Reinforced composites with repellent and slippery properties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11168276-B2
Application number	US-201715829636-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Aug 28, 2015
Publication date	Nov 9, 2021
Grant date	Nov 9, 2021

Abstract

Compositions and processes are disclosed for forming hydrophobic coatings and lubricant-infused surface coatings. Coatings may be applied to various substrates without prior chemical or temperature treatment of the substrates and over large and irregular surfaces. Coatings are self-healing, antifouling, and have enhanced lifetimes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A structure having a slippery surface, the structure comprising:
an abrasion resistant composite structure comprising a porous reinforcing material comprising a three-dimensional mesh and a repellent interfacial material embedded within the porous reinforcing material;
a lubricant-infused surface coating on an exposed surface of the composite structure; and
wherein a height of the repellent interfacial material is equal to or greater than a height of the porous reinforcing material.

2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the porous reinforcing material comprises stainless steel, or copper, or aluminum, or fiberglass, or carbon fiber, or canvas, or any combination thereof.

3. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the repellent interfacial material comprises a polymer, or an organosilicon compound, or a combination thereof.

4. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the repellent interfacial material comprises at least one of siloxane, silicone, fluoropolymer, methacrylate, polypropylene, polyethylene, cellulose, and silazane.

5. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant-infused surface coating comprises a fluorocarbon polymer, or a silicone oil, or a combination thereof.

6. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the exposed surface comprising the lubricant-infused surface coating has a surface energy between 10 and 20 mJ/m 2 , or a water contact angle between 90 and 135 degrees, or a water roll-off angle between 1 and 25 degrees, or any combination thereof.

7. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the composite structure further comprises a pore-forming additive.

8. The structure of claim 7 , wherein the pore-forming additive comprises at least one of silica, metal, metal oxide, ceramic, polymer, diatomaceous earth, cellulose or a derivative thereof, sugar, starch, salt, and surfactant.

9. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the porous reinforcing material comprises metal or fiberglass, the repellent interfacial material comprises organosilicon, and the lubricant-infused surface coating comprises silicone oil or a fluorocarbon polymer.

10. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising a biocide, or a corrosion inhibitor, or an antifouling agent, or any combination thereof.

11. The structure of claim 1 , further comprising an external lubricant reservoir, or a substrate, or both.

12. A reinforced structure having a slippery surface, the reinforced structure comprising
a substrate,
a reinforcing material comprising a fibrous mesh,
a repellent material embedded within the reinforcing material and comprising a pore-forming additive that is not removed from the repellent material, and
a lubricant,
wherein an exposed surface of the reinforced structure comprises a lubricant-infused surface coating, and
wherein the reinforcing material and the repellent material together form an abrasion resistant interface between the substrate and the lubricant-infused surface coating.

13. The reinforced structure of claim 12 , wherein the exposed surface comprising the lubricant-infused surface coating has a surface energy between 10 and 20 mJ/m 2 , or a water contact angle between 90 and 135 degrees, or a water roll-off angle between 1 and 25 degrees, or any combination thereof.

14. The reinforced structure of claim 12 , wherein the substrate is chosen from at least one of a floor tile, a wall tile, and a component of an animal enclosure having a surface that contacts an animal, and the reinforced structure further comprises a biocide; or
wherein the substrate is chosen from at least one of a marine vessel, buoy, and pier having a surface that contacts a marine environment, and the reinforced structure further comprises an antifouling agent, or a corrosion inhibitor, or both.

15. The reinforced structure of claim 12 , wherein the reinforcing material comprises metal or fiberglass, the repellent material comprises silicon, and the lubricant-infused surface coating comprises silicone oil or a fluorocarbon polymer.

16. A process for making a slippery durable structure, comprising
combining a repellent material with a porous reinforcing material comprising a three-dimensional mesh by embedding the repellent material within the porous reinforcing material to form an abrasion resistant composite structure wherein a height of the repellent material is equal to or greater than a height of three-dimensional mesh,
delivering a lubricant to the composite structure, and
forming a lubricant-infused surface coating on an exposed surface of the composite structure to provide a slippery surface.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the lubricant is delivered to the composite structure through a capillary device in fluid contact with an external lubricant reservoir.

18. A slippery durable structure formed by the process of claim 16 .

19. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the repellent interfacial material fills at least 50% of the pores of the porous reinforcing material.

20. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the interfacial material is a continuous layer of material that completely surrounds the reinforcing material.

Assignees

• Battelle Memorial Institute

Inventors

• Larimer Curtis J
• Addleman Raymond S

Classifications

• B05D1/02

  performed by spraying · CPC title

• C09D183/04

  Polysiloxanes · CPC title

• B08B17/065

  the surface having a microscopic surface pattern to achieve the same effect as a lotus flower · CPC title

• C10M2201/105

  Silica · CPC title

• B05D3/0254

  After-treatment · CPC title