Elastomeric coatings having hydrophobic and/or oleophobic properties

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 9388325
  • Patent Number
    9,388,325
  • Date Filed
    Friday, March 28, 2014
    10 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 12, 2016
    8 years ago
Abstract
This disclosure deals with novel formulations to create highly durable hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic surfaces that can be nearly transparent. The formulations of this invention can be applied by -dip, spray and painting processes.
Description
BACKGROUND

The surfaces of objects that are exposed to the environment come into contact with a variety of agents, including dust, moisture, water, and oils. In industrial applications, surfaces may be exposed to a variety of agents in addition to water, such as aqueous salt solutions, solutions of aqueous acid or base, and chemical components that may be dissolved or suspended in aqueous compositions or other liquids, including those used in manufacturing processes. Not only are the surfaces of objects exposed to a variety of chemical agents, but the temperatures to which the surfaces are exposed can also affect their interaction with those agents and the performance of the coated surfaces of objects. For example, freezing liquids, such as water, can result in frozen deposits tightly attached to the surfaces that prevent access to the surfaces and in some instances prevent proper operation of equipment bound by the frozen liquid. In addition, elevated temperatures can accelerate processes such as corrosion or leaching.


SUMMARY

Embodiments of coatings and surface treatments are provided herein that can provide advantageous surface properties including, but not limited to, hydrophobicity or superhydrophobicity (collectively HP), oleophobicity or superoleophobicity (collectively OP), and resistance to ice formation, adherence and/or accumulation. Embodiments of the coatings described herein that are HP and OP, and which may also display anti-icing behavior, may be applied to a surface using two or more steps. Embodiments of methods of applying such coatings and surface treatments also are provided, together with embodiments of compositions for applying such coatings and surface treatments, and surfaces and/or objects so treated and coated are provided as well.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a schematic showing an embodiment of a polystyrene and rubber elastomeric copolymer.



FIG. 2 is a schematic showing various spatial orientations of embodiments of polystyrene and rubber copolymers. S is styrene and B is a rubber phase (i.e. butylene).



FIG. 3 shows some solvents suitable for dissolving styrene (styrenic) block copolymers (SBCs). The scale represents suitable solvents that can be used as SBC copolymers. Letters to the left axis are indicators of: S (styrene), B butylene (polybutadiene), I (polyisoprene), and EB (ethylene/butylene). Those solvents indicated as “Good Solvents” are solvents that tend to dissolve or suspend SBC polymers.



FIG. 4 depicts a shower test apparatus. The upper panel shows the showerhead with 70 nozzles with a 1 mm diameter orifice arranged in 5 spokes of 5 nozzles and 15 spokes of 3 nozzles about a central point on a circular showerhead. For testing the showerhead delivers approximately 6 liters of potable tap water per minute using about 137900 Pa (Pascals) to 310275 Pa. The lower panel depicts a sample, which is placed about 1.5 meters below the showerhead and subject to the shower.



FIG. 5 shows a plot of “glove rubs,” which are an estimate of the surface resistance to the loss of either or both of HP or OP properties as a function of percentage of EXPANCEL first particles employed in a nearly transparent coating prepared without colorants. The glove rub estimates tend to trend in the same direction as loss of HP or OP properties due to handling, abrasion resistance, and/or the shower time. The weight percent of EXPANCEL particles is given as the percentage of the base coat formulation weight as opposed to a dry weight basis (see Example 1).



FIG. 6 shows the variation in the resistance to the loss of superhydrophobic behavior of an elastomeric binder system due to wear based on “glove rubs” and exposure to a shower of water using five different types of EXPANCEL particles. Duplicate samples containing EXPANCEL 031 DU 400 heated before or after the second component (referred to as “top coat”) comprising hydrophobic fumed silica in acetone is applied. See Example 2 for details.



FIG. 7 shows the effect of coating thickness on coating resistance to the loss of superhydrophobic behavior due to wear based on Taber Abraser testing using a 1,000 g load and CS-10 wheels on 10×10 cm plates treated with 2 or 4 ml of top coat (second component) applied over the base coating. See Example 5 for details.



FIG. 8 shows Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) data for a nearly transparent elastomeric coating incorporating EXPANCEL461 EXPANCEL DE 40 D 25 microspheres.



FIG. 9 shows TGA data for an embodiment of a non-transparent HP/OP elastomeric coating incorporating SoftSand™ rubber particles.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of elastomeric coating methods, compositions, and treatments are provided that impart a variety of desirable characteristics to objects and their surfaces, including hydrophobicity (including superhydrophobicity), oleophobicity (including superoleophobicity), and/or anti-icing. As used herein, the term “hydrophobicity” and the abbreviation HP includes superhydrophobicity, and the term “oleophobicity” and the abbreviation OP includes superoleophobicity. The abbreviation “HP/OP” is used collectively herein to mean HP and/or OP and may also include anti-icing properties (including ice formation, adherence and/or accumulation). Treating surfaces with coatings having HP/OP characteristics can result in objects and surfaces with a variety of advantageous properties including, but not limited to, resistance to wetting, corrosion, swelling, rotting, cracking or warping, exfoliation, fouling, dust and/or dirt accumulation on surfaces (self cleaning), and resistance to surface ice formation, adherence and/or accumulation. Not only do embodiments of the coating compositions and treatments described herein provide properties including HP/OP, but the coatings also are durable in that they substantially retain those properties despite some amount of mechanical abrasion. In addition to providing durable HP/OP behavior, embodiments of the elastomeric coatings can also remain flexible and provide substantial resistance to cracking, peeling, and delamination from the coated surface over a wide range of temperatures. Further, embodiments of the coatings can readily be repaired where the surface has been abraded sufficiently to compromise the coating's properties including HP/OP behavior.


