US Patent 8202614 - Superhydrophobic microparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8202614.html

Superhydrophobic coatings provide advantages for self-cleaning surfaces, microfluidics, and micro fuel cell chips. This patent from Luna Innovations teaches a microparticle/nanoparticle system providing a superhydrophobicity. Claim 1 reads:

1. An additive particle comprising

a carrier microparticle,

a plurality of nanoparticles adhered to and substantially covering a surface of the microparticle, and

a hydrophobic surface treatment material in contact with exposed surfaces of the carrier microparticle and/or the nanoparticles sufficient to impart a superhydrophobic contact angle to the additive particle of greater than 150°.