A thin layer of a semiconducting polymer which acts as a rust retardant on steel could save NASA more than $250 000 each year.
Tests by scientists at NASA and at a chemicals company in Germany have found that polyaniline, a polymer with the basic formula (C
Rust is a hydrated form of iron oxide, and is produced in the presence of air and water. Both can permeate through a layer of paint, and because one cubic centimetre of iron produces around three cubic centimetres of rust, it will eventually burst any protective layer of paint. This exposes more iron to the air and prolongs the cycle, further undermining the strength of ...
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.