Superhydrophobic fibers and methods of preparation and use thereof

• US 20060292369A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Lowery, Joseph L., Rutledge, Gregory C., Hill, Randal M., Fridrikh, Sergey, Ma, Minglin
• Granted Patent: US 8,574,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/364
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0038 the fibre formed by solvent evaporation, i.e. dry electro-spinning
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/42 comprising cyclic compounds containing one carbon-to-carbon double bond in the side chain as major constituent
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/92 of polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/96 from other synthetic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249924 Noninterengaged fiber-containing paper-free web or sheet which is not of specified porosity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/29 Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 Coated or with bond, impregnation or core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2967 Synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2164 Coating or impregnation specified as water repellent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2172 Also specified as oil repellent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2221 Coating or impregnation is specified as water proof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2238 Fluorocarbon containing

Abstract

The present invention relates to fibers exhibiting a water contact angle of above 150° and water contact angle hysteresis of below 15°, methods of producing the same, and applications thereof. The present invention further relates to superhydrophobic fiber mats, methods of producing the same, and applications thereof.

Claims

1. A fiber comprising a copolymer wherein said fiber exhibits a water contact angle of above 150°

and water contact angle hysteresis of below 15°

.

2. The fiber of claim 1, wherein the diameter of said fiber is between 1 nm-5 micron.

3. The fiber of claim 2, wherein said diameter is between 1 nm-500 nm.

4. The fiber of claim 1, wherein said water contact angle is above 160°

.

5. The fiber of claim 1, wherein said fiber is an electrospun fiber.

6. The fiber of claim 1, wherein said fiber exhibits a microphase-separation.

7. The fiber of claim 1, wherein said fiber comprises a component, wherein the surface energy of said component is below 1 mJ/m².

8. The fiber of claim 7, wherein said component segregates to the surface of said fiber.

9. The fiber of claim 7, wherein said component is a part of said copolymer.

10. The fiber of claim 7, wherein said component comprises a silicon structure.

11. The fiber of claim 10, wherein said silicon structure is a resin, linear, branched, cross-linked, cross-linkable silicone structure or any combination thereof.

12. The fiber of claim 10, wherein said silicon structure is poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

13. The fiber of claim 7, wherein said component comprises fluorine.

14. The fiber of claim 1, wherein said copolymer comprises a polyisobutylene, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyacrylate, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyetherimide, any derivative thereof or any combination thereof.

15. The fiber of claim 1, wherein said copolymer comprises a block, graft, star or random copolymer.

16. The fiber of claim 15, wherein said block copolymer comprises poly(styrene-co-dimethylsiloxane) (PS-PDMS).

17. The fiber of claim 15, wherein said fiber comprises poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) blocks non-uniformly dispersed within a polystyrene (PS) matrix.

18. The fiber of claim 17, wherein said poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) blocks segregate to the surface of said fibers.

19. The fiber of claim 15, wherein said block copolymer comprises poly(dimethylsiloxane-co-etherimide).

20. The fiber of claim 1, wherein said fiber exhibits surface roughness properties.

21. A composition or an article of manufacture comprising the fiber of claim 1.

22. A superhydrophobic mat of fibers comprising a copolymer wherein said mat exhibits a water contact angle of above 150°

and water contact angle hysteresis of below 15°

.

23. The mat of claim 22, wherein said mat exhibits a water contact angle of above 160°

.

24. The mat of claim 22, wherein said mat exhibits an isotropic nature of said contact angle, contact angle hysteresis or a combination thereof.

25. The mat of claim 22, wherein said mat exhibits a non-isotropic nature of said contact angle, contact angle hysteresis or a combination thereof.

26. The mat of claim 22, wherein the diameter of said fiber is between 1 nm-5 micron.

27. The mat of claim 26, wherein said diameter is between 1 nm-500 nm.

28. The mat of claim 22, wherein said fiber is an electrospun fiber.

29. The mat of claim 22, wherein said fiber exhibits a microphase-separation.

30. The mat of claim 22, wherein said fiber comprises a component, wherein the surface energy of said component is below 1 mJ/m².

31. The mat of claim 30, wherein said component segregates to the surface of said fiber.

32. The mat of claim 30, wherein said component is a part of said copolymer.

33. The mat of claim 30, wherein said component comprises a silicon structure.

34. The mat of claim 33, wherein said silicon structure is a resin, linear, branched, cross-linked, cross-linkable silicone structure or any combination thereof.

