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ExoShield, by Alchemy, is a razor-thin transparent film of protection applied to the exterior of a windshield.Handout

ExoShield by Alchemy

Available at: Select auto glass shops

Price: $299.99 including installation

You just purchased a new smartphone so the first thing you do is slip on that extra-clear skin to protect the glass. Hmmm, there’s a thought. Chong Shen and Khanjan Desai, two enthusiastic nanotechnology engineering graduates from Ontario’s University of Waterloo, came up with a like product for the windshield and it is winning international attention.

ExoShield, by Alchemy, is a razor-thin transparent film of protection applied to the exterior of a windshield. It’s only 0.13 millimetres thick, but that nanomaterial increases a windshield’s impact resistance by six times and blocks 99.9 per cent of harmful UV radiation. That means the danger of rock chips cracking the glass will be mitigated and radiation won’t degrade the interior. To make sure your wipers don’t scratch the film, for a small fee, Alchemy sends fresh blades every three months.

Exoshield was recently announced as a top-10 finalist in the 2018 Sci Innovation Competition, held in Toronto. Those finalists qualified for the grand final in Shenzhen, China.

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