Color-changing T-shirts from the 90s have become a bomb for a while. However, this idea has just been applied by MIT researchers to iPhone cases and many other objects.
According to the Fastcompany , a new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) could change the way we see color forever. This is not meant to be a permanent finish to the product, but rather a pre-established temporary identity.
MIT has developed a new light-sensitive paint that makes it possible to quickly and easily change colors and textures. Moreover, this type of paint is not expensive. The gecko statue changes color thanks to paint researched by MIT. Photo: MIT. Called ChromoUpdate, MIT’s paint is applied to any product. This paint color is usually quite clean. But when placed under specific frequencies of light, it reveals the underlying pigments. Under UV light, the paint turns black. Within 60 seconds, UV can create gray-toned textures on painted surfaces, anything from printed text to hilly landscapes in high-resolution detail. These patterns continue to remain on the surface after the UV irradiation is stopped. In addition to the gray tone, MIT’s paint has a number of other colors such as CMY color group (green, magenta and yellow). These colors can be mixed together to create a paint that shows all 3 colors at once. To display colors, the researchers shined RGB (red, green, blue) light on the paint, converting the paint to colors that resemble the rays of the light falling on them. This process takes a period of 10 minutes or so for the vignettes to display the correct colors. According to Mr. Michael Wessely, postdoctoral fellow and project research leader, the use of color-changing paint has many benefits. Designers can check products quickly and change colors or textures in minutes. Place the UV projector close to the visible light projector and swivel base to support the object. Photo: MIT. From a broader perspective, Mr. Wessely imagines quickly projecting data onto everyday objects making smarthome systems “smarter” without the need for additional screens in the home. His team has proven they can print text and images right on a cup. For example, you can print a schedule on a cup of water or a reminder on a coffee cup to know when the next meeting is. Besides, people can refurbish their iPhone cases at any time. Instead of buying a new case, users can refresh the old case with their favorite images taken on the internet. According to the Fastcompany , while the color-changing cases are quite attractive, the work has a long way to go before it achieves success in consumer products. UV rays can be dangerous when in contact with the skin, which is why the MIT researchers used a special UV box to house the projector. In areas specializing in the production of color-changing cases, they are fully equipped with safe and convenient machines, so this is no longer a difficult challenge. However, for others, this option is quite expensive and cumbersome, so not many people will invest in this paint and hope to apply it to products such as bumpers, car covers, etc. The second problem is that these designs will fade over time, because UV rays are everywhere. Mr. Wessely said the paint can maintain color and contrast for about 2 days in an office environment, which is already away from the sun (which contains UV rays). If you take out the products that are coated with color-changing paint, it will significantly shorten the color fastness time. Color changing phone cases. Photo: MIT. While the idea of painting a new design on an iPhone case or coffee cup will help with the problem of fading, this habit may be difficult for many people to maintain. Another more desirable aspect that Mr. Wessely’s team is working on is bringing color-changing paint technology to the fashion sector. They are developing fibers that can be re-woven into anything like clothing or shoes… with properties like light-sensitive dyes. This led Mr Wessely to believe that they could integrate tiny light bulbs into clothing that would make the wearer stand out. In this case, when the light is in close contact with the dye, the discoloration process is more efficient. “We can make the color change instantaneously, even under a second,” says Wessely. Besides, he said it is possible to use a coating that absorbs ultraviolet rays. Imagine a t-shirt that changes to a new slogan every hour, or a purse that changes color to match that day’s outfit. To create such a product, the team would have to create specialized yarns and a software that can put printed patterns onto textiles; This fabric can stretch and contour the human body. According to the Fastcompany , this idea is not easy to implement, partly because the field is relatively young. “Usually you have 10 years of studying something. But we are only just beginning to explore this new field,” said Wessely. The process by which objects change color when UV light hits it The idea of The idea of The idea of The idea of
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