(09.01.2003)
Cutting-Edge Science Creates Stain-Free Pants
Wed Jul 23, 8:05 AM ET By Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -
Scientists are wrestling with individual atoms to develop molecule-sized
computers, tiny cancer-fighting robots that travel the bloodstream ... and
stain-resistant trousers.
Nanotechnology -- the science of manipulating materials billionths of a meter
(meter) wide -- has emerged as a promising new field that could lead to stunning
advances in years to come. Boosters claim that nanotech-derived products may
some day cure disease, slow the aging process and eliminate pollution.
But for now, the human race will have to settle for tennis balls that keep
their bounce longer, flat-panel displays that shine brighter and wrinkle-free
khaki slacks that resist coffee stains. "People are saying, 'Geez, this
isn't Star Trek yet; this is just pants that don't stain,' but you've got to
start somewhere," said Howard Lovy, news editor of the nanotech industry
journal Small Times. "I'm wearing nano-pants as we speak." Those
stain-resistant pants and bouncy tennis balls have their advantages, thanks to a
fundamental principle of small science: Different scales lead to different
results. Just as a silver necklace may sparkle against your skin but tiny silver
particles in your bloodstream will turn your skin blue, common substances like
sunscreen and rubber take on entirely different characteristics when assembled
at a molecular level.
Sunscreen makers have found that zinc oxide -- the dense white cream
lifeguards put on their noses -- turns transparent and silky when made from
smaller particles, which cover the skin more thoroughly and do not reflect
light. Procter and Gamble has added tiny zinc oxide particles to its Olay
Complete UV Protective Moisture Lotion, a product aimed at mall matrons rather
than beach bums. "It goes on really light and sheer and doesn't leave a
residue, so therefore people are much more apt to use it on a daily basis,"
said Maria Burquest, a Procter and Gamble product spokeswoman.
TENNIS BALLS, SKI WAX, CAMERAS Wilson's Double Core tennis balls claim to
retain their air pressure twice as long as normal tennis balls because of a
rubber core that uses tiny "nanoclay" particles to form an airtight
seal. On the ski slopes, VailSoft Corp.'s Cerax "racing polymers"
claim to provide greater speed and control than conventional ski waxes due to a
nanotech structure that holds up in a wide variety of snow conditions.
Eastman Kodak Co.'s EasyShare LS633 digital camera features a brighter, more
power-efficient display built from specially designed carbon-based molecules.
Such "OLED" displays should soon show up as television sets, computer
screens and eventually printed on flexible plastic sheets that can be woven into
clothing. Probably the most visible nanotech product to date are the stain- and
wrinkle-resistant slacks developed by Greensboro, North Carolina-based Nano-Tex
LLC and sold by Eddie Bauer, Lee Jeans and several other retailers. Billions of
tiny whiskers create a thin cushion of air above the cotton fabric, smoothing
out wrinkles and allowing liquids to bead up and roll off without a trace. The
whiskers are added by dipping cotton fabric in a proprietary chemical solution
before the fabric is cut, said Nano-Tex spokeswoman Dolores Sides. Because the
particles are so small, they easily penetrate the fabric and coat each cotton
thread completely without changing the way it looks or feels, she said. The
company has developed similar stain-resistant products for synthetic fibers and
upholstery.
One new product wraps synthetic fibers in an organic, cotton-like substance
to create a garment that combines the longevity of polyester with the
comfortable feel of natural fabric, she said. The "nano-care" pants
have sold well since they were first introduced in 2001, an Eddie Bauer
spokeswoman said, even though they cost $10 more than ordinary khakis. The
company now offers nano-care shirts as well, and plans to introduce
stain-resistant jackets in the fall, she said.
Note: Special thanks to Jim for
sending me this