Apparatus with a liquid-impregnated surface to facilitate material conveyance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9625075-B2
Application number	US-201313902718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2013
Priority date	May 24, 2012
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

Described herein are conduits for conveying fluids and/or solids, the conduits having an interior surface that provide a high-slip boundary condition, thereby facilitating the flow of material therethrough. In some embodiments, the conduit has an interior surface with an impregnating liquid and a plurality of micro-scale and/or nano-scale solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating liquid therebetween. The impregnating liquid fills spaces between the solid features, the interior surface stably contains the impregnating liquid between the solid features, and the impregnating liquid is substantially held in place between the plurality of solid features regardless of orientation of the interior surface and regardless of flow, passage, or removal of fluids and/or solids through, into, or out of the conduit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conduit for conveying fluids and/or solids, the conduit having an interior surface comprising an impregnating liquid and a plurality of micro-scale and/or nano-scale solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating liquid therebetween, wherein said impregnating liquid fills spaces between said solid features, wherein said interior surface stably contains said impregnating liquid between said solid features, wherein said impregnating liquid is substantially held in place between said plurality of solid features regardless of orientation of said interior surface and regardless of flow, passage, or removal of fluids and/or solids through, into, or out of said conduit, said interior surface configured to provide a high-slip boundary condition at said interior surface, thereby facilitating the flow, passage, or removal of fluids and/or solids through, into, or out of said conduit, and wherein the conduit comprises a reservoir for containing liquid for replenishing impregnating liquid lost from the liquid-impregnated surface.

2. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is a tube, pipe, or channel.

3. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is a nozzle.

4. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is a mold, including wherein the mold is part of an injection molding apparatus or is part of an extruder.

5. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the conduit is a canister or vessel.

6. An apparatus comprising the conduit of claim 1 .

7. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the impregnating liquid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethyl oleate, an ester, a fatty acid, a fatty acid derivative, a vegetable oil, phenyl isothiocyanate, a terpene, bromobenzene, iodobenzene, o-bromotoluene, alpha-chloronaphthalene, alpha-bromonaphthalene, acetylene tetrabromide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (BMIm), tribromohydrin, ethylene dibromide, carbon disulfide, bromoform, methylene iodide (diiodomethane), stanolax, Squibb's liquid petrolatum, p-bromotoluene, monobromobenzene, perchloroethylene, carbon disulfide, phenyl mustard oil, monoiodobenzene, alpha-monochloronaphthalene, acetylene tetrabromide, aniline, butyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, n-heptyl alcohol, cresol, oleic acid, linoleic acid, amyl phthalate, silicone oil, a perfluorocarbon liquid, a perfluorofluorinated vacuum oil, a fluorinated coolant, an ionic liquid, a fluorinated ionic liquid that is immiscible with water, a silicone oil comprising PDMS, a fluorinated silicone oil, a liquid metal, an electro-rheological fluid, a magneto-rheological fluid, a ferrofluid, a dielectric liquid, a hydrocarbon liquid, a fluorocarbon liquid, a refrigerant, a vacuum oil, a phase-change material, a semi-liquid, grease, synovial fluid, and a bodily fluid.

8. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, candelilla wax, zein (from corn), dextrin, cellulose ether, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, insoluble fiber, purified wood cellulose, micro-crystalline cellulose, kaolinite (clay mineral), Japan wax, pulp, ferric oxide, iron oxide, sodium formate, sodium oleate, sodium palmitate, sodium sulfate, silica, glass, a metal, a polymer, a ceramic solid, a fluorinated solid, an intermetallic solid, a composite solid, PDMS, cyclic olefin polymer, polypropylene, PVC, PET, HDPE, polyimide, PMMA, glass, Perspex, Plexiglass, Polymacon, a hydrocarbon, a fluoropolymer, teflon, trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane (TCS), octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyltrichlorosilane, fluoroPOSS, a ceramic an intermetallic compound, and a composite.

9. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise or define at least one member selected from the group consisting of particles, amorphous particles, substantially spherical particles, posts, nanoneedles, microneedles, nanograss, micrograss, pores, cavities, wells, interconnected pores, interconnected cavities, grooves, and ridges.

10. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the impregnating liquid comprises an additive to prevent or reduce evaporation of the impregnating liquid.

11. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, and candelilla wax.

12. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose ether, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose.

13. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of PDMS, cyclic olefin polymer, polypropylene, PVC, PET, HDPE, polyimide, PMMA, glass, Perspex, Plexiglass, Polymacon, a hydrocarbon, and a fluoropolymer, and teflon.

14. The conduit of claim 1 wherein the solid features comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane (TCS), octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyltrichlorosilane.

15. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting ferric oxide and iron oxide.

16. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of a metal and an intermetallic solid.

17. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise a composite solid.

18. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the impregnating liquid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid derivative and a vegetable oil.

19. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the impregnating liquid comprises silicone oil.

20. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the impregnating liquid comprises a water-based liquid comprising a perfluorocarbon liquid.

21. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of a composite solid and PDMS and the impregnating liquid comprises a silicone oil comprising PDMS.

22. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, a hydrocarbon, and HDPE, and the impregnating liquid comprises a hydrocarbon liquid.

23. The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise particles having an average dimension in a range of 1 micron to 50 microns.

24. The conduit of claim 23 , wherein the particles are arranged with average spacing of about 1 microns to about 30 microns-between adjacent particles or clusters of particles.

25. The conduit of claim 23 , wherein the particles are spray-deposited.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Smith J David
• Dhiman Rajeev
• Paxson Adam T
• Love Christopher J
• Solomon Brian R
• Varanasi Kripa K

Classifications

• F16L58/04 Primary

  Coatings characterised by the materials used (F16L58/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L55/00 Primary

  Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems (F16L1/00 - F16L53/00, F16L57/00, F16L59/00 take precedence; repairing or joining pipes on or under water F16L1/26; cleaning of pipes B08B9/02, e.g. removal of blockages B08B9/027; devices for preventing bursting of water pipes by freezing E03B7/10) · CPC title