| Suit that never gets dirty |
SCIENTISTS have won a œ1million grant to help develop clothes that never need cleaning.
It will aid research into nano-technology, looking at the properties of fabrics down to atomic particles.
And it could make the plot of the 1951 Ealing comedy The Man In The White Suit a reality.
In the film, scientist Sidney Stratton, played by Alec Guinness, invents a fabric that never gets dirty or wears out.
Experiments The real experiments will be carried out by chemical giant Unilever.
The Merseyside company's Dr Peter Doyle said the research could also help people with problem hair.
He said: 'We will be using this money to advance our techniques and look at fibres and human hairs.
'By looking at materials at such a level, we can learn an awful lot and hopefully develop a range of cutting-edge products. It may well be possible to add stain-resistant properties to fabrics, for instance.
'We will also be interested in grooming products and we will be looking at the composition of human hair.
'It will help us produce designer goods such as hair-care products that can stop hair from becoming frizzy.
'Nature operates on a nano-scale and we will understand the things that nature can do if we operate at the same level.'
The grant is part of the Government's œ90million micro and nano-technology manufacturing initiative.
Trade Minister Nigel Griffiths said: 'Nano-technology is a very exciting and important emerging technology.
'It is something that has the capacity to improve day-today living for everyone.
'It is about designing cutting-edge products and improving existing ones.'
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