Automotive
Raindrops carry electrical charges capable of corroding protective coatings, study finds
Researchers discovered that water drops can hold high charges that electrically puncture insulating layers, accelerating surface corrosion.
The short version
- A study led by the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research revealed that falling water drops routinely carry electrical charges capable of damaging protective coatings.
- The phenomenon stems from slide electrification, where sliding drops strip charge from insulating surfaces and leave behind opposing charges.
- Voltages from slide electrification can reach up to 9,000 volts, creating electrical punctures rather than just mechanical or chemical wear.
Key facts
- Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research found that water drops arriving at a surface can carry sufficient electrical charge to puncture insulating coatings.[Ars Technica]
- The mechanism relies on slide electrification, a process where water drops sliding across insulating materials strip electrical charge and leave an opposite charge behind.[Ars Technica]
- Charges generated on water drops through slide electrification have been measured at voltages reaching up to 9,000 volts.[Ars Technica]
What remains uncertain
- The long-term impact of electrical raindrop charges on commercial paint standards and consumer products remains to be fully evaluated.[Ars Technica]