What are two possible uses for hydrophobic material?

Hydrophobic materials are materials that do not mix well with water (“hydro” = water, “phobic” = fear of).

A group of nanomaterial scientists created a superhydrophobic material that is claimed to be 10,000 times more hydrophobic than the average hydrophobic material. This material is projected to be used in the following two capacities.

• Used as a windshield fluid, the material will be beneficial in causing rain and other precipitants to repel off of car windows.


• Steam turbines are used to make energy at nuclear power plants. The steam produced is collected by cooling towers. The inside of these cooling towers is not hydrophobic. Thus, the condensed water remains within. The superhydrophobic material could be used to line the towers in order to increase productivity.