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Raindrops Carry Electrical Charges, Causing Car Corrosion, Study Finds
Confirmed
In Short: Raindrops are not just water but tiny lightning bolts, according to a new study that reveals their corrosive effect on car surfaces.
Raindrops, long thought to be merely water, are now revealed to carry electrical charges large enough to punch through insulating coatings, causing corrosion, according to a study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research. The study, published in PLoS ONE, shows that these charged droplets can discharge locally, acting like small flashes of lightning and damaging protective layers. This phenomenon, known as 'slide electrification,' has only been quantified in recent years and could explain why cars corrode even in the absence of salt or acids.
The study involved testing the effects of charged droplets on surfaces coated with Teflon, a material commonly used on frying pans. The researchers found that when such charged droplets strike a coating, they can puncture the layer, causing localized damage. This process, similar to a small flash of lightning, can significantly reduce the durability of protective coatings, leading to corrosion over time.
According to reports, the standard explanation for car corrosion is that water carries dissolved salts and acids, which, combined with the constant drumming of raindrops, can abrade protective coatings and allow oxygen to cause further damage. However, the new study suggests that the electrical charge carried by raindrops is a significant factor in this process, potentially explaining why corrosion can occur even in the absence of these other factors.
The findings of the study could have implications for the automotive industry, prompting the development of new protective coatings and materials that can withstand the electrical charges carried by raindrops. Further research is needed to understand the full extent of this phenomenon and its impact on various surfaces beyond just cars.
What's confirmed
- Raindrops, long thought to be merely water, are now revealed to carry electrical charges large enough to punch through insulating coatings, causing corrosion, according to a study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research. The study, published in PLoS ONE, shows that these charged droplets can discharge locally, acting like small flashes of lightning and damaging protective layers. This phenomenon, known as 'slide electrification,' has only been quantified in recent years and could explain why cars corrode even in the absence of salt or acids.
- The study involved testing the effects of charged droplets on surfaces coated with Teflon, a material commonly used on frying pans. The researchers found that when such charged droplets strike a coating, they can puncture the layer, causing localized damage. This process, similar to a small flash of lightning, can significantly reduce the durability of protective coatings, leading to corrosion over time.
- According to reports, the standard explanation for car corrosion is that water carries dissolved salts and acids, which, combined with the constant drumming of raindrops, can abrade protective coatings and allow oxygen to cause further damage. However, the new study suggests that the electrical charge carried by raindrops is a significant factor in this process, potentially explaining why corrosion can occur even in the absence of these other factors.
- The findings of the study could have implications for the automotive industry, prompting the development of new protective coatings and materials that can withstand the electrical charges carried by raindrops. Further research is needed to understand the full extent of this phenomenon and its impact on various surfaces beyond just cars.
What's still developing
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