35. The mat of claim 33, wherein said silicon structure is poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

36. The mat of claim 30, wherein said component comprises fluorine.

37. The mat of claim 22, wherein said copolymer comprises a polyisobutylene, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyacrylate, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyetherimide, any derivative thereof or any combination thereof.

38. The mat of claim 22, wherein said copolymer comprises a block, graft, star or random copolymer.

39. The mat of claim 38, wherein said block copolymer comprises poly(styrene-co-dimethylsiloxane) (PS-PDMS).

40. The mat of claim 38, wherein said fiber comprises poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) blocks non-uniformly dispersed within a polystyrene (PS) matrix.

41. The mat of claim 40, wherein said poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) blocks segregate to the surface of said fibers.

42. The mat of claim 38, wherein said block copolymer comprises poly(dimethylsiloxane-co-etherimide).

43. The mat of claim 22, wherein said mat-exhibits surface roughness properties.

44. The mat of claim 22, wherein said mat exhibits pore size of between 0.1-100 micron.

45. An article of manufacture comprising the mat of claim 22.

46. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein said article of manufacture is a waterproof, water resistant or water draining substance.

47. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein said article of manufacture is a self-cleaning substance.

48. The article of manufacture of claim 45, wherein said article of manufacture of is a coating substance.

49. The article of manufacture of claim 48, wherein said coating reduces drag.

50. The article of manufacture of any one of claims 45, wherein said article of manufacture is a fabric.

51. The article of manufacture of claim 50, wherein said fabric is a breathable fabric.

52. The article of manufacture of claim 50, wherein said fabric has a filtration functionality.

53. The article of manufacture of claim 50, wherein said fabric has an absorptive functionality.

54. The article of manufacture of claim 50, wherein said fabric is a non-woven fabric.

55. The article of manufacture of claim 50, wherein said fabric is a waterproof or water resistant fabric.

56. The article of manufacture of any one of claim 45, wherein said article of manufacture is a drug delivery system.

57. The article of manufacture of any one of claim 45, wherein said article of manufacture is a bandage or patch.

58. The article of manufacture of claim 57, wherein said bandage or patch comprise a drug.

59. A method for preparing a superhydrophobic fiber or fibers, the method comprising the step of electrospinning a solution comprising a copolymer, wherein said copolymer comprises a component, comprising a silicon structure and having a surface energy of less than 1 mJ/m², said solution exhibits conductivity, surface tension and viscoelasticity fluidic properties, and whereby said electrospinning produces a superhydrophobic fiber or fibers exhibiting a water contact angle of above 150°

and water contact angle hysteresis of below 15°

.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the diameter of said fiber is between 1 nm-5 micron.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein said diameter is between 1 nm-500 nm.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein said water contact angle is above 160°

.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein said fiber exhibits a microphase-separation.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein said component segregates to the surface of said fibers.

65. The method of claim 59, wherein said silicon structure is a resin, linear, branched, cross-linked, cross-linkable silicone structure or any combination thereof.

66. The method of claim 59, wherein said silicon structure is poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

67. The method of claim 59, wherein said component comprises fluorine.

68. The method of claim 59, wherein said copolymer comprises a polyisobutylene, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyacrylate, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide any derivative thereof or any combination thereof.

69. The method of claim 59, wherein said copolymer comprises a block, graft, star or random copolymer.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein said block copolymer comprises poly(styrene-co-dimethylsiloxane) (PS-PDMS).

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the concentration of said poly(styrene-co-dimethylsiloxane) (PS-PDMS) in said solution is 21%.

72. The method of claim 59, wherein said fiber comprises poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) blocks non-uniformly dispersed within a polystyrene (PS) matrix.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein said poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) blocks segregate to the surface of said fibers.

74. The method of claim 59, wherein said fiber exhibits surface roughness properties.

75. The method of claim 59, wherein said solution further comprises tetrahydrofuran, diethylformamide, chloroform or a combination thereof.

76. The method of claim 59, wherein said solution further comprises tetrahydrofuran and diethylformamide in a ratio of 3:

1.

77. The method of claim 59, wherein said solution further comprises chloroform and diethylformamide in a ratio of 4:

1.

78. The method of claim 59, further comprising the step of producing a superhydrophobic mat comprising said fibers.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein said mat exhibits surface roughness properties.

80. The mat of claim 78, wherein said mat exhibits pore sizes of between 0.1-100 micron.

81. The method of claim 78, wherein said mat exhibits a non-isotropic nature of said contact angle, contact angle hysteresis or a combination thereof.