Non-Fouling Surfaces for Reflective Spheres

• US 20120064294A1
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Enzerink, Robert, Daniels, R. Hugh
• Granted Patent: US 8,486,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/141
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/00 Coating on the layer surface
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/416 Reflective
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/73 Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/754 Self-cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2535/00 Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses, catheter medical patches B32B2556/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/26 characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids foam layer B32B5/18; layer of synthetic resin characterised by fillers that create voids or cavities B32B27/205; characterised by an apertured layer
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/1681 Antifouling coatings characterised by surface structure, e.g. for roughness effect giving superhydrophobic coatings or Lotus effect
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/18 Coatings for keeping optical surfaces clean, e.g. hydrophobic or photo-catalytic films G02B1/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/126 including curved refracting surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24421 Silicon containing
• 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 428/2991 Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2993 Silicic or refractory material containing [e.g., tungsten oxide, glass, cement, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2995 Silane, siloxane or silicone coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2996 Glass particles or spheres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31663 As siloxane, silicone or silane

Abstract

The present invention relates to treating of reflective surfaces to prevent fouling. The present invention also relates to reflective materials treated to prevent fouling, as well as methods of using such reflective materials.

Claims

1. A reflective substrate comprising a liquidphobic structure on a sub-micron structured surface of the substrate, wherein the substrate substantially maintains its reflective properties after the substrate is contacted with a liquid.

2. The reflective substrate of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a reflective film, fabric, tape or reflective marker dot.

3. The reflective substrate of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a reflective sphere or cube.

4. The reflective substrate of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a retroreflective substrate.

5. The reflective substrate of claim 1, wherein the liquidphobic structure comprises a hydrophobic coating.

6. The reflective substrate of claim 5, wherein the hydrophobic coating comprises a super-hydrophobic coating.

7. The reflective substrate of claim 5, wherein the hydrophobic coating is disposed on the sub-micron structured surface of the substrate.

8. The reflective substrate of claim 5, wherein the hydrophobic coating comprises perfluorinated organic.

9. The reflective substrate of claim 1, wherein the substrate maintains at least 70% of its reflective properties after contact with a liquid.

10. The reflective substrate of claim 1, wherein the substrate maintains its reflective properties after contact with a biological fluid.

11. A reflective sphere comprising a hydrophobic coating on a sub-micron structured surface of the sphere, wherein the sphere substantially maintains its reflective properties after the sphere is contacted with a liquid.

12. The reflective sphere of claim 11, wherein the hydrophobic coating comprises a perfluorinated organic.

13. The reflective sphere of claim 11, wherein the surface of the sphere further comprises a sub-micron-structured layer of silica particles and a perfluorinated silane hydrophobic coating.

14. The reflective sphere of claim 11, wherein the sphere maintains at least 70% of its reflective properties after contact with a liquid.

15. The reflective substrate of claim 11, wherein the sphere maintains its reflective properties after contact with a biological fluid.