On November 8, scientists at the University of Washington in the United States designed a smart paper that not only detects moisture but also conducts electricity, and scientists say the paper could be used to detect water leaks in urban pipes in the future. In urban complex pipe systems Even minor repairs to minor leaks can require significant costs, while ignoring small cases can only make the problem worse, while finding leaks can take a long time.
The American Society of Water Supply Engineers estimates that about 250,000 pipelines are damaged each year by leakage, making the cost of public water an annual up to 2.8 billion U.S. dollars.
Scientists hope their newly developed smart papers will reduce damage by quickly detecting and repairing pipeline leaks that detect the presence of water and deliver current that activates sirens or warning lights that allow service authorities to detect leaks occur.
Anthony Dichiara, an assistant professor at the University of Washington's School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, said in a news release: "Water detection is a challenge because water is prevalent in nature and the technologies used today are very expensive and difficult to implement. The situation prompted us to start the study. '
The process of making smart papers is similar to that of plain paper, but scientists will be able to detect the addition of moisture and conductive nanomaterials to pulp, a technology that was born in an accident when researchers were trying to make paper that could power LED lights. When a few drops of water dripped onto the paper, the LED lights were affected, and the researchers thought their results were ruined, in fact they created a water-sensitive paper.
Water expands the lignocellulosics in the paper and disrupts the flow of electricity, but as the paper dries, the nano-material regains electrical conduction. The paper can also be designed to trigger current when it is detected. Researchers think the paper can be equipped with batteries Wrapped around the pipe or placed outside the intersection of the pipe and when it detects water seepage, the current supplied by the battery activates the alarm to alert the serviceman to fix it.
Dichiara said: 'I think this technology is obviously able to achieve large-scale application of nano-materials prices will continue to decline, and we are using a mature papermaking process, the difference is that the need in the right place and the right Time to add the materials we developed. '
Carbon nanomaterials are made of carbon atoms, which can be extracted from a wide variety of natural sources, and scientists burn bananas, bark, animal excrement, and even wood to make charcoal that can be extracted Carbon atoms and added to the manufacturing process of smart paper.
