Dynamic infrared-reflective materials based on reflectin films

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10035175-B2
Application number	US-201514723772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2015
Priority date	May 28, 2014
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

Reflectin proteins are proteins derived from cephalopods (certain species of squid) which have unusual optical properties. Disclosed herein are thin films of reflectin proteins which can be tuned to reflect infrared light. Advantageously, the films can be tuned dynamically over short time scales, to reflect at different wavelengths. Disclosed herein are novel infrared-reflective coatings, methods of making such coatings, and infrared-reflective objects such as textiles, building materials, and camouflage materials.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of modulating the infrared reflectance of a reflectin film by application of one or more stimuli,
comprising exposing the reflectin film to an electrical stimulus, a mechanical stimulus, or both;
wherein the reflectin film consists essentially of reflectin protein; and
wherein a change in the infrared reflectance of the film occurs as a result of changes in thin film interference effects in response to the stimulus.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the one or more stimuli comprises a mechanical stimulus.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein
wherein the reflectin film is adhered to a flexible substrate; and
the mechanical stimulus comprises tension applied to the flexible substrate such that the reflectin film is stretched and deforms to assume a thinner conformation than it had prior to the application of the tension.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein
wherein the flexible substrate and reflectin film are stretched to 115% or less of their original length.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein
the thickness of the reflectin film prior to application of the tension is such that its peak reflectance wavelength is above 700 nm and the thickness of the reflectin film during the application of tension decreases such that its peak wavelength reflectance is less than 700 nm.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein
the flexible substrate is a textile.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein
the mechanical stimulus is applied by micromechanical actuators.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein
the one or more stimuli further comprises a chemical stimulus.

Assignees

• Univ California

Inventors

• Gorodetsky Alon
• Phan Long
• Ordinario David
• Karshalev Emil
• Shenk Michael
• Walkup Iv Ward Gale

Classifications

• G02B5/26

  Reflecting filters (G02B5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05D2401/10

  Organic solvent (B05D2401/21 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B5/022

  Non-woven fabric · CPC title

• Y10T428/3154

  Of fluorinated addition polymer from unsaturated monomers · CPC title

• C09D189/00

  Coating compositions based on proteins; Coating compositions based on derivatives thereof (foodstuff preparations A23J3/00) · CPC title