Lotusan: Lotus inspired paint

BIOMIMICRY

• Biomimicry is defined as the design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes
• can be used as an architectural and structural guide to enrich life

BIOMIMICRY CONT.

• Examples include:
• "Bird's nest"- Beijing National Stadium
• bone-like ceiling of a lecture hall at the University of Freiburg

BIOMIMICRY

WHAT IS LOTUSAN

• Developed by ISPO, a German company
• an exterior paint that minimizes the contact area for water and dirt using microstructure of a lotus plant

Lotusan vs Normal House Exterior

PROBLEM: NON-SUSTAINABLE PAINT

• Need to wash house exterior every year, usually with pressure washer
• On weather exposed sides of the house microorganisms colonize in pockets where there is moisture and nutrients from dirt deposit
• Can be expensive to get service done (hundreds of dollars)

PROBLEM: NON-SUSTAINABLE PAINT

• Cleaning likely includes bleach or harsh detergent
• This can be bad for surrounding plants and local water supply

Untitled Slide

PERSONAL INTEREST

• I have always been interested in the environment and ways to be more sustainable
• The need to find alternative, sustainable cleaning supplies is also important to me as an engineering student as we should strive to not only improve the world but make sure it is sustainable for future generations to come

PERSONAL INTEREST

• This topic is especially interesting to me as a Civil Engineering major since one sub-field I have been looking into is water resources engineering or structural engineering
• Within a project it is important to look into effects on water runoff and how clean the overall project is for the environment and surrounding area

PROPERTIES OF LOTUS LEAF

• Similar to sharkskin micro surface structure
• Lotus flower's surface made up of nail-like protuberances
• Tear-drop shape leaves

PROPERTIES CONT.

• When it rains, a combination of microscopic bumps and hairs on the lotus’ waxy leaves cause water droplets to bead up
• The leaf's angle makes sure water rolls off, gathering any dirt particles along the way

LOTUS LEAF

ENGINEERING APPLICATION

• Lotus leaves can keep clean without expending any energy
• inspired an entire industry of self-cleaning textiles, windows, sprays and the exterior house paint Lotusan

ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIETAL IMPACTS

• Reduces labor cost and demand of washing the exterior of the house (cost effective)
• Lotusan proved to be more sustainable than the façade paint Jumbosil® through a PROSA (sustainability assessment)

Works Cited

• Antony, Florian, Grießhammer, Rainer, Speck, Thomas, and Speck, Olga. "The Cleaner, the Greener? Product Sustainability Assessment of the Biomimetic Façade Paint Lotusan ® in Comparison to the Conventional Façade Paint Jumbosil." Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology 7.1 (2016): 2100-115. Web.

Works Cited

• Ensikat, H. "Superhydrophobicity in Perfection: The Outstanding Properties of the Lotus Leaf." Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology. 2.1 (2011): 152-61. Web.
• Gorb, Stanislav N, Koch, Kerstin, and Heepe, Lars. "Biological and Biomimetic Surfaces: Adhesion, Friction and Wetting Phenomena." Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology 10.1 (2019): 481-82. Web.

Works Cited: Picture Credit

• www.asknature.org
• https://th.bing.com/th/id/Ra1c4a5c007ab4dc98b78c9aa55e66b43?rik=MW3acqumnkr...

Works Cited: Picture Credit

• https://www.neefusa.org/sites/default/files/styles/hero_block/public/field/...