Embodiments of the HP/OP elastomeric coatings described herein may be applied in a process comprising two or more steps in which the first component applied comprises an elastomeric binding agent and optionally comprises first particles. Once applied, the coating formed by the first component is termed a “substrate coating,” a “base coating,” or a “base coat” particularly when dried. Following the application of the elastomer base coat, an amount of second component is applied to the base coat. The second component comprises second particles that are treated to cause the second particles, and the coatings into which they are suitably incorporated, to display advantageous properties including HP/OP and/or anti-icing behavior. The second component may be applied to an elastomeric base coat after the base coat is applied, but before it is dried and/or set. Alternatively, depending on the carrier/solvent used with the second component, the second component may be applied to the elastomer after the base coat is dried and/or set.


The use of second component coating compositions comprising solvents that can be applied to the elastomeric base coat after it has dried and set permits repair of coatings that have been abraded or otherwise damaged to the point where the desired HP/OP properties is/are no longer observed. Provided the base coat is intact, or the base coat has not been damaged to the point that material underlying the base coat is exposed, repair is accomplished by the reapplication of the second component which comprises second particles.


Where the HP/OP elastomeric coatings have been abraded so as to compromise the elastomer binder coating or its properties (e.g., abraded, worn too thin, or damaged to the point where the surface of the coated object or underlying material such as a primer is exposed), the coating may be reapplied to the abraded area (i.e., it may be repaired) by repeating the application of both the first and second components. Suitable repair/preparation of exposed/damaged surfaces and/or underlying primers may be required prior to the reapplication of the elastomeric coating. In contrast, other HP or OP coatings using non-elastomeric binder systems (e.g., polyurethane systems) may not be as readily repaired because the HP/OP behavior of the original coating that remains in place can prevent newly applied coating compositions from binding to the surface.


In one embodiment, a method of applying a HP/OP coating to a substrate comprises the steps of:

    • a) applying to the substrate a first component comprising: i) an elastomeric binder comprising one or more styrenic block copolymers, and optionally comprising ii) first particles having a size of about 1 micron to about 300 microns (e.g., 10 microns to about 100 microns), to provide a base coating; and
    • b) applying to the base coating a second component comprising second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer to 25 microns, where the second particles are associated with one or more siloxanes and/or have one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl groups covalently bound, either directly or indirectly, to the second particles, and wherein the second component optionally comprises an agent to suspend or assist in suspending the particles (e.g., a solvent such as hexane or tert-butyl acetate).


      To assist in the application process, embodiments of the first and second components may include any necessary solvents, liquids or propellants.


In some embodiments of the application method, the base coating is treated with the second component after drying and curing the base coating at room temperature (e.g., about 18 to about 23° C.) or at an elevated temperature (e.g., about 30° to about 100° C., about 30° to about 60° C., about 50° to about 100° C., or about 40° to about 90° C.). In other embodiments, the solvent used to apply the base coat is allowed to evaporate until the coating is no longer liquid and cannot be removed by contact (i.e., dry to the touch); however, the base coating is not fully dried and cured when treated with the second component containing second particles. In still other embodiments, the composition comprising second particles may be applied directly to the base coat before solvents used in the application of the base coating have fully, substantially, or partly evaporated.


Diverse elastomeric binders, first particles, and second particles may be employed in the methods and compositions described herein. In some embodiments, first particles may be filler particles. In some embodiments second particles may be considered nanoparticles. In some embodiments described herein, the coating formed by the application of the first and second components will be nearly transparent to visible light. In other embodiments, the coatings may be colored but nearly transparent to visible light that is not absorbed by the coating components and/or colorants. In still other embodiments, the coatings will have colorants (e.g., insoluble pigments or colored first and/or second particles) that will render them opaque or block the transmission of light. Embodiments of such coating components, materials, and compositions are described more fully below.


A skilled artisan will readily understand that the selection of first particles and second particles needs to include consideration of not only the desired properties of the coating and the ultimate conditions to which the coating will be subject in use, but also the process used to prepare the coating. Where, for example, particles must withstand elevated temperatures or specific solvents in the coating process, they should be selected so as to be suitable for use in the required temperature ranges or in the required solvents. For example, in those embodiments where coatings or the first and/or second particles are intended for use at elevated temperatures (e.g., above room temperature), the particles need to be compatible with the elevated temperatures that the coatings will be subjected to when in use and/or in processes employed to prepare the coatings. Similarly, the particles should be selected to be compatible with solvents used in the application process and with solvents the coatings will become exposed to in use.


In methods described herein, where second particles are applied to a base coat on a substrate, which may be coated with a primer, the methods can produce coatings having (i) a surface in contact with said substrate (or primer) and (ii) an exposed surface that is not in contact with the substrate (or primer) where these surfaces bear different amounts of first particles, second particles, or both first and second particles. In some embodiments the exposed surface can have a greater amount of first and/or second particles on, at, or adjacent to the exposed surface, compared to the amount of first and/or second particles at or adjacent to the surface of the coating that is in contact with the substrate (or primer). In one embodiment the coatings have a greater amount of second particles on, at, or adjacent to the exposed surface than the surface of the coating that is in contact with the substrate (or primer). In embodiments where a greater amount of first and/or second particles may be present at the exposed surface, the coatings may be considered composite coatings.


