In fluid dynamics, the Toms effect is a reduction of the drag of a turbulent flow thought a pipeline when polymer solutions are added.
[1] In 1948, B.
A. Toms discovered[2] by experiments that the addition of a small amount of polymer into a Newtonian solvent (parts per million by weight), which results in a non-Newtonian fluid solution, can reduce the skin frictional drag on a stationary surface by up to 80% when turbulence is present.
[1] This technology has been successfully implemented to reduce pumping cost for oil pipelines, to increase the flow rate in fire fighting equipment and to help irrigation and drainage.
[3][4] It also has potential applications in the design of ship and submarine hulls to achieve an increased speed and reduced energy cost.