New research aims to cut down on waste -- and consumer frustration -- with a novel approach to creating super slippery industrial packaging. The study establishes a method for wicking chemically compatible vegetable oils into the surfaces of common extruded plastics, like those used for ketchup packets and other condiments.
Source: ScienceDaily
Related: LiquiGlide Slippery Coating Coming Inside Norwegian Mayo Bottles
New "Omniphobic" Coating Created by University of Michigan Researcher
Related Stories
Orkla Group has become the first food company to announce a deal with LiquiGlide Inc., which offers a non-stick coating for the inside of bottles and other food packaging:
Mayonnaise that does not get stuck in its container is being developed by a Norwegian company. Orkla is the first food manufacturer to announce a deal with US company Liquiglide to use its non-stick coating in product packaging. [...] Liquiglide says its coating is "completely harmless" and meets safety standards because it "can be made entirely from food".
The company was founded in 2012 to sell licences for a non-stick technology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A customised version of the coating is created for each product, resulting in a "permanently wet" surface inside containers that helps the product slip out. It told the BBC it was working with 30 companies, including some of the biggest consumer brands in the US.
Orkla's food division generated more than 3bn krone (£246m) of sales in its last quarter. The company said it was still deciding exactly how it would use the technology in its products.While reducing wasted product may benefit consumers, Liquiglide suggests it could also encourage shoppers to buy more frequently. The company states on its website: "Liquiglide makes dispensing product so easy that consumers actually tend to use it faster... it pushes consumers to an earlier repurchase point."
From a 2012 article:
The site claims the spray will work on glass, plastic, metal and ceramic surfaces and with any condiment — there's also a similar video showing LiquiGlide's use with mayonnaise. The LiquiGlide site says easy pours will not only prevent wasted quantities, but could also eliminate 25,000 tons of petroleum-based plastics by allowing the use of smaller caps.
While he wouldn't reveal its contents, [Massachusetts Institute of Technology PhD candidate Dave] Smith told Fast Company magazine that LiquiGlide has other potential uses, such as preventing clogs in oil and gas lines. "We've patented the hell out of it," he said.
Original Submission
A University of Michigan researcher has created a coating that could be used to repel water, oil, and other substances:
In an advance that could grime-proof phone screens, countertops, camera lenses and countless other everyday items, a materials science researcher at the University of Michigan has demonstrated a smooth, durable, clear coating that swiftly sheds water, oils, alcohols and, yes, peanut butter.
Called "omniphobic" in materials science parlance, the new coating repels just about every known liquid. It's the latest in a series of breakthrough coatings from the lab of Anish Tuteja, U-M associate professor of materials science and engineering. The team's earlier efforts produced durable coatings that repelled ice and water, and a more fragile omniphobic coating. The new omniphobic coating is the first that's durable and clear. Easily applied to virtually any surface, it's detailed in a paper published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
Tuteja envisions the new coating as a way to prevent surfaces from getting grimy, both in home and industry. It could work on computer displays, tables, floors and walls, for example.
[...] Ultimately, the team discovered that a mix of fluorinated polyurethane and a specialized fluid-repellent molecule called F-POSS would do the job. Their recipe forms a mixture that can be sprayed, brushed, dipped or spin-coated onto a wide variety of surfaces, where it binds tightly. While the surface can be scratched by a sharp object, it's durable in everyday use. And its extremely precise level of phase separation makes it optically clear.
Just what I needed for my keyboard, VR headset, countertop, toilet bowl, 1 gallon mayonnaise jar, t-shirts, patio deck, sailing ship, the inside of all of my body's cells, and synthetic killer bacteria.
Smooth, All-Solid, Low-Hysteresis, Omniphobic Surfaces with Enhanced Mechanical Durability (DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b00521) (DX)
Related: Nissan Testing 'Super-Hydrophobic' and 'Oleophobic' Paint
LiquiGlide Slippery Coating Coming Inside Norwegian Mayo Bottles
Spray-on "Repellent" Could Make Freezers Frost Free
(Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 04 2018, @07:01AM (5 children)
So why are there no aristarchus submissions? Has he been banned, or Shadowbanned? Why is there nothing but bot and ed stories in the queue?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Sulla on Saturday August 04 2018, @08:35AM (4 children)
When it submits something other than a "fresh evidence that x is a nazi" article they seem to get approved.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 04 2018, @09:18AM (2 children)
No need for "fresh" evidence for Sulla. Name is in the book.
(Score: 0, Offtopic) by Sulla on Saturday August 04 2018, @02:45PM (1 child)
So who are the Nazis? The person who has their name on a list, or the person keeping a list?
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 04 2018, @10:25PM
US immigration nightmare continues amid media blackout [wsws.org] [calling it a "blackout" may be #fakenews]:
(Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Saturday August 04 2018, @06:00PM
"It will submit a non-alt-right story or it will get the hose."
;)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 1) by Sulla on Saturday August 04 2018, @08:33AM (15 children)
I remember reading an article on soylent about magic ketchup bottles that wont require being hit to spill their delicious juices. Just the other day i asked my AC friend what ever happened and conveniently an article shows up with some progress.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 04 2018, @08:47AM
Ever got so desperate that you tried to invoke centrifugal force to get the contents near the squirter.... only to discover everyone staring at you... some decorated with the catsup you were trying to dispense for yourself?
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Saturday August 04 2018, @02:10PM (13 children)
You don't have to tap the bottle to get the goodness out - it really only takes a few shakes. I'm not sure how to explain it and I didn't see any videos but basically accelerate the bottle towards the neck then stop it abruptly with the cap off and the opening pointing at where you want the ketchup to dump out.
It'll truly dump out when you get it right. Loads of it. Like some kind of prolific ketchup porn star money shot.
