Author: VŠP

Burdock – the solution – the Velcro hedgehog zipper. This most famous bionic product is now used by millions of people. In 1948, the Swiss scientist George de Mestral discovered the principle of this zipper. Every time he returned from hunting with his dog, they were covered with a plant. This plant was burdock. De Mestral analyzed the mechanism of the spines under a microscope and copied them. This “invention of nature” was patented under the brand name VELCRO.

Burdock, like many other plants, produces seeds covered with tiny hooks. Passing animals help the plant disperse the seeds by transferring them. Although the idea itself is simple, it took Mestral 10 years to devise the manufacturing process that enabled the mass production of Velcro®.

There are hundreds of tiny “hooks” in a burdock. Developing the Velcro fastener proved difficult, but Mestral was determined. While “looped” fabrics could be made with relative ease, hook-and-loop textiles could not be created as quickly. Mestral eventually invented a device – based on sheared hair used in barbershops. Cotton was the most commercially available fabric at the time, but it was too weak and thin for the hook to provide any real gripping power. While experimenting with various textiles in Lyon, France, Mestral came across a nylon thread that accidentally got mixed into his fabrics. It was then that he discovered that nylon had ideal properties. After overcoming this obstacle, Mestral decided to call his revolutionary invention “velour” (velvet) and “crochet” (hook), hence the brand name.

Acceptable zipper, versatile use 

The Velcro fastener is certainly one of the best inventions, as it makes our lives easier in many areas. Its practicality is already evident in children's shoes and other clothing, eliminating the need for various cords and other unnecessary fastenings. It can be used as a home accessory and for various materials. 

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The hydrophobicity of plants has already been studied, but the fact that these plants are almost impossible to get dirty has been overlooked. Experiments with the shield-shaped leaves of the Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) have been particularly effective. Scientists have called this self-cleaning mechanism the lotus effect, a symbol of purity. The nasturtium cleans its leaves using the lotus effect. A scanning electron microscope (ESEM) shows how water droplets move away from the leaf. This is due to the nodular structure of the leaves. The water is repelled at a higher speed, which also washes away dirt and creates a self-cleaning effect.

The lotus effect – which was extensively studied by botanist Wilhelm Barthlott, with colleagues at the University of Bonn. More than 30 years ago, he noticed that the surfaces of plants, such as the lotus, are always clean. Due to the lotus effect, dust particles cannot adhere to the surface. Water droplets cannot spread out and cannot run over or just touch the dust particles, as is usually the case on smooth surfaces. 

The lotus effect has found its place in a variety of different products, ranging from construction to the textile industry and various other fields. 

A special chemical process can transform the surface of a fabric into a lotus leaf-like surface. Fabric with a lotus effect is prepared by applying silica beads of various sizes to it, then coating them with a water and oil-repellent polymer finishing film. The transformed surface of the fabric becomes super water and oil-repellent, so it does not get wet with water, nor does it get dirty with mud, tea, or oil. 

The Elrus company sells roofing materials that use special materials or glazes for roof tiles that prevent the growth of various lichens and moss and prevent dirt from collecting on roof tiles. 

Plant leaves use even more nanotechnology. Their system is often regulated by phorisomes. These are microscopic muscles that open paths in the plant's capillary system or, if the plant is damaged, close them. Materials with a self-cleaning effect can help save water and chemicals and reduce maintenance costs.

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