Lasers used to make stuff hydrophobic:

Originally posted by googlefudge
I didn't say coating.

I was envisioning the hydrophobic compound to be present throughout the materiel, so wearing down the surface has no effect.

Covering the materiel with other substances [mud, dust, leaves, rubber, oil, ect] would probably screw this plan up...

But simple erosion of the surface wouldn't.

I'm sorry if I didn't make this clear before.

The laser treatment only effects the surface. If the surface is breached, the phobic part disappears. Is there such a stuff as a hydrophobic material that is that all the way through? I never heard of such, suppose it is possible though.

Originally posted by sonhouse
The laser treatment only effects the surface. If the surface is breached, the phobic part disappears. Is there such a stuff as a hydrophobic material that is that all the way through? I never heard of such, suppose it is possible though.

Oil (or wax, if you want a solid version)

Originally posted by twhitehead
Oil (or wax, if you want a solid version)

Boy, wouldn't THAT be a great material for a roadway🙂

Originally posted by sonhouse
Boy, wouldn't THAT be a great material for a roadway🙂

http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2013/ceramic-hydrophobic-materials-0120

http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2013/water-shedding-surfaces-can-be-made-to-last-0920

http://newsoffice.mit.edu/topic/hydrophobic-materials

Originally posted by sonhouse
Boy, wouldn't THAT be a great material for a roadway🙂

I am not sure why tar is not hydrophobic. Possibly because of the gravel?