Hemp-Based Sustainable Slippery Surfaces: Icephobic and Antithrombotic Properties.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, spurring innovation in hemp-based products.
• There is a growing demand for sustainable, non-toxic, and biodegradable materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate novel hemp-based sustainable slippery surfaces.
• To evaluate the liquid-repellent, icephobic, and antithrombotic properties of these surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Coating hemp paper with beeswax and infusing it with hemp oil.
• Fabricating textured hemp-based metal surfaces.
• Testing the surfaces with various aqueous liquids and beverages.

Main Results:

• Hemp-based surfaces demonstrated excellent liquid repellency, with liquids sliding off without residue.
• Hemp-based metal surfaces exhibited significant icephobic and antithrombotic properties.
• The developed surfaces are robust, non-toxic, and biodegradable or recyclable.

Conclusions:

• Hemp-based materials can be engineered into highly effective sustainable slippery surfaces.
• These surfaces offer promising alternatives for food packaging, anti-icing, and medical devices.
• The study highlights the potential of hemp in creating eco-friendly, high-performance materials.