Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have developed a self-healing liquid membrane which allows larger particles to pass through, but not smaller ones - the opposite of most membranes. The researchers say their new material is more than 100 times stronger and can be used in many different applications. "You could add components that make the membrane last longer or components that allow it to block certain gases," said the team's Birgitt Boschitsch.
Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have developed a self-healing liquid membrane which allows larger particles to pass through, but not smaller ones - the opposite of most membranes. The reverse filter system combines deionised water and a surfactant and separates objects based on their different kinetic energies, enveloping each particle and allowing the membrane to repair itself. "You could add components that make the membrane last longer or components that allow it to block certain gases," said the team's Birgitt Boschitsch.