Raindrops are tiny lightning bolts, and they’re corroding cars, study finds
Summary
A new study shows that raindrops carry electrical charges strong enough to pierce protective coatings on metal surfaces, causing corrosion. This electric effect can damage even highly resistant coatings like Teflon, which was previously thought to be very durable against rain corrosion.Key Facts
- Raindrops gain an electric charge when sliding over surfaces like leaves or plastic.
- These charges can reach up to several thousand volts.
- Charged raindrops can create electric sparks that break through protective coatings on metals.
- In experiments, charged drops corroded copper plates underneath a Teflon coating after about 3,000 impacts.
- Water drops without charge, hitting the surface directly, did not cause corrosion.
- A charged drop forms a sharp shape called a Taylor cone due to strong electric forces before hitting the surface.
- The electric field from charged drops can exceed the breakdown strength of Teflon, allowing the charge to punch through it.
- This discovery challenges the previous idea that rain corrosion is only caused by chemicals and mechanical wear.
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