Rain Drops Charge Up and Strike: Tiny Lightning Erodes Coatings
New research shows rain droplets can become electrically charged as they slide across surfaces; when these charged droplets later strike a coating they discharge at a tiny point, causing localized damage that can lead to corrosion of the underlying material. Experiments across different materials reveal charging depends on the crossed surface (up to tenfold differences), suggesting a previously overlooked factor in coating deterioration and guiding the design of more durable protective coatings for cars, infrastructure, and everyday surfaces.