Methods for detecting defects in inorganic-coated polymer surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9310315-B2
Application number	US-201414192711-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2014
Priority date	Dec 17, 2007
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

Lipophilic fluorescent substances can be used to detect surface defects in materials having hydrophilic (e.g., inorganic) coatings. Use of the described methods makes surface defects appear fluorescent, while the remaining surfaces are not labeled. The disclosed methods are inexpensive, rapid, and easy alternatives to existing approaches.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A material comprising a surface defect, comprising:
a) a substrate comprising a hydrophobic surface;
b) a hydrophilic layer covering at least a portion of the hydrophobic surface, wherein the hydrophilic layer comprises a defect that leaves a portion of the hydrophobic surface exposed; and
c) a lipophilic, fluorescent substance comprising a fluorescent moiety and a lipophilic moiety, wherein the lipophilic, fluorescent substance is in contact with the exposed hydrophobic surface of the substrate.

2. The material of claim 1 wherein the substrate is or comprises a polymer.

3. The material of claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic layer is or comprises an inorganic material.

4. The material of claim 1 wherein the defect has a width or diameter of about 500 nm or less.

5. The material of claim 1 wherein the lipophilic, fluorescent substance comprises two or more lipophilic moieties.

6. The material of claim 1 wherein the lipophilic moiety is a hydrocarbon having 1-20 carbon atoms.

7. The material of claim 1 wherein the lipophilic moiety is an alkyl group having 1-20 carbon atoms.

8. The material of claim 1 wherein the lipophilic moiety is a phenyl or styryl group.

9. The material of claim 1 wherein the lipophilic, fluorescent substance is or comprises a fluorescent dye, fluorescent microparticle or a semiconductor nanocrystal.

10. The material of claim 1 wherein the lipophilic, fluorescent substance comprises a hydrophobic fluorescent dye selected from the group consisting of a p-aminophenyl phosphorylcholine, a naphthalene, an anthracene, a phenanthrene, an indole, a carbazole, a stilbene, a benzimidazole, a benzoxazole, a benzothiazole, a quinoline, a benzoxanthrone, an oxazole, an isoxazole, an oxadiazole, a benzofuran, a pyrene, a perylene, a coronene, a coumarin, a carbostyryl, a bimane, an acridine, a polyphenylene, a phenoxazone, an oxazine, a pyronine, a porphine, a porphyrin, a phthallocyanine and their metallated complexes, a xanthene, a fluorescein, a rhodamine, a cyanine, a carbocyanine, a merocyanine, a rubrene and an azulene, wherein the hydrophobic fluorescent dye is electrically neutral or has ionic charges balanced by lipophilic counter ions.

11. The material of claim 1 wherein the lipophilic, fluorescent substance comprises a hydrophobic fluorescent dye selected from the group consisting of diaza-indacenes, squarenes and styryl dyes.

12. The material of claim 1 wherein the fluorescent moiety is less lipophilic than the lipophilic moiety.

13. A method of identifying a defect in a surface, comprising:
a) providing a substrate having a hydrophobic surface at least partially coated by a hydrophilic layer, wherein the hydrophilic layer has the defect therein that leaves a portion of the hydrophobic surface exposed;
b) contacting the substrate with a lipophilic, fluorescent substance comprising a fluorescent moiety and a lipophilic moiety for a sufficient amount of time for the substance to adhere to the exposed hydrophobic surface;
c) exciting the fluorescent substance with energy at an appropriate wavelength to generate a detectable fluorescence response; and
d) detecting the fluorescence response of the substance.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising washing the substrate after contacting the substrate with the lipophilic, fluorescent substance to remove fluorescent substance from the hydrophilic surface.

Assignees

• Life Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Zhang Yu-Zhong

Classifications

• G01N21/91 Primary

  using penetration of dyes, e.g. fluorescent ink · CPC title

• C07F5/022

  without C-boron linkages · CPC title

• Y10T428/24355

  Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.] · CPC title