Written on: July 14, 2015 by SprayTM
Vantablack is the darkest material known to humans. It’s so dark, that it absorbs 99.965% of all visible light that hits it, and removes the appearance of all texture from its surface.
Scientists say it is the closest many will get to looking into a black hole – and it’s just got a little bit closer because Lynx (what AXE is called in in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand) has applied the material to one of its aerosol deodorant cans.
The can took 400 hours over a period of four months to produce; Unilever worked with the developers of Vantablack, Surrey Nanosystems, in order to produce the finished product. That process involved some work inside an isolation chamber.
The material is comprised of carbon nanotubes that are 10,000 times thinner than a human hair, and the end product is so dark that the human eye struggles to identify any details on its surface.
Ben Jensen, Chief Technology Officer at Surrey Nanoystems, said: “This is a ground-breaking moment for Vantablack as it’s the first time we’ve created a product for consumer viewing – by coating a Lynx can with the blackest material known to man. We’re thrilled to be able to give people the chance to experience the can and its unique ‘black hole’ like qualities.”
Lynx is now giving the public the chance to experience Vantablack for themselves, with the can going on display at the Lynx Black Space on Dray Walk in Shoreditch, UK until August 2.
Lynx Marketing Manager David Titman said: “To be the world’s first consumer product wrapped in this material is really exciting. This is the most innovative project we have ever worked on – the material was an obvious fit for our new product range, Lynx Black. Understated and slick, whilst pushing the barriers of science and technology, and giving people a truly unique opportunity to view it.”
Source: www.irishexaminer.com