The amount of particles in any portion of a coating may be assessed by any means known in the art including, but not limited to, microscopy or electron microscopy. Using those techniques on cross or oblique sections of coatings, the amount (e.g., the number) of particles can be determined. In addition, where it is possible to remove coatings, or where the substrate permits (e.g., it is transparent), the surfaces can be examined directly using microscopy or electron microscopy to determine the amount of particles present at the exposed surface or adjacent to the substrate.


Embodiments of the coatings described herein are durable in that they can withstand some amount of abrasion without a substantial loss of HP/OP properties. To provide an endpoint for the loss of superhydrophobic (SH) behavior as a result of abrasion testing, substantially planar abraded surfaces are tested for their propensity to shed water droplets at an indicated angle of incline (5 degrees unless indicated otherwise). Typically, twenty droplets are placed on the surface to be assessed, which is inclined at the desired angle. The end of SH behavior is indicated when more than half (ten or more drops) stay in place. While such measurements provide a consistent endpoint, a skilled artisan will understand that, even when the endpoint is reached, the abraded surfaces may still be quite hydrophobic, e.g., having water contact angles greater than 130° or 140° in many instances.


Resistance to abrasion may be measured using any method known in the art including, but not limited to, mechanized or manual assessment with a Taber abrasion-testing instrument (e.g., a Taber “Abraser”) or a Crockmeter. Alternatively, a manual measure used to assess the durability of surfaces is a glove rub (GR) test. Each of those tests is described in more detail below.


For the purpose of this application, wherever Taber testing results are recited, the tests are conducted on a Taber Model 503 instrument using CS-0 or CS10 wheels with 250 g or 1,000 g loads as indicated. Unless indicated otherwise, a load of 1,000 g was employed, and tests were conducted at room temperature at a speed of 95 rpm.


Where resistance to the loss of HP is measured with a Crockmeter, a motorized American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) CM-5 Crockmeter is employed. The finger of the Crockmeter is fitted with a 14/20 white rubber septum having an outside diameter of 13 mm and an inside diameter of 7 mm with a contact surface area of 94 mm2 (Ace Glass, Inc., Vineland, N.J., Catalog No. 9096-244). The septum is brought into contact with the coating with a force of 9N (Newtons). The end of superhydrophobic behavior is judged by the failure of more than half of the water droplets applied to the tested surface (typically 20 droplets) to run (roll) off when the surface is inclined at 5 degrees from horizontal. Abrasion resistance may also be measured using a manually operated AATCC Crockmeter.


Although an absolute correlation between Taber Abraser Testing, Crockmeter testing, and glove-rub testing is not provided, the manual glove-rub test is useful as an indication of the durability of the coated surface and its ability to be handled. Coatings applied to primed surfaces incorporating rigid particles (e.g., EXTENDO SPHERES) typically give a ratio of about 4.5 glove rubs/Taber Abraser cycles (250 g load) with CS-0 wheels and a ratio of about 7.5 glove rubs/Taber cycles with CS-10 wheels. Coatings incorporating flexible first particles (e.g., black rubber particles) typically give a ratio of about 7.6 glove rubs/Taber Abraser cycles (250 g load) with CS-0 wheels and a ratio of about 12.9 with CS-10 wheels. Results are given below for coatings of several thicknesses, where the thickness measurement includes the thickness of the primer layer. The number of strokes observed in Crockmeter testing is generally about one fourth of the number of “glove rubs” observed in the manual glove rub testing.


Nearly Transparent Coating with Clear Hollow Rigid Thermoplastic First Particles
















CS-0 Wheel
CS-10 Wheel
















Ratio


Ratio


Approximate


GR/


GR/


Glove Rubs
Thickness
Taber
Taber
Thickness
Taber
Taber


to loss of SH
(mils)
Cycles
cycle
(mils)
Cycles
cycle
















500
1.1
130
3.8
1
60
8.3


500
2.1
100
5.0
2
70
7.1


500
3.5
110
4.5
3.5
60
8.3


500
4
110
4.5
4.5
80
6.3










Nontransparent Coating with Flexible Black Rubber First Particles
















CS-0 Wheel
CS-10 Wheel
















Ratio


Ratio


Approximate


GR/


GR/


Glove Rubs
Thickness
Taber
Taber
Thickness
Taber
Taber


to loss of SH
(mils)
Cycles
cycle
(mils)
cycles
cycle
















700
2.7
100
7.0
2.6
60
11.7


700
4.9
90
7.8
4.8
50
14


700
7.5
90
7.8
7.2
50
14


700
9.5
90
7.8
8.5
60
11.7









In addition to resisting the loss of HP/OP properties from abrasion, the compositions provided herein also provide durability in the form of resistance to other conditions. The coatings also resist loss of those properties when subject to:

    • Submersion in water (the duration a coating resists wetting at different depths in water);
    • Flowing water (the ability of a coating or surface treatment to resist the impact of flowing water such as a shower of water);
    • Exposure to liquids other than water (chemical durability and resistance to acids, alkalis, salts, and certain organic solvents such as alcohols);
    • Ultraviolet (UV) radiation;
    • Boiling water; and
    • Salt water, in the form of immersion, spray, or fog.


The elastomer-based coatings described herein have a variety of properties in addition to resisting the loss of HP/OP from abrasion including, but not limited to, resisting ice formation and/or adherence on the coating and flexibility over a wide range of temperatures (e.g., −35° C. to 205° C.).


