Substrates with a self-cleaning surface, a process for their production and their use

• US 6,800,354 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ferro GmbH (Vibrantz Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ferro GmbH (Vibrantz Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fritsche, Klaus-Dieter, Baumann, Martin, Ludwig, Stephan, Korbelarz, Dagmar, Poth, Lutz
• Primary Examiner(s): ZACHARIA, RAMSEY E
• Application Number:
  US10/021,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20020142150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 428/141, 428/142-143, 428/144, 428/150, 428/145, 428/146, 428/147, 428/148, 428/149, 428/402, 428/323, 428/325, 428/328, 428/329, 428/330, 428/331, 428/411.1, 428/426, 524/430, 524/497, 427/212, 427/256, 427/215, 427/216, 427/331
• US Class Current: 428/141
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/06 by giving articles subject to fouling a special shape or arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/065 the surface having a microscopic surface pattern to achieve the same effect as a lotus flower
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/007 containing a dispersed phase, e.g. particles, fibres or flakes, in a continuous phase
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/34 with at least two coatings having different compositions C03C17/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/42 at least one coating of an organic material and at least one non-metal coating
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2205/04 for self-cleaning enamels or glazes
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/452 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/475 Inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/76 Hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/77 Coatings having a rough surface
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 8/14 Glass frit mixtures having non-frit additions, e.g. opacifiers, colorants, mill-additions
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 8/20 containing titanium compounds; containing zirconium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/2069 Self-cleaning materials, e.g. using lotus effect
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 33/00 Clay-wares monolithic refractories or refractory mortars C04B35/66; porous products C04B38/00
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/0072 Heat treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/009 characterised by the material treated
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/4539 as a emulsion, dispersion or suspension
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/4933 containing halogens, i.e. organohalogen silanes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/5006 Boron compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/5015 containing phosphorus in the anion, e.g. phosphates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/5035 : Silica
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/52 : Multiple coating or impregnating multiple coating or impregnating with the same composition or with compositions only differing in the concentration of the constituents, is classified as single coating or impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/522 : Multiple coatings, for one of the coatings of which at least one alternative is described
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 41/89 : for obtaining at least two superposed coatings having different compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 24/08 : by application of heat or pressure and heat C23C24/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 24/10 : with intermediate formation of a liquid phase in the layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 : Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24364 : with transparent or protective coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24372 : Particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2438 : Coated
• 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 428/256 : Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/258 : Alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/259 : Silicic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 : Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 : Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31612 : As silicone, silane or siloxane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31663 : As siloxane, silicone or silane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31667 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers, or aldehyde or ketone condensation product

Abstract

A substrate of glass, ceramic, plastic and metal, or a glazed or enamelled substrate, with a self-cleaning and/or hydrophobic surface. The substrate having disposed thereon a coating that includes a plurality of particles affixed to the surface of the substrate by a binder. The particles are preferably of nanoscale size and extend outwardly from a surface of the coating to form a nano-rough surface. The nano-rough surface causes a hydrophobic or water repellent effect. The binder can be formed from an organic or an inorganic material and operates to fix the plurality of particles to substrate surface.

Claims

1. A coated substrate, comprising:

a coating disposed on a glass, ceramic, plastic or metal substrate, or disposed on a glazed or enamelled substrate, the coating comprising nanoscale structure-forming particles that form a surface structure that is at least partly hydrophobic, and the nanoscale structure-forming particles have an average diameter of less than 100 nm, and the coating further comprising an inorganic or organic layer-forming material that binds the structure-forming particles to the substrate; and

the coating further comprises micro-scale structure-forming particles having an average diameter in a range of from about 0.1 micrometers to about 50 micrometers, the micro-scale structure-forming particles being contained in a same first layer as the nanoscale particles, or in an optional second layer that is disposed underneath the first layer, whereby the micro-scale structure-forming particles support the nanoscale structure-forming particles that are disposed thereon.

2. The substrate as defined in claim 1, wherein the nanoscale structure-forming particles and the layer-forming material are together present in the coating in a weight ratio in the range from 100:

1 of structure-forming particles to layer-forming material to 1;

2 of structure-forming particles to layer-forming material.

3. The substrate as defined in claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed of glass or plastic.

4. The substrate as defined in claim 3, wherein the substrate is glass and the coated substrate is substantially transparent.