摘要:
Some variations provide an anti-fouling segmented copolymer composition comprising: (a) one or more first soft segments selected from fluoropolymers; (b) one or more second soft segments selected from polyesters or polyethers; (c) one or more isocyanate species possessing an isocyanate functionality of 2 or greater, or a reacted form thereof; (d) one or more polyol or polyamine chain extenders or crosslinkers, or a reacted form thereof; and (e) a fluid additive selectively disposed in the first soft segments or in the second soft segments. Other variations provide an anti-fouling segmented copolymer precursor composition comprising a fluid additive precursor selectively disposed in the first soft segments or in the second soft segments, wherein the fluid additive precursor includes a protecting group. The anti-fouling segmented copolymer composition may be present in an anti-ice coating, an anti-bug coating, an anti-friction coating, an energy-transfer material, or an energy-storage material, for example.
摘要:
This invention provides durable, low-ice-adhesion coatings with excellent ice-adhesion reduction. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion composition comprising a composite material containing at least a first-material phase and a second-material phase that are nanophase-separated on a length scale from 10 nanometers to less than 100 nanometers, wherein the first-material phase and the second-material phase further are microphase-separated on a length scale from 0.1 microns to 100 microns. The larger length scale of separation is driven by an emulsion process, which provides microphase separation that is in addition to classic molecular-level phase separation. The composite material has a glass-transition temperature above −80° C. The coatings may be characterized by an AMIL Centrifuge Ice Adhesion Reduction Factor up to 100 or more. These coatings are useful for aerospace surfaces and many other applications.
摘要:
This invention provides durable, low-ice-adhesion coatings with excellent performance in terms of ice-adhesion reduction. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion coating comprising a microstructure with a first-material phase and a second-material phase that are microphase-separated on an average length scale of phase inhomogeneity from 1 micron to 100 microns. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion material comprising a continuous matrix containing a first component; and a plurality of discrete inclusions containing a second component, wherein the inclusions are dispersed within the matrix to form a phase-separated microstructure that is inhomogeneous on an average length scale from 1 micron to 100 microns, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other is a hygroscopic material. The coatings are characterized by an AMIL Centrifuge Ice Adhesion Reduction Factor up to 100 or more. These coatings are useful for aerospace surfaces and other applications.
摘要:
Variations of this invention provide durable, impact-resistant structural coatings that have both dewetting and anti-icing properties. The coatings in some embodiments possess a self-similar structure that combines a low-cost matrix with two feature sizes that are tuned to affect the wetting of water and freezing of water on the surface. Dewetting and anti-icing performance is simultaneously achieved in a structural coating comprising multiple layers, wherein each layer includes (a) a continuous matrix; (b) discrete templates dispersed that promote surface roughness to inhibit wetting of water; and (c) nanoparticles that inhibit heterogeneous nucleation of water. These structural coatings utilize low-cost, lightweight, and environmentally benign materials that can be rapidly sprayed over large areas using convenient coating processes. The presence of multiple layers means that if the surface is damaged during use, freshly exposed surface will expose a coating identical to that which was removed, for extended lifetime.
摘要:
Disclosed herein are surface-functionalized powders which alter the solidification of the melted powders. Some variations provide a powdered material comprising a plurality of particles fabricated from a first material, wherein each of the particles has a particle surface area that is continuously or intermittently surface-functionalized with nanoparticles and/or microparticles selected to control solidification of the powdered material from a liquid state to a solid state. Other variations provide a method of controlling solidification of a powdered material, comprising melting at least a portion of the powdered material to a liquid state, and semi-passively controlling solidification of the powdered material from the liquid state to a solid state. Several techniques for semi-passive control are described in detail. The methods may further include creating a structure through one or more techniques selected from additive manufacturing, injection molding, pressing and sintering, capacitive discharge sintering, or spark plasma sintering.