In one embodiment, the HP/OP elastomeric coatings comprising plastic, glass or rubber first particles (e.g., EXPANCEL spheres or micronized rubber) have a relative electrical permittivity at 100 MHz from about 0.2 to about 4 at about 22° C. (e.g., a permittivity from about 0.2 to about 1, from about 1 to about 2, from about 2 to about 3, or from about 3 to about 4) as measured by ASTM D150 using a single 0.11 mm thick film, or three layers of 0.11 mm film to achieve a 0.33 mm thickness.


In addition to their other properties, the HP/OP coatings described herein can be described by their characteristic roughness that may be measured by any means known in the art. In some embodiments, the surface roughness is measured using a Mahr Pocket Surf PS1 (Mahr Federal Inc., Providence, R.I.). The roughness of a surface can be expressed using a variety of mathematical expressions including, but not limited to, its Arithmetical Mean Roughness and its Ten-Point Mean Roughness.


The coatings resulting from the application of the compositions provided for herein have in some embodiments a surface with an arithmetical mean roughness in a range selected from: greater than about 3 microns to about 4 microns; from about 4 microns to about 6 microns; from about 4 microns to about 8 microns; from about 4 microns to about 12 microns; from about 4 microns to about 20 microns; from about 5 microns to about 10 microns; from about 5 microns to about 12 microns; from about 5 microns to about 20 microns; from about 6 microns to about 10 microns; or from about 6 microns to about 14 microns.


In other embodiments, the coatings, resulting from the application of the compositions provided for herein, have in some embodiments a surface with a ten point mean roughness selected from: from about 7 microns to about 60 microns; from about 7 microns to about 70 microns; from about 7 microns to about 80 microns; from about 7 microns to about 100 microns; from about 8 microns to about 60 microns; from about 8 microns to about 80 microns; from about 8 microns to about 100 microns; from about 12 microns to about 60 microns; from about 12 microns to about 100 microns; from about 15 microns to about 60 microns; or from about 15 microns to about 100 microns.


A more complete discussion of the coating compositions, their methods of preparation and application, and their properties follows. A skilled artisan will understand that the description and examples set forth herein are provided as guidance, and are not limiting to the scope of the methods and compositions described herein.


1.0 Definitions

For the purposes of this disclosure, a HP material or surface is one that results in a water droplet forming a surface contact angle exceeding about 90° at room temperature (which is about 18° C. to about 23° C. for purposes of this disclosure). Similarly, for the purposes of this disclosure, a SH material or surface is one that results in a water droplet forming a surface contact angle exceeding 150° but less than the theoretical maximum contact angle of 180° at room temperature. As SH surface behavior encompasses water contact angles from about 150° to about 180°, SH behavior is considered to include what is sometimes referred to as “ultrahydrophobic” behavior. For the purpose of this disclosure the term hydrophobic (HP) shall include superhydrophobic (SH) behavior unless stated otherwise, and any and all embodiments, claims, and aspects of this disclosure reciting hydrophobic behavior may be limited to either hydrophobic behavior that is not superhydrophobic (contact angles from 90°-150°) or superhydrophobic behavior (contact angles of 150° or greater).


For the purposes of this disclosure an OP material or surface is one that results in a droplet of light mineral oil forming a surface contact angle exceeding about 90°. Similarly, for the purposes of this disclosure a SOP material or surface is one that results in a droplet of light mineral oil forming a surface contact angle exceeding 150° but less than the theoretical maximum contact angle of 180° at room temperature. For the purpose of this disclosure the term oleophobic (OP) shall include superoleophobic (SOP) behavior unless stated otherwise, and any and all embodiments, claims, and aspects of this disclosure reciting oleophobic behavior may be limited to either oleophobic behavior that is not superoleophobic (contact angles from) 90°-150° or superoleophobic behavior (contact angles of 150° or greater).


Anti-icing (AI) surfaces are surfaces that are resistant to ice formation and/or accretion in dynamic testing, or that prevent ice that forms from adhering to the surface (i.e., ice that forms can be removed with less force than from untreated metal surfaces).


For the purpose of this disclosure, HP/OP denotes hydrophobic behavior (including superhydrophobic behavior) or properties and/or oleophobic (including superoleophobic behavior) behavior or properties. HP/OP behavior may be understood to include anti-icing properties and any embodiment recited as having HP/OP behavior may be recited as having anti-icing properties, unless stated otherwise in this disclosure.


Durability, unless stated otherwise, refers to the resistance to loss of superhydrophobic or superoleophobic properties due to mechanical abrasion.


Alkyl as used herein denotes a linear or branched alkyl radical or group. Alkyl groups may be independently selected from C1 to C20 alkyl, C2 to C20 alkyl, C4 to C20 alkyl, C6 to C18 alkyl, C6 to C16 alkyl, or C6 to C20 alkyl. Unless otherwise indicated, alkyl does not include cycloalkyl.


Cycloalkyl as used herein denotes a cyclic alkyl radical or group. Cycloalkyl groups may be independently selected from: C4 to C20 alkyl comprising one, two, or more C4 to C8 cycloalkyl functionalities; C6 to C20 alkyl comprising one, two, or more C4 to C8 cycloalkyl functionalities; C6 to C20 alkyl comprising one, two, or more C4 to C8 cycloalkyl functionalities; C5 to C18 alkyl comprising one, two, or more C4 to C8 cycloalkyl functionalities; C6 to C18 alkyl comprising one, two, or more C4 to C8 cycloalkyl functionalities; or C6 to C16 alkyl comprising one, two or more C4 to C8 cycloalkyl functionalities. Where two or more cycloalkyl groups are present they may be present as fused rings or in a spiro configuration. One or more hydrogen atoms of the cycloalkyl groups may be replaced by fluorine atoms.


