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               Scraping Ice From Windshields May Become Obsolete

   by George Putic

   Scientists at the University of Michigan say they may have found the
   solution to one of the most hated winter-time chores - scraping ice
   from car windshields. Not only that. De-icing of airplanes' wings and
   fuselage may become the thing of the past.
   Taking a different approach in the quest for an efficient and durable
   ice repellent, researchers discovered that it is much harder for ice
   crystals to stick to a rubbery coating than to a rigid surface such as
   a car windshield.
   Due to a phenomenon called `interfacial cavitation,' only a small
   amount of force, even the force of gravity, can break ice off a surface
   treated with rubbery compound.
   The new coating proved able to withstand hundreds of freeze-thaw
   cycles. Even more importantly, scientists were able to fine-tune it for
   different types of surfaces.
   The first practical application may come within a year, initially in
   large industrial-size freezers where workers have a lot of trouble
   separating frozen food packages. Cars and airplanes, the team says,
   will come next.

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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/scraping-of-windshields-may-become-ob
   solete/3236068.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/scraping-of-windshields-may-become-obsolete/3236068.html