Leaves of Tiquizque Could Help in the Production of Paint and Fabrics

Manrique Vindas Segura
24. 05. 18

The study of the microscopic structures of insects and plants carried out at the Research Center in Microscopic Structures of the University of Costa Rica (CIEMIC-UCR) has led scientists to be inspired by nature to create innovative materials.

UCR researchers have highly sophisticated equipment to perform microscopic analysis of materials.

Such is the case of the research that has studied the structure of tiquizque leaves (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) with the help of the sophisticated Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

This technology allowed to explain why it is that the leaves of tiquizque do not get wet even when water falls on them or when they are submerged in it.  It is because the tiquizque leaf is composed of microscopic formations called waxes, which are arranged in such a way that water does not penetrate the surface once in contact with them.

The structure allows the drop to retain its spherical shape, which makes it easier to roll down the surface of the leaf. This helps the leaf dry quickly, and the rolling droplets drag down accumulated dust particles or dirt.

For scientists, these are hydrophobic and self-cleaning features that can be imitated by transferring the microstructure from the tiquizque leaf to new materials.

That way it would be possible to produce paints or coatings to waterproof surfaces by repelling water. Likewise, ideal fabrics could be created to practice certain sports, since they would not retain sweat, or even swimwear that would always remain dry.

The results of the tiquizque leaf study at the microscopic level were published in Volume 25, No. 2, 2016 of the Acta Microscópica journal, under the title “Ultrastructural description of the leaf of three species of Araceae with hydrophobic characteristics.”

Imitating Nature

Science studies the functional and structural principles of some biological surfaces of plants or insects to discover if their use in artificial systems is feasible. This field is called biomimicry.

Among the most important attributes sought is hydrophobicity, which is water repellency.  This allows solving physical and physiological problems related to the environment.

CIEMIC scientists from UCR have been researching these subjects since 2010. At first they studied the wings of flies, but they did not find interesting attributes.

Later on, they analyzed other plants until they finally concentrated on the leaf surface of three Araceae plant species to recognize and describe patterns in the structure of the leaf surface that make them hydrophobic.

These are Xanthosoma roseum, Xanthosoma sagittifolium (tiquizque) and Philodendrun strictum. The ultimate goal is the development of new materials that have these characteristics.

After studying these Araceae, the scientists continued studying orchids, exploring not only the leaves, but other parts of the plant as well.

To start testing these microscopic structures, 3D prints will be made. With the resulting plastic samples, they will start experimenting to find a way to transfer the properties of the biological material to an artificial one.

In this regard, the main researcher of the project, Dr. Axel Retana-Salazar, said that they are experimenting with artificial polymers that have similar properties. “The idea is to copy the structure of the plant and turn it into a material either solid like a fabric or liquid such as paint,” he explained.

He added that “you can shape a polymer anyway you want, from a liquid paint, to a coating, to a fabric, to a solid.”

For example, " imagine a fabric that is waterproof: sweat would not stick, it would clean itself, it does not get wet under a downpour; or a paint that can function as a lining for ship hulls to repel water.”  More information at the email: apretana@gmail.com

 

This is how the surface of the tiquizque leaf looks under the microscope.

INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF ENGINEERS AND BIOLOGISTS

  • Alexander Rodríguez-Arrieta. Biologist
  • Marisol Jiménez-Chavarría. Biologist specialist in botany
  • Axel Retana-Salazar. Biologist
  • Fernando Salas-Fumero. Chemical and Mechanical Engineer
  • Olman Alvarado-Rodríguez. Natural Resources Engineer
  • Hennia Cavallini-Solano. Professor in the area of materials from the School of Mechanical Engineering