Haloalkyl as used herein denotes an alkyl group in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms present in an alkyl group have been replaced by halogen atoms. Halogen atoms may be limited to chlorine or fluorine atoms in haloalkyl groups.


Fluoroalkyl as used herein denotes an alkyl group in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms present in an alkyl group have been replaced by fluorine atoms.


Perfluoroalkyl as used herein denotes an alkyl group in which fluorine atoms have been substituted for each hydrogen atom present in the alkyl group.


Rubber phase as used herein denotes a portion of styrene block copolymers having synthetic rubber attributes. In SBCs rubber phases are typically flanked or joined by polystyrene units that may function as end blocks. Typical synthetic rubbers include an isoprenoid or a polyolefin such as polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or ethylene/butylene.


For the purpose of this disclosure, unless stated otherwise, when content is indicated as being present on a “weight basis,” the content is measured as the percentage of the weight of the components indicated to the total weight of the composition (including recited/required solvents). Optional solvents are not included in the weight of the composition.


“Colorant” as used herein is a material added to the coating composition to cause a change in color, i.e., become colored. Colorants can be dyes which bind at least a portion of the material to be colored, insoluble pigments that are dispersed in at least a portion of the material to be colored, colored chemicals that are dispersed or dissolved in at least a portion of the material to be colored, or inks, which may be any combination of dyes, pigments and colored chemicals. In some embodiments, first or second particles may comprise colorants or may be prepared from materials that are colored.


2.0 Elastomeric Binders

Elastomers are polymers that are elastic (i.e., have viscoelasticity), and which generally have a low Young's modulus and high yield strain compared with other materials. Elastomers may be thermoset materials, which require vulcanization (e.g., covalent crosslinking) during curing, or thermoplastic materials (thermoplastic elastomers), in which the crosslinks are weaker dipole or hydrogen bonds.


Elastomeric binder systems employed to make elastomeric coatings (elastomer based coatings) having HP/OP properties are typically comprised of copolymers of polystyrene and a rubber (a rubber phase) known as Styrenic Block Copolymers (SBCs). SBCs are a class of thermoplastic elastomers consisting of a two-phase structure of hard polystyrene end blocks and soft rubber midblocks. The polystyrene end blocks associate to form domains that lock the molecules into place without vulcanization. Since this is a reversible process, the material can be processed on conventional thermoplastic equipment or dissolved in a suitable solvent for application as a coating. Polystyrene end blocks impart strength and the rubber phase midblocks impart elasticity. FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a typical SBC copolymer, where the rubber phase is linked to the polystyrene phase. In SBCs the rubber phase can be a synthetic rubber such as, for example, ethylene/butylene (EB e.g., —[CH2CH2CH2CH2CH(CH2CH3)CH2]n—) ethylene/propylene (EP, e.g., —[CH2CH2CH(CH3)CH2]n—), polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or polyolefin (see FIG. 1). FIG. 2 shows that the copolymers can have various spatial orientations such as linear, radial, or star like.


SBC compositions, when used as a base coating, produce highly durable HP/OP coatings as measured by a variety of different methods, including those described herein. Moreover, the coatings are compatible with and adhere tightly to a broad range of materials, permitting a large number and type of objects and substrates to be coated.


SBC elastomers offer a variety of advantages and properties for the preparation of base coats used to prepare HP/OP coatings. As they can be dissolved/suspended in a number of solvents, they may be formulated into compositions that are amenable to application using standard equipment including conventional spray guns and aerosol canisters (e.g., an aerosol spray container comprises a valve assembly, a dip tube, and an actuator). As a base coating composition for use in a multi-step (e.g., two-step, three-step, four-step . . . ) HP/OP coating process, SBC elastomer formulations offer flexibility during application and in the application of the second component of the HP/OP coating process. The elastomeric first component can be applied to form a base coating and the second component, which comprises second particles whose application renders the coating HP/OP, can be applied to the base coating when it is wet, tacky, dry to touch, or even completely dried and cured.


A variety of SBCs may be employed to prepare the HP/OP coatings described herein. In an embodiment the SBC-containing binder compositions comprise a rubber phase comprising ethylene/butylene (EB e.g., —[CH2CH2CH2CH2CH(CH2CH3)CH2]n—). In another embodiment, the SBC-containing binder compositions comprise a rubber phase comprising (poly)butadiene (e.g., styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) elastomeric polymers. In other embodiments, the rubber phases of suitable SBC polymer compositions comprise ethylene/propylene (EP e.g., —[CH2CH2CH(CH3)CH2]n—), polybutadiene, polyisoprene or polyolefin. In another embodiment, binder compositions used for the preparation of durable HP/OP coatings comprise a mixture of any two, three, or four SBC elastomers having rubber phases comprising: ethylene/butylene butadiene, ethylene/propylene polybutadiene, polyisoprene or polyolefin.


