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New shark skin paint could make flights cheaper. Learn how the new shark skin-inspired paint technology works and how it impacts the environment.
A Japan Airlines is testing a new paint technology inspired by shark skin, designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and, consequently, fuel consumption of its aircraft. The innovation, based on the microscopic structure of the scales of these marine predators, could make flights more efficient and sustainable. In this article, we will understand how this biomimetic technology could impact the costs of air travel and revolutionize aviation.
Understand how the new shark skin-inspired paint for aviation works
This new technology, developed in partnership with large companies such as Nikon e JAXA, is inspired by the hydrodynamics of sharks. Initial results, showing that shark skin paint can make flights cheaper, are promising, with a significant reduction in air resistance. Sharks have high speeds due to their dermal denticles, small scales in the shape of teeth.
These tiny structures generate microvortices that reduce drag, allowing water to glide more easily. The new sharkskin-inspired paint developed by Japan Airlines replicates these patterns on a nanoscale. Applied to 30% of the surface of a Boeing 787-9, the new technology has already shown a 5% reduction in frictional resistance during testing.
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On a long-haul flight like Tokyo to Frankfurt, this sharkskin paint could make flights cheaper, saving 119 tons of fuel per aircraft per year. That equates to a reduction of 381 tons of CO2 emissions per annum.
Check out how the new technology is applied in the aviation sector
Unlike the shark skin films already tested by other aviation companies, this new shark skin-inspired paint is applied directly to the existing coating. It adds no weight to the aircraft and reduces the risk of peeling during flight.
This unique approach could very well establish itself as a sustainable solution to improve the energy efficiency of aviation vehicles, without requiring major modifications to the propulsion or the structure itself.
It is worth noting that drag is an aerodynamic force that opposes the movement of an object, such as an airplane, in a fluid, such as air. It is generated by the resistance to friction and turbulence generated by the shape and surface of the moving object.
In the context of aviation, drag is a fundamental factor that influences fuel consumption. The higher the drag, the more energy the aircraft must expend to maintain its speed, which increases CO2 emissions.
To reduce drag, engineers look for ways to do this, such as optimizing the shape of aircraft or using special coatings, like this new shark skin-inspired paint. By reducing drag, vehicles become more energy efficient, reducing their environmental impact and improving overall performance.
Other initiatives to reduce aircraft consumption
In addition to this new technology, aviation relies on several others. Among them is a system from the European low-cost airline easyJet, in partnership with an industrial coatings company. The system reduces the amount of paint used to paint aircraft, contributing to a lighter fleet.
The new coating has already been applied to 38 aircraft and will be implemented across the entire fleet by 2030. The new paint reduces the weight of each aircraft by 27 kg.
Although the individual impact per aircraft is small, application across the entire fleet can generate annual savings of approximately 1,3 tons of fuel, equivalent to a reduction of more than four tons of CO2 emissions.
