Chemistry makes life safer and easier…again!

This company is marketing what they call a “Super-Hydrophobic” compound. My interest is related to how this may repel ice on the Cessna. Ice is a serious concern for small piston aircraft operators like me. When the weather is bad we are required to fly high enough to use ground based radio navigation systems. This requirement usually places us in flight levels where ice accumulation on the airframe is likely. Any reduction in ice accumulation that is provided by a compound like this greatly increases the safety margin in flight. Super-cheap insurance.

On another note, I’m always happy to see new innovations in chemistry – especially when chemistry departments at major universities are vanishing. Chemistry is similar to many valuable scientific fields in that it’s great benefit to society isn’t directly realized. The lay person doesn’t cook food and think “Gee it’s amazing how food doesn’t stick to teflon, and if teflon doesn’t stick to food, why does it stick to the pan?” The chemistry and manufacturing difficulties involved in getting PFTE to coat surfaces are amazingly complex. Even something as simple as using gasoline in one’s car, or the numerous times we use plastics in life, don’t cause one to consider how numerous, less glamorous scientific disciplines, have dragged us out of subsistence living into our modern life.  In any case, maybe this is another opportunity to showcase the impact of chemistry, and encourage younger students to consider pursuing an education in this field.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7is6r6zXFDc