Its a hydrophobic coating. According to Ultra-tech, a Florida-based containment provider for chemical clean-up and waste management, its new Ultra-Ever Dry coating is an amazing product. The coating is "super-hydrophobic" and "oleophobic," meaning it repels almost any liquid on a wide range of materials, including – but not limited to – hammers to boots and gloves as you'll see in the following video demonstration.
The two part Ultra-Ever Dry system creates a near invisible barrier of air over surfaces on the nanoscale. These surfaces can range from refined oil, wet concrete, water, mud and other liquids. In industrial application Ultra-Dry could prove ideal for specific applications, like when you drop your hammer in mud, and then step in the mud in your boots, and reach into the mud with your work-gloves.
Water proofing products and barriers are not new but according to the manufacturer, Ultra-Ever Dry has improved adhesion and abrasion resistance compared to previous iterations. The supposed adhesion and abrasive resistance traits then allow for a more diverse range of uses. Other claims include anti-icing, anti-corrosive, anti-contamination and self-cleaning capabilities.
But according to the abrasion resistance notes Ultra-Ever Dry provides "more abrasion resistance than previous superhydrophobic materials." Registering a 110 on the Taber Abrasion Method (ASTM D4060-10) the manufacturer recommends testing of surfaces if abrasion is a concern.
The product can be applied with a spray gun and finishes up to a translucent white sheen. A single coating is reported to last anywhere from 2-8 months in direct sunlight and outdoor conditions before a top-coat re-coating is needed. Indoor and protected outdoor applications put longevity at approximately one year or more. From the underside of a Polar Bear to the backside of a New York taxi driver in August, Ultra-tech professes a working hot/cold range of -30°F to 300°F (-34°C to 149°C).
Can I use it on my SquareBob lunchbox? Maybe. In addition to the "do not breathe this" warning a rather toxic grocery list of chemicals makes up the ingredients, thus making the coating a less than ideal Peanut Butter & Jam option. However, according to Ultra-tech there are no known environmental concerns. The coating is stated to be safe for use in "nonfood" (i.e. not your lunchbox) contact areas of food processing plants and meets FDA and USDA regulations for those types of applications.
The Ultra-Ever Dry coating prices out at $53/quart (0.95 liters) for the bottom coating and $96/quart for the top.
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