Abstract: The invention relates to a device for taking up oil from a water surface, comprising a container for receiving the oil and an oil-transporting means, wherein a portion of the oil-transporting means can be brought into fluid communication with the water surface and another portion of the oil-transporting means is disposed within the container, wherein the oil can be transported into the container via the oil-transporting means, wherein the oil-transporting means is formed from a hydrophobic fabric, the surface of which comprises filament-shaped and/or grid-like structures which are designed in such a way that they retain a gas layer on the surface of the hydrophobic fabric under water. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for taking up oil from a water surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for taking up oil from a water surface, comprising a container for receiving the oil and an oil-transporting means, wherein a portion of the oil-transporting means can be brought into fluid communication with the water surface and another portion of the oil-transporting means is disposed within the container, wherein the oil can be transported into the container via the oil-transporting means, wherein the oil-transporting means is formed from a hydrophobic fabric, the surface of which comprises filament-shaped and/or grid-like structures which are designed in such a way that they retain a gas layer on the surface of the hydrophobic fabric under water. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for taking up oil from a water surface.

Abstract: Device mountable on a surface (10), the device comprising a spacer system (12, 16, 20, 22) and a grid structure (2) which grid structure (2) is attached in spaced relation to the surface (10) by means of the spacer system (12, 16, 20, 22), wherein the distance between the surface (10) and the grid structure (2) is in a range from >0.1 ?m to <10 mm, wherein the grid structure (2) forms meshes of a mesh size in a range from >0.5 ?m to <8 mm, and wherein the surface of the grid structure (2) is at least partially amphiphobic. Method of maintaining a gas or air layer on a surface when the surface is immersed in a liquid or water comprising such device, and uses thereof.

Abstract: An object having a surface that has: filaments having a length of from 30 to 6000 ?m, a diameter to length ratio of from 1:10 to 1:20, and are bound to the surface with at least one front face thereof; wherein the distance between two neighboring filaments on the surface is such that the ratio of such distance to the length of the filaments is from 1:3 to 1:10; the filaments have an elasticity of from 104 to 1010 N/m2; the surface of the filament is at least partially hydrophobic, so that the contact angle between a filament and water is greater than 100°, characterized in that the filaments are structurally or chemically anisotropic.

Abstract: An object having a surface that has: filaments having a length of from 30 to 6000 ?m, a diameter to length ratio of from 1:10 to 1:20, and are bound to the surface with at least one front face thereof; wherein the distance between two neighboring filaments on the surface is such that the ratio of such distance to the length of the filaments is from 1:3 to 1:10; the filaments have an elasticity of from 104 to 1010 N/m2; the surface of the filament is hydrophobic, so that the contact angle between a filament and water is greater than 100°.

Abstract: The method for the preparation of self-cleaning surfaces having protrusions and recesses, wherein the distance between said protrusions is in a range of from 0.1 to 200 ?m and the height of said protrusions is in a range of from 0.1 to 100 ?m is performed by applying a solution, dispersion or emulsion containing a hydrophobic material which forms a self-cleaning surface by self-organization when the solvent is evaporated, followed by drying, wherein the material applied can be removed with detergents.

Abstract: The method for the preparation of self-cleaning surfaces having protrusions and recesses, wherein the distance between said protrusions is in a range of from 0.1 to 200 ?m and the height of said protrusions is in a range of from 0.1 to 100 ?m is performed by applying a solution, dispersion or emulsion containing a hydrophobic material which forms a self-cleaning surface by self-organization when the solvent is evaporated, followed by drying, wherein the material applied can be removed with detergents.

Abstract: The self-cleaning surfaces of objects have an artificial surface structure of elevations and depressions wherein the distances between said elevations are in the range of from 5 to 200 &mgr;m, and the heights of said elevations are in the range of from 5 to 100 &mgr;m, and at least said elevations consist of hydrophobic polymers or permanently hydrophobized materials, and said elevations cannot be detached by water or by water containing detergents.