Slippery self-lubricating polymer surfaces
First Claim
1. An article having a slippery surface to repel target materials, the article comprising:
- a substrate comprising a polymer having the general formula PxSy, where P is a covalently crosslinked polymer and S is a supramolecular block within the polymer, wherein x+y=1 and “
y”
is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1, wherein the supramolecular blocks are held together by noncovalent interactions between the monomer repeat units of the supramolecular block, wherein the noncovalent interactions comprise(1) host-guest interaction between receptor-donor systems, choice of said host-guest interactions including complex of cyclodextrin with hydrophobic guest molecules, cucurbiturils with aromatic molecules, crown ethers with ionic compounds,(2) physical crosslinking between domains formed by microphase separation, choice of said microphase separation including self-assembly of block copolymers, partial molecular fold structures, π
-π
stacking domains, and crystalline domains;
(3) noncovalent bonds between additives, choice of said additives including microparticles, nanoparticles, clay, graphene, and other inorganic additives;
(4) hydrogen bonding, choice of said hydrogen bonding including hydrogen bonds formed between urea groups;
(5) ionic bonding, choice of said ionic bonding including bonds between amino and carboxylic acid groups;
(6) coordination interaction, choice of said coordination interaction including metal-ligand coordination;
(7) entangled structures, choice of said entangled structures including entanglements formed between groups that include rotaxanes and sliding rings;
or(8) combinations thereof;
a lubricating liquid infused within and over the polymer andwherein the polymer and the lubricating liquid have an affinity for each other such that the infused lubricating liquid is absorbed within at least a part of the polymer to form a lubricating liquid-infused polymer while a remainder of the lubricating liquid extends from the swollen layer and forms an overlayer of the lubricating liquid, on and above a surface of the swollen layerwherein the lubricating liquid is immiscible with the target materials andwherein the lubricating liquid has an affinity with the polymer to maintain and replenish the overlayer by providing the lubricating liquid from said swollen layer to preserve the overlayer throughout operational life of the article.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery self-lubricating polymers. Lubricating liquids with affinities to polymers can be utilized to get absorbed within the polymer and form a lubricant layer (of the lubricating liquid) on the polymer. The lubricant layer can repel a wide range of materials, including simple and complex fluids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and bodily fluids), restore liquid-repellency after physical damage, and resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion. Some exemplary applications where self-lubricating polymers will be useful include energy-efficient, friction-reduction fluid handling and transportation, medical devices, anti-icing, optical sensing, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments.
63 Citations
41 Claims
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1. An article having a slippery surface to repel target materials, the article comprising:
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a substrate comprising a polymer having the general formula PxSy, where P is a covalently crosslinked polymer and S is a supramolecular block within the polymer, wherein x+y=1 and “
y”
is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1, wherein the supramolecular blocks are held together by noncovalent interactions between the monomer repeat units of the supramolecular block, wherein the noncovalent interactions comprise(1) host-guest interaction between receptor-donor systems, choice of said host-guest interactions including complex of cyclodextrin with hydrophobic guest molecules, cucurbiturils with aromatic molecules, crown ethers with ionic compounds, (2) physical crosslinking between domains formed by microphase separation, choice of said microphase separation including self-assembly of block copolymers, partial molecular fold structures, π
-π
stacking domains, and crystalline domains;(3) noncovalent bonds between additives, choice of said additives including microparticles, nanoparticles, clay, graphene, and other inorganic additives; (4) hydrogen bonding, choice of said hydrogen bonding including hydrogen bonds formed between urea groups; (5) ionic bonding, choice of said ionic bonding including bonds between amino and carboxylic acid groups; (6) coordination interaction, choice of said coordination interaction including metal-ligand coordination; (7) entangled structures, choice of said entangled structures including entanglements formed between groups that include rotaxanes and sliding rings;
or(8) combinations thereof; a lubricating liquid infused within and over the polymer and wherein the polymer and the lubricating liquid have an affinity for each other such that the infused lubricating liquid is absorbed within at least a part of the polymer to form a lubricating liquid-infused polymer while a remainder of the lubricating liquid extends from the swollen layer and forms an overlayer of the lubricating liquid, on and above a surface of the swollen layer wherein the lubricating liquid is immiscible with the target materials and wherein the lubricating liquid has an affinity with the polymer to maintain and replenish the overlayer by providing the lubricating liquid from said swollen layer to preserve the overlayer throughout operational life of the article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A membrane filter that is resistant to clogging and fouling through an action of repelling fluidic target materials, the membrane comprising:
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a swellable polymer comprising a polymer having the general formula PxSy, where P is a covalently cross-linked polymer and S is a supramolecular block within the polymer, wherein x+y=1 and “
y”
is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1 and having at least one pore disposed through the thickness of the membrane, each said pore open to the passage of liquid or gas there through, wherein the supramolecular blocks are held together by noncovalent interactions between the monomer repeat units of the supramolecular block, wherein the noncovalent interactions comprise(1) host-guest interaction between receptor-donor systems, choice of said host-guest interactions including complex of cyclodextrin with hydrophobic guest molecules, cucurbiturils with aromatic molecules, crown ethers with ionic compounds, (2) physical crosslinking between domain formed by microphase separation, choice of said microphase separation including self-assembly of block copolymers, partial molecular fold structures, π
-π
stacking domains, and crystalline domains;(3) noncovalent bonds between additives, choice of said additives including microparticles, nanoparticles, clay, graphene, and other inorganic additives; (4) hydrogen bonding, choice of said hydrogen bonding including hydrogen bonds formed between urea groups; (5) ionic bonding, choice of said ionic bonding including bonds between amino and carboxylic acid groups; (6) coordination interaction, choice of said coordination interaction including metal-ligand coordination; (7) entangled structures, choice of said entangled structures including entanglements formed between groups that include rotaxanes and sliding rings;
or(8) combinations thereof; and a first lubricating liquid having a first viscosity, said first lubricating liquid solubilized in at least an outer layer of the membrane including at least one pore to provide a lubricating layer, the polymer being of a swollen form due to the lubricating liquid within it and also having an overlayer of lubricating liquid above surfaces forming the pore of the swollen form polymer, wherein the lubricating liquid is immiscible with the target materials and wherein the lubricating liquid has an affinity with the polymer to maintain and replenish the overlayer by providing the lubricating liquid from said swollen layer to preserve the overlayer throughout operational life of the membrane filter. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An article having a slippery surface to repel target materials, the article comprising:
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a substrate comprising a polymer having the general formula PxSy, where P is a covalently cross-linked polymer and S is a supramolecular block within the polymer, wherein x+y=1 and ‘
y’
is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 1, wherein said polymer includes one or more polymers formed by the reaction of monomers, initiators and crosslinkers identified in Tables 1, 2 and 3; anda lubricating liquid infused within and over the polymer; wherein the polymer and the lubricating liquid have an affinity for each other such that the infused lubricating liquid is absorbed within at least a part of the polymer to form a lubricating liquid-infused polymer while a remainder of the lubricating liquid extends from the swollen layer and forms an overlayer of the lubricating liquid, on and above a surface of the swollen layer, wherein the lubricating liquid is immiscible with the target materials, and wherein the lubricating liquid has an affinity with the polymer to maintain and replenish the overlayer by providing the lubricating liquid from said swollen layer to preserve the overlayer throughout operational life of the article.
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Specification