Inspired By The Lotus Leaf: Lotusan® Paint

by T Goodman

Lotus Leaf ©Sto CorpWhy does water roll off a duck's back? Or a butterfly's wings? What about the lotus leaf?

Because a duck, a butterfly and a lotus leaf have surface textures that interact with water molecules differently than animals, insects and plants that absorb water. Now, ducks, butterflies, and lotus leaves do not have the same surfaces, but studying each of them can help today's manufacturers mimic their molecular structures to create materials that function similarly.

You know how some plant leaves seem to be dirtier after a rain than before? Water seems to move all the dirt in one or two directions which leaves a perceptible line or squiggle of dirt. The lotus leaf, on the other hand, gets clean when it rains. The surface topography of the lotus leaf interacts with water molecules so that the water rolls off the leaf and takes the dirt with it.

That was exactly what Sto Corporation wanted for its Lotusan sealer and paint. In the photo below, you can see how close Lotusan comes to mimicking the molecular structure of the lotus leaf. These cells are magnified 7,000 times!

Microstructure of Lotus Leaf (left) Microstructure Of Lotusan® (right) ©Sto Corp

Lotusan Paint ©Sto Corp The Lotus Effect® that Lotusan developed resists the growth of mold, mildew, and algae because water does not stay on its surface. Water runs off a Lotusan-sealed building and it takes the dirt with it. Lotusan is self-cleaning just like the lotus leaf.