Elastomeric coatings with an elongation at break that is greater than about 500%, 600%, 700%, 750%, or about 800% are generally desirable as binders for preparing the durable HP/OP coatings (e.g., coatings prepared with “Kraton G” elastomers), although elastomeric coating compositions with lower elongation at break values can be employed. The rubber component in the SBC copolymers of such elastomer compositions typically varies from about 69% to about 87%, but the rubber component may be about 65% to about 90%, about 67% to about 75%, about 75% to about 87%, or about 70% to about 80% (based on the weight of the SBC copolymer(s)). Among the commercially available SBC elastomer compositions that can be employed as binders for the HP/OP coating compositions described herein are those developed by KRATON® Polymers U.S. LLC. (Houston, Tex.). Various elastomeric polymers, compositions, and their properties are described, for example, in the KRATON® Polymers' Fact Sheet K0151 Americas available on the world wide web at: docs.kraton.com/kraton/attachments/downloads/82021AM.pdf.


In one embodiment the elastomers employed as binders may be ethylene butylene (EB) elastomeric polymers which have styrene domains (endblocks) and ethylene/butylene rubber phase midblocks. Such EB elastomers may comprise about 65% to 75% rubber phase midblocks, (e.g., about 65%, about 70% or about 75% rubber phase midblocks) and have an elongation at break of 500 to 800% using ASTM D412 on films cast from toluene solution with the grip separation speed set at 10 inches per minute. Some properties of KRATON® EB elastomers are detailed in Table 1.


In one embodiment the elastomers employed as binders may be styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) elastomeric polymers. Such SBS elastomers comprise about 60% to 74% butadiene by weight, and have an elongation at break of from 800 to 900% using ASTM D412 on films cast from toluene solution with the grip separation speed set at 10 inches per minute. Some properties of KRATON® styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) elastomeric polymers (KRATON® D SBS) are detailed in Table 2.









TABLE 1







EB Based Polymers*
















G1633
G1650
G1651
G1652
G1654
G1657
G1660
G1726



(SEBS)
(SEBS)
(SEBS)
(SEBS)
(SEBS)
(SEBS)
(SEBS)
(SEBS)


Property
Linear
Linear
Linear
Linear
Linear
Linear
Linear
Linear


















Tensile Strength,

35
>28
31
>28
23
32
2


MPa1,2


300% Modulus

5.6

4.8

2.4
5.5



MPa1,2


Elongation at

500
>800
500
800
750
800
200


Break, %1,2




70
70
70
70
47
68
70


Specific Gravity
0.91
0.91
0.91
0.91
0.91
0.89
0.91
0.91


Brookfield


Viscosity, cps at


25° C.


25% w4

8,000
>50,000
1,800
>50,000
4,200
8,000
200


10% w4

50
1,800
30
410
65
50
10


—Melt Index g/10 min.
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<8
<1
65


(5 kg) 200° C.


230° C.
<1
<1
<1
5
<1
22
<1
<100


Styrene/Rubber
30/70
30/70
30/70
30/70
33/67
13/87
31/69
30/70


Ratio
Fluffy
Powder/
Powder/
Powder/
Powder/
Dense
Powder
Dense


Physical Form
Crumb
Fluffy
Fluffy
Fluffy
Fluffy
Pellet

Pellet




Crumb
Crumb
Crumb
Crumb


Diblock, %

<1
<1
<1
<1
29

70


Comments
FDA
FDA
FDA
FDA
FDA
FDA
FDA
FDA





*polymers recited in this table supplied by KRATON ®



1ASTM method D412 tensile tester grip separation speed 10 in./min.




2Typical properties determined on film cast from toluene solution.



(3) Typical values on polymer compression molded at 177° C.


(4) Neat Polymer concentration in toluene













TABLE 2





SBS Elastomeric Polymers*
























D0243










(SBS)
D1101
D1102
D1116
D1118
D1133
D1152
D1153



Di-
(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)


Property
block
Linear
Linear
Radial
Diblock
Linear
Linear
Linear





Tensile Strength,
2
32
32
32
2
21
32
28


MPa1.2


300% Modulus,
1.0
2.8
2.8
2.4
1.2
2.1
2.8
2.9


MPa1.2


Elongation at

880
880
900
600
800
900
800


Break,


%1.2


Set at Break,

10
10
10
40
20
10



%1.2


Hardness,
70
69
66
63
64
74
66
70


Shore A (10 sec.)3


Specific Gravity
0.94
0.94
0.94
0.94
0.94
0.94
0.94
0.96


Brookfield
315
4,000
1,100
9,000
630
4,800
1,000
1,650


Viscosity, cps at


25° C. (25% w)


Brookfield



2,500

420




Viscosity, cps at


25° C. (15% w)


Melt Index
20
<1
14
<1
10
<1
8
3


g/10 min.


(200° C./5 kg)


Styrene/Rubber
33/67
31/69
28/72
23/77
33/67
36/64

29/71


Ratio


Physical Form
Porous
Porous
Porous
Porous
Porous
Porous
Porous
Porous



Pellet
Pellet
Pellet
Pellet
Pellet
Pellet
Pellet
Pellet




Powder

Powder
Powder
Powder


Diblock, %
75
16
17
16
78
34
15
<1


















D1155
D1184
D1186
D1189
D1191
D1192
DX405



(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)
(SBS)


Property
Linear
Radial
Radial
Radial
Radial
Linear
Linear





Tensile Strength,
28
28
25






MPa1.2


300% Modulus,
2.9
5.5
3






MPa1.2


Elongation at
800
820
800






Break,


%1.2


Set at Break,

10
10






%1.2


Hardness,
87
68
74
68
68
66
53


Shore A (10 sec.)3


Specific Gravity
0.94
0.94
0.94
0.94
0.94
0.94
0.94


Brookfield
600
>20,000

TBD5
>20,000
1,500 v


Viscosity, cps at


25° C. (25% w)


Brookfield

1,100
1,200
TBD
1,100

2,000


Viscosity, cps at


25° C.


