Sharks Inspire Energy Efficient Airplanes
An innovative paint system may make it possible to lower the fuel consumption of airplanes and ships, reducing costs and carbon dioxide emissions, according to researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research. When applied to every airplane every year throughout the world, the paint could save a volume of 4.48 million tons of fuel. The inspiration for the paint's structure comes from the scales of fast-swimming sharks that have evolved in a manner that significantly diminishes drag. The challenge was to apply this knowledge to a paint that could withstand the extreme demands of aviation. Temperature fluctuations of -55 to +70 degrees Celsius; intensive UV radiation and high speeds. read more