Functional polymers via surface modifying agents, and methods for polymeric surface modification

• US 7,771,793 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Inventors: Duan, Biao, Wynne, Kenneth Joseph, Wynne, James, Kurt, Pinar, Makal, Umit, Grunzinger, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thao T.
• Application Number:
  US11/290,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20060154083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 427/401, 427/445, 528/44
• US Class Current: 427/401
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/10 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 33/12 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 35/02 containing aliphatically bound aldehyde or keto groups, or thio analogues thereof; Derivatives thereof, e.g. acetals
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/50 1,3-Diazoles; Hydrogenated 1,3-diazoles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/3218 containing cyclic groups having at least one oxygen atom in the ring
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4854 Polyethers containing oxyalkylene groups having four carbon atoms in the alkylene group
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/5012 having bromine atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/5015 having fluorine atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/6674 with compounds of group C08G18/3203
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/833 by nitrogen containing compounds by azo compounds C08G18/85
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2375/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/005 Processes for mixing polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/14 Macromolecular compounds according to C08L59/00 - C08L87/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 175/08 from polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 201/02 characterised by the presence of specified groups , e.g. terminal or pendant functional groups
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]

Abstract

Polymers, and particularly conventional commodity bulk polymers, are modified to have a surface activity of interest using a surface modifying polymer that includes a moiety that favors migration to the surface of the bulk polymer together with a moiety provides the activity of interest (e.g., biocidal, wettability modifying (hydrophobic or hydrophilic), resistance to radiant energy, providing a functional group for functionalizing the surface, etc.). The surface modifying polymer is combined with the bulk polymer, and, due to the presence of the moiety that favors migration, concentrates primarily on the surface of the bulk polymer such that the moiety that provides the activity of interest is located primarily on the surface of the bulk polymeric article which is produced. Advantageously, only a minimal amount (such as, e.g., about 2 weight %) of polymeric surface modifier is needed. Being able to achieve desired properties (such as biocidal activity, wettability modification, etc.) without needing much polymeric surface modifier is highly advantageous.

Claims

1. A method of producing a polymeric article or coating with a surface active property, comprising the steps of:

forming a surface active polymer from a telechelic having at least one segmer which enables an activity of interest; and

combining said surface active polymer with bulk polymer to produce a polymeric article or coating having the surface active polymer concentrated primarily on a surface of said bulk polymer, wherein, to enable said activity of interest, said telechelic is comprised of segmers one of which has quaternary ammonium side chains and one of which has polyethylene glycol side chains.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric article or coating with the surface active property has a combination function selected from the group consisting of biocidal activity and contraphilic activity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the polymeric article or coating is produced with adding a minimal amount of surface modifier of not more than 5 weight %.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one segmer is present on a soft block.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the soft block contains no fluorinated segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said telechelic is

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said telechelic is

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said telechelic is