(15% w)


Melt Index
14
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
3


g/10 min.


(200° C./5 kg)


Styrene/Rubber
40/60
31/69
30/70
31/69
33/69
30/70
24/76


Ratio


Physical Form
Porous
Porous
Porous
Porous
Porous
Porous
Porous



Pellet
Pellet
Pellet
Pellet
Pellet
Pellet
Pellet




Powder
Powder
Powder
Powder
Powder


Diblock, %
<1
16
10
16
18
<1
<1





*polymers recited in this table supplied by KRATON ®



1ASTM method D412 grip separation speed 10 in./min.




2Typical properties determined on film cast from toluene solution




3Typical values on polymer compression molded at 177° C.




4Neat polymer concentration in toluene




5TBD—To Be Determined







In another embodiment the elastomers employed as binders may be maleated styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) elastomeric polymers. Such maleated SEBS elastomers comprise about 65% to about 90% (e.g., about 70% or about 87%) rubber midblocks by weight, and have an elongation at break of 500 to 750% using ASTM D412 on films cast from toluene solution with the grip separation speed set at 10 inches per minute. Maleated SEBS polymers typically have from about 0.8% to about 2.2% (e.g., 0.9% to 2.1% or 1% to 1.7%) of substitution. Some properties of KRATON® styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) elastomeric polymers (KRATON® FG Polymers) are detailed in Table 3.









TABLE 3







Maleated SEBS Polymers


FG Polymer Grades*










FG1901 (SEBS)
FG1924 (SEBS)


Property
Linear
Linear












Tensile Strength, MPa1
34
23


300% Modulus, MPa1




Elongation at Break, %1
500
750


Hardness, Shore A (10 sec)2
71
49


Specific Gravity
0.91
0.89


Brookfield Viscosity, 25% w
5,000
19,000


(toluene solutions) cps at 25° C.
110
270


10% w




Melt Index g/10 min (5 kg)




200° C.
5
11


230° C.
22
40


Styrene/Rubber Ratio
30/70
13/87


Physical Form
Dense Pellet
Dense Pellet


Comments
FDA3
1.0% bound



1.7% bound
functionality



functionality





*polymers recited in this table supplied by KRATON ®



1ASTM method D412-tensile tester grip separation speed 10 in./min.




2Typical values on polymer compression molded at 177° C.







In one embodiment the elastomeric binder comprises triblock copolymers of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene content of: about 8% to about 14%, about 12% to about 20%, about 18% to about 28%, about 22% to about 32%, about 26% to about 36%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, about 16%, about 18%, about 19%, about 20%, about 22%, about 24%, about 26%, about 28%, about 30%, about 32%, about 34%, about 36% or mixtures of any two or more, three or more, or four or more of such triblock copolymers. Any one or more of such triblock copolymers may optionally comprise 1% to 3%, 1.4% to 2.0%, 1% to 1.4%, 1.6% to 3%, or 2% to 3% of bound maleic anhydride (maleated copolymers) and may be linear triblock copolymers. In one such embodiment the binder comprises two different maleated triblock copolymers of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene: a first triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene having 0.4% to 1.6% (e.g., 0.5% to 1.5%, 0.6% to 1.4,% or 0.7% to 1.3%) substitution by maleic anhydride by weight of the first triblock copolymer (and optionally less than 0.3% maleic anhydride free); and a second triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene having 1.1% to 2.5% (e.g., 1.3 to 2.3 or 1.4 to 2.4%) substitution by maleic anhydride by weight of the second triblock copolymer. In such an embodiment the first and/or second triblock copolymers may be linear or branched copolymers (e.g., arborols or dendrimers), and the second triblock copolymers may be present in a weight ratio from about 4:1 to about 6.5:1 (e.g., the first copolymer to second copolymer ratio is about 4:1 to about 5.5:1, about 5:1 to about 6:1, or about 5.5:1 to about 6.5:1).


Persons skilled in the art will also recognize other elastomeric binders that may be used in place of or in addition to the elastomeric binders described in this disclosure.


In addition to comprising elastomeric polymers (e.g., SBCs), first particles and solvents, elastomeric binder systems that serve as first components optionally comprise a tackifier. Tackifiers may be present in any suitable amount, including in a range selected from about or from about 0.5% to about 30%; 1% to about 5%, from about 2% to about 8%, from about 3% to about 7%, from about 5% to about 10%, from about 10% to about 15%, from about 15% to about 20%, from about 20% to about 25%, or from about 25% to about 30%. Some suitable tackifiers, including totally synthetic (e.g., members of the Regalrez® family from Eastman Chemical) or modified resins or rosins are set forth in the section describing primers that follows.


First components, and primers discussed below, may further comprise light stabilizers and UV absorbers (UV stabilizers), fire retardants, and/or antioxidants. For example, Tinuvin® light stabilizing products (e.g., Tinuvin 328 and/or Tinuvin 770DF) produced by BASF®, and/or IRGANOX® antioxidant products (e.g., phenolic or hindered phenolic antioxidants such as IRGANOX® 1520 or IRGANOX® 150L) produced by BASF® may be included in the first component binder composition used to set down the base coat or in a primer. Where light/UV stabilizers, UV absorbers, fire retardants, and/or antioxidants are added to either or both of the first component or the primer, they are generally added in an amount less than 2% by weight (e.g., about 1%, 0.75%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2% 0.1%, 0.075%, 0.06%, or 0.05%, or in a range selected from about 0.01% to about 2%, from about 0.05% to about 1.0%, or from about 0.75% to about 0.5% by weight), and take the place of a corresponding weight of any solvents that may be present.


