From time to time, we work on cases involving burns from hot water. Often they are product liability cases that involve worker compensation elements. Looking at pictures of severe burns and sharing the stories of the pain and suffering involved are quite sad. The amount of rehabilitation is extensive and often far from successful.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota in combination with Hong Kong Polytechnic University may be finding some protection for these workers. Apparently, until now water replant materials only worked with cold water. They have now found that by combining carbon nanotubes with Teflon materials, hot water may also be repelled. The combination even repels scalding water.
According to Philippe Brunet at the Mechanics Laboratory of Lille, France, the Teflon-nanotube coating could be added to textiles to produce scald-proof fabrics and prevent some of the thousands of hot drinks and water burns that occur annually, . More research needs to be done, but these initial finds could be helpful to prevent future injuries.