摘要:
Variations of this invention provide durable, impact-resistant structural coatings that have both dewetting and anti-icing properties. Dewetting and anti-icing performance is simultaneously achieved in a structural coating comprising (a) a continuous matrix; (b) discrete templates that promote surface roughness to inhibit wetting of water; (c) porous voids surrounding the discrete templates; and (d) nanoparticles that inhibit heterogeneous nucleation of water, wherein the discrete templates and/or the nanoparticles include a surface material with hydrophobicity that decreases with increasing temperature. The surface material may be a polymer brush exhibiting an upper critical solution temperature in water of 50° C. or higher. These structural coatings utilize low-cost, lightweight, and environmentally benign materials that can be rapidly sprayed over large areas using convenient coating processes. If the surface is damaged during use, freshly exposed surface will expose a coating identical to that which was removed, for extended lifetime.
摘要:
The present invention provides methods for fabricating a fuel cell membrane structure that can dramatically reduce fuel crossover, thereby improving fuel cell efficiency and power output. Preferred composite membrane structures include an inorganic layer situated between the anode layer and the proton-exchange membrane. The inorganic layer can conduct protons in unhydrated form, rather than as hydronium ions, which reduces fuel crossover. Some methods of this invention include certain coating steps to effectively deposit an inorganic layer on an organic proton-exchange membrane.
摘要:
Low-friction fluorinated coatings are disclosed herein. A preferred low-friction material contains a low-surface-energy fluoropolymer having a surface energy between about 5 mJ/m2 to about 50 mJ/m2, and a hygroscopic material that is covalently connected to the fluoropolymer in a triblock copolymer, such as PEG-PFPE-PEG. The material forms a lubricating surface layer in the presence of humidity. An exemplary copolymer comprises fluoropolymers with average molecular weight from 500 g/mol to 20,000 g/mol, wherein the fluoropolymers are (α,ω)-hydroxyl-terminated and/or (α,ω)-amine-terminated, and wherein the fluoropolymers are present in the triblock structure T-(CH2—CH2—O)—CH2—CF2—O—(CF2—CF2—O)m(CF2—O)n—CF2—CH2—(O—CH2—CH2)p-T where T is a hydroxyl or amine terminal group, p=1 to 50, m=1 to 100, and n=1 to 100. The copolymer also contains isocyanate species and polyol or polyamine chain extenders or crosslinkers possessing a functionality of preferably 3 or greater. These durable, solvent-resistant, and transparent coatings reduce insect debris following impact.
摘要:
Some variations provide a method of assembling a plurality of particles into particle assemblies, comprising: (a) obtaining a first fluid containing particles and a solvent for the particles; (b) obtaining a second fluid not fully miscible with the first fluid; (c) obtaining a third fluid that is a co-solvent for the first fluid and the second fluid; (d) combining the first fluid and the second fluid to generate an emulsion containing droplets of the first fluid in the second fluid; (e) adding the third fluid to the emulsion; and (f) dissolving out the solvent from the droplets into the third fluid, thereby forming particle assemblies. Some variations also provide an assembly of nanoparticles, wherein the assembly has a volume from 1 μm3 to 1 mm3, a packing fraction from 20% to 100%, and/or an average relative surface roughness less than 1%, wherein the assembly is not disposed on a substrate.
摘要:
An anti-fouling coating is provided, containing a continuous matrix comprising a first component; a plurality of inclusions comprising a second component, wherein the first component is a low-surface-energy polymer having a surface energy, and the second component is a hygroscopic material containing one or more ionic species. The low-surface-energy polymer and the hygroscopic material are chemically connected ionically or covalently, such as in a segmented copolymer composition comprising fluoropolymer soft segments and ionic species contained within the soft segments. The continuous matrix and the inclusions form a lubricating surface layer in the presence of humidity. Coefficient-of-friction experimental data is presented for various sample coatings. The incorporation of ionic species into the polymer chain backbone increases the hygroscopic behavior of the overall structure. Improvement in lubrication enables material to be cleared from a surface using the natural motion of an automotive or aerospace vehicle.