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Ice-repellent surfaces developed at Sehnkar stood out at the Israeli influential discoveries exhibition

A revolutionary development of ice repellent and water repellent surface, which stemmed from the Department of Plastics and Polymers Engineering, was elected for a new exhibition run by the Ministry of Science Technology and Space dedicated to Israeli influential discoveries. 

“The developments and discoveries shown here today are the building blocks of Israeli science. They have improved quality of life around the world, achieved financial prosperity, saved lives and position Israel as a scientific superpower”, said the science technology and space minister Ofir Akunis at the opening event.

Leading to breakthrough: Professor Hanna Dudiuk (right) and Dr. Anna Dotan (photo: PR) 

Inspired by the Lotus leaf’s behavior in nature, Professor Hanna Dodiuk, head of the Department of Plastics and Polymer, and Dr. Anna Dotan, staff member at the department, invented innovational "self-cleaning" surfaces:

every drop of water that falls on the surface slides across carrying dirt particles with it. Students Niv Cohen and Tehila Nahum and Professor Shmuel Kanig, Dean of the Engineering Faculty, were also a part of the research. The main goal of the surface is to prevent ice accumulation in planes - the primary cause of the plane accidents. 

Early tests for the surfaces in an “ice tunnel” with extreme cold weather condition (-20c) showed they are 18 times more effective compared to other materials.  

Israeli breakthrough (from left to right): Professor Hanna Dodiuk, Minister of transportation Yisrael Katz, Dr. Anna Dotan, Niv Cohen (photo: PR)

Dodiuk and Dotan’s advanced project is presented alongside 60 other extraordinary discoveries and developments chosen by a professional committee comprised of members from the young academy for science and the Chief Scientist Office at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Space. Each project stood out in its innovative ways, its breakthroughs and in the influence - direct or indirect - on millions of people around the world.

Dodiuk and Dotan’s project was presented as an experimental installation under the name "the drop race" that was prepared with cooperation of the Bloomfield museum, alongside other famous Israeli developments such as cherry tomatoes, PillCam’s disk on key and the Copaxone pill for treatment of multiple sclerosis. 

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