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Home → Blog → Magic cotton

Magic cotton

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Lynn Charles Rathbun

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Cotton is one of those materials that everyone takes for granted.  What’s nano about that?  Scientists from Eindoven University (in the Netherlands) have treated cotton with a special polymer that makes the cotton magical.  At room temperature the polymer-treated cotton will hold 340% of its weight in water.  Water collected from mist and other places.  Heat it up and releases the water, pure enough to drink (or water plants).  What is great is that it can be used over and over again to gather water and then distribute it. Cotton is grown around the world and treating it with this magical polymer isn’t too high tech, meaning that it might be useful technology for developing countries to help produce clean water.

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  • NNIN Education Site
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Credits

Prof. Carl Batt Cornell University, Editor
Emily Maletz, Emily Maletz Graphic Design, Designer
Lynn Rathbun, CNF Laboratory Manager

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