New ink turns objects into chameleons
MIT has created a reprogrammable ink that you as a consumer can use to recolour all your belongings. As often as you like.
For people, camouflage comes in the form of a military camouflage suit. A potpourri of green and brown tones designed to blend in with nature. The chamaeleon, which can blend seamlessly with the background in any situation, does it better. And this is exactly what researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have taken as a model for a new invention: the PhotoChromeleon
To infinity and beyond
The system uses a type of reprogrammable ink that allows objects to change colour when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. A mix of different photochromic colours are sprayed or brushed onto cars, clothes, shoes, etc., allowing them to change colour at any time. The process can be repeated an infinite number of times, but can also be completely reversed.
Sounds like science fiction, but is actually just science. Photochromic ink in the colours cyan, magenta and yellow (CMY) were mixed by the research team to create a sprayable solution. Each colour reacts differently to the different light sources or wavelengths: Blue light is absorbed by the yellow colour and thus deactivated, leaving only cyan and magenta, which according to colour theory results in blue. If you are tired of your design, you use the UV light to "erase" everything. For the colouring process, the object is placed in a box with a projector and UV light. The pattern is applied to a digital 3D model and transferred to the real object using the projector.
Fun and saves resources
This is not just a fun gimmick, but also has the potential to save resources. If you can redesign your belongings to your heart's content, you might only buy one model and not several in different colours. Manufacturers can also prevent overproduction, as the products can be easily redesigned if consumers don't like a certain colour.
The researchers tested their technology on a car, a mobile phone cover, a shoe and a toy chameleon. The process took between 15 and 40 minutes, depending on the size and orientation of the pattern. The project was made possible in part by financial support from car manufacturer Ford, which sees great potential for the automotive industry. The "magic ink" could make production more efficient and the paint more resistant to weathering.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.