Optically transparent superhydrophobic thin film

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10870775-B2
Application number	US-201815991873-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2018
Priority date	Feb 27, 2018
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A composition that is easily applied, clear, well-bonded, and superhydrophobic is disclosed. In one aspect, the composition includes a hydrophobic fluorinated solvent, a binder comprising a hydrophobic fluorinated polymer, and hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles. Also disclosed is a structure including a substrate coated with the composition, as well as a method for making the composition and a method of coating a substrate with the composition.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A composition comprising:
a hydrophobic fluorinated solvent;
a binder comprising a hydrophobic fluorinated polymer;
hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles; and
hydrophobic aerogel nanoparticles, wherein the average size of the aerogel nanoparticles is within the range of 10 nm to 200 nm.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the binder is present in about 0.3 to about 1.5 weight percent of the composition.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the binder is present in about 0.8 to about 1.2 weight percent of the composition.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles are present in about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent of the composition.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles are present in about 0.08 to about 0.12 weight percent of the composition.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the binder is amorphous, optically clear and soluble in the hydrophobic fluorinated solvent.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles are chemically treated with a fluorinated material.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles are chemically treated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic aerogel nanoparticles are present in about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight percent of the composition.

10. A structure, comprising:
a substrate; and
a superhydrophobic coating on the substrate, wherein the superhydrophobic coating comprises the composition of claim 1 .

11. The structure of claim 10 , wherein the superhydrophobic coating has a water contact angle of about 130 degrees or greater.

12. The structure of claim 10 , wherein the superhydrophobic coating has both advancing and receding water contact angles of about 130 degrees or greater.

13. The structure of claim 10 , wherein the superhydrophobic coating has a light transmission of at least 95% for wavelengths between 400 nm and 700 nm.

14. The structure of claim 10 , wherein the substrate is optically transparent.

15. The structure of claim 10 , further comprising a silane layer disposed between the superhydrophobic coating and the substrate.

16. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the average size of the silica nanoparticles is within the range of 10 nm to 200 nm.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Simpson John T

Classifications

• C09K3/18

  for application to surfaces to minimize adherence of ice, mist or water thereto (rendering particulate materials free flowing, in general, e.g. making them hydrophobic B01J2/30); Thawing or antifreeze materials for application to surfaces (used in liquids for heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage or for the production of heat or cold other than by combustion, e.g. radiator liquids, C09K5/00) · CPC title

• C09D201/04 Primary

  containing halogen atoms · CPC title

• C09D7/67

  Particle size smaller than 100 nm · CPC title

• C09D7/63

  organic · CPC title

• C09D5/00

  Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, characterised by their physical nature or the effects produced {(electrically insulating plastics, resins or waxes H01B3/30)}; Filling pastes · CPC title