel chains. Users claimed that sterile surfaces which normally require strong bleach, needed only a hot water rinse if they were coated with the spray.
The spray produces a water resistant coating of around 100nanometers thick and is available in both water based and alcohol based solutions. According to Nanopool, it will be available in diy stores in Britain soon, rolling out at around £5. However, some supermarkets could be reluctant to stock the spray as it could potentially make other cleaning products redundant.