When you get it right it takes only 2 or 3 shakes and no tapping and no knife down the throat of the bottle either.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Saturday August 04 2018, @02:14PM (5 children)
Years ago I worked with a know it all type I'll call Joe because that wasn't his name. At a group lunch one guy was hitting the bottom of the ketchup bottle when Joe says "no, this is how it's done". He proceeded to shake the bottle with no results. For a bit. Then he got a good splurch on his plate. And on his shirt. We laughed at him, not with him.
My ducks are not in a row. I don't know where some of them are, and I'm pretty sure one of them is a turkey.
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Saturday August 04 2018, @03:55PM (4 children)
Huh I see your point. Years ago I saw a kid fall over on a bike when they removed his training wheels. We laughed at him and the kid learned to never try again and to just accept that bikes are terrible because it was hard and he couldn't do it on the first try.
I learned that trick from a professional at Johnny Rockets - like truly professional because he did that all the time. With some practice you could do it with out jizzing ketchup on your own shirt, I promise.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 04 2018, @04:15PM (3 children)
wow you described the tween male down the street from me. I think he doesn't want to do anything except play video games and cheat while doing it, because it isnt work playing if he can't effortlessly win.
during a block party, I got to speak with him a bit, and I worry about how real life will turn out if he learns that the cheating is already done by pros and without any skill he'll just end up an mcse in some foreign country.
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Saturday August 04 2018, @04:24PM (2 children)
That kind of personality is why I believe that we not only need to have a welfare system that can support people who don't work but also that it needs to infact tolerate leaches as that is just simply the cost.
If everything has to be zero effort and they are not a savant at something so they won't have marketable skills they are going to be a serious problem for society as they become "independent" because they are going to still expect to survive with zero effort and no marketable skills. Working at McDonalds sounds hard, like you would have to get there on time at least most of the time and that they might want you to wash your hands and follow rules and stuff. Plus customers can be a serious chore to deal with.
Probably a lot easier to just steal shit from people at night while they sleep - even easier if it is people you know. Easiest if you know them well.
The instinct to survive is strong and people will do it. I don't like the idea of paying people to take it easy and not work but there are only a few options:
1) Pay them to survive comfortably so it is easier to cash government checks than start a career in crime
2) Stick them in prison so they can't commit crimes - they are not likely to be rehabilitated and there is risk of deeper integration into and reliance on criminal behavior and careers
3) Exterminate them
Option 2 sounds not very good and quite possibly more expensive than option 1. Option 3 is beyond most people's tolerances.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Saturday August 04 2018, @06:37PM (1 child)
That's assuming they don't become lawyers or MBAs. Sure one has to put out a lot of effort for 3~4 years, but after that it's "money for nothing and chicks for free". Just living the American Dream. Oh did I leave out Car Salesmen and Bankers?
When life isn't going right, go left.
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Saturday August 04 2018, @06:44PM
At least for a good chunk of bankers I think "stealing their shit while they sleep" still fits just the scale isn't one night anymore it's since the Glass-Stegall act was repealed.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Saturday August 04 2018, @02:26PM (6 children)
These ketchup bottles are the superior ones: http://moziru.com/images/ketchup-clipart-heinz-4.jpg [moziru.com]
Add an inner layer of omniphobic coating, like we've been waiting on for years now, and the ketchup problem will be solved forever.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Saturday August 04 2018, @03:59PM
Oh I agree those bottles are great! The lid/valve system is really good too and they sit upside down so product is always ready to dispense. It is a highly refined design.
I've seen the same valving system on mustard and I just got one with mayo too. Nice sharp stream sprays out when you squeeze and there is no mess.
It is great!
I don't like ultra slow pouring glass ketchup bottles its just that they aren't unworkably hard to drain.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 04 2018, @05:26PM (3 children)
If by superior, you mean only has 3/4 of the contents that an upright bottle has. Those upside down bottles are smaller than the regular ones.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday August 04 2018, @05:54PM (2 children)
Volume doesn't matter. Only $/volume matters. And I've seen non-Heinz brands use the same bottle design.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Saturday August 04 2018, @06:36PM
It doesn't make a significant difference in the cost effectiveness but different volumes can lead to significant changes in the amount of waste generated for delivering the same product.
A good example is a normal consumer box of corn flakes from a supermarket vs the same volume of corn flakes in single serving boxes like from grade school or a hotel. The weight of the many single serving boxes greatly exceeds the larger box. The smaller internal volume leads to more waste and that isn't really a good thing.
I don't know about conversion from glass to plastic but when staying in the same packaging technology that always holds true.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 05 2018, @03:21AM
The upside down bottles hold 750 ml while the regular bottles hold a litre. Same price here. YMMV.
(Score: 1) by pTamok on Sunday August 05 2018, @06:40PM
If they are like the bottles I use, they have a flaw. The labels says that once open, they should be stored in a cool place, which for most people is the refrigerator. When you take them out and put them on the table at ambient room temperature, the air in the top of the upside down bottle increases in pressure, so when you open them, a steady stream of ketchup is emitted before you even squeeze the bottle. This is suboptimal, and often messy.
(Score: 2) by SanityCheck on Saturday August 04 2018, @04:45PM (1 child)
Why don't they rethink Ketchup instead.
What they call ketchup now is more fucking corn than tomato. It's totally unpalatable to people who avoided getting their taste-buds hijacked by the sugar/corn-syrup lobby.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 05 2018, @08:51AM
Don't go up against our Sugar Lords! You'll be crushed!
(Score: 2) by donkeyhotay on Monday August 06 2018, @02:56PM
I don't know if slippery packaging would help the situation or not, but I've long thought that peanut butter should be packaged in something more like a toothpaste tube.