[mrmeval]

Earlier
http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=417

And it's now been made table top sized
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/06/raydiance

[JesseL]

I wonder if this process has any beneficial effect on the metal besides turning it black? Does it provide any wear or corrosion resistance?

[Jim Watson]

I think it would be a rather delicate finish. Light absorbent due to super duper fine surface texture, seems that any wear at all would burnish that texture smooth. I would worry about rust on carbon steel, the high surface area is just more room for chemical attack by sweat and fouling.

[mrmeval]

I suspect it's somewhat fragile to physical abuse and like fresh carc paint collect dirt.

The article says it works on copper, gold, zinc so you'd have to zinc or copper plate the steel though the government would of course want gold. ;)

With the zinc you'd have something similar to parkerizing but much darker and if the nano pattern mimics lotus leaves you'd have a pretty good oil free corrosion coating.

Lotus effect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJtQ6dvcbOg
Neat eh?