In addition to the ease of application, elastomer based coatings that do not contain a colorant or significant amounts of opaque particles are nearly transparent to visible light. Typical light transmission (Total Luminous Transmittance or “TLT”) of an elastomeric binder coating prepared using SBCs having 15 micron thickness is approximately 90% (about 85% to about 92%) with a haze of about 61% (about 55% to about 65%). HP/OP coatings without added colorants that are about 25 microns thick prepared with clear first particles (e.g., EXPANCEL particles or other plastic or glass particles or hollow spheres) and fumed silica second particles treated with a silane (silanizing agent) can be nearly transparent. Such HP/OP coatings typically have a TLT of about 80% (about 75% to about 85%) with a haze of about 90% (about 85% to about 90%) as measure by ASTM D1003-11. For the measurements the instrument was calibrated against air and glass sample blanks and given a TLT of about 90% to about 91% and a haze of about 0.2%. Excluding or removing fine particulate materials such as talc used to increase the properties of commercially available elastomer compositions (e.g., flowability of bulk particulates) may increase TLT and haze values. Such fine particulates used in bulk elastomers may be removed by washing with a suitable solvent or by omitting the material from the elastomer compositions when they are prepared.


A variety of solvents may be employed to dissolve elastomeric binders for the preparation of coating compositions used to prepare the base coat of HP/OP coatings described herein. In some embodiments, the copolymers are dissolved in solvents selected from: methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), ethyl acetate, toluene, 1-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzene, xylene or mixed xylenes (including technical grade xylenes), isopropyl acetate, 1,1,1,-trichloroethane, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), tertbutyl acetate (t-butyl acetate), cyclohexane, methyl-cyclohexane, or mixtures comprising any two, three, four or more thereof. In one embodiment the solvent(s) are selected from those found in the solubility chart shown in FIG. 3, or mixtures of any two, three, four or more thereof. In another embodiment, the solvent comprises greater than 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% of a xylene (1,2-xylene, 1,3-xylene, or 1,4-xylene) or a mixture of any two or all three xylenes and optionally ethyl benzene (e.g., a technical grade of xylene comprising 34%-47% 1,3-xylene, 9%-21% 1,4-xylene, 4%-16% 1,2-xylene, 9%-10% ethylbenzene, 0%-1% toluene, and 0%-1% benzene).


In any of the foregoing embodiments, particularly where coatings are to be nearly transparent, the elastomeric binder components comprise at most insubstantial amounts (e.g., less than about 0.5% by weight of the polymers present in the binder) of colorants or particulates that are insoluble in solvents that dissolve the elastomeric polymers and/or that would block the transmission of visible light. One source of such particulates is materials added for the flowability of bulk polymers in the form of powders, pellets, or flakes (e.g., talc added to bulk SBCs).


3.0 Particles Employed In Hp/Op Oleophobic Coatings

3.1 First Particles


Embodiments of the coatings disclosed herein may comprise particles that are added to the binder compositions to improve the mechanical properties of the coating, e.g., the durability of the HP/OP coatings. A wide variety of such particles, which are also known as extenders or fillers, may be added to the binders. Those particles are denoted herein as “first particles” because the coatings described herein may have one or more additional types of particles. Such first particles that can be employed in the HP/OP coatings described herein include, but are not limited to, particles comprising: wood (e.g., wood dust), glass, metals (e.g., iron, titanium, nickel, zinc, tin), alloys of metals, metal oxides, metalloid oxides (e.g., silica), plastics (e.g., thermoplastics), carbides, nitrides, borides, spinels, diamonds, and fibers (e.g., glass fibers).


Numerous variables may be considered in the selection of first particles. These variables include, but are not limited to, the effect the first particles have on the resulting coatings, their size, their hardness, their compatibility with the binder, the resistance of the first particles to the environment in which the coatings will be employed, and the environment the first particles must endure in the coating and/or curing process, including resistance to temperature and solvent conditions. In addition, if light is used for curing the coatings or they are intended for extended exposure to sunlight, the particles must be resistant to the required light exposure conditions (e.g., resistant to UV light employed in curing or sunlight).


In embodiments described herein, first particles have an average size in a range selected from about 1 micron (μm) to about 300 μm or from about 30 μm to about 225 μm. Within the broader ranges, embodiments include ranges of first particles having an average size of from about 1 μm to about 5 μm, from about 5 μm to about 10 μm, from about 10 μm to about 15 μm, from about 15 μm to about 20 μm, from about 20 μm to about 25 μm, from about 1 μm to about 25 μm, from about 5 μm to about 25 μm, from about 25 μm to about 50 μm, from about 50 μm to about 75 μm, from about 75 μm to about 100 μm, from about 100 μm to about 125 μm, from about 125 μm to about 150 μm, from about 150 μm to about 175 μm, from about 175 μm to about 200 μm, from about 200 μm to about 225 μm, and from about 225 μm to about 250 μm. Also included within this broad range are embodiments employing particles in ranges from about 10 μm to about 100 μm, from about 10 μm to about 200 μm, from about 20 μm to about 200 μm, from about 30 μm to about 50 μm, from about 30 μm to about 100 μm, from about 30 μm to about 200 μm, from about 30 μm to about 225 μm, from about 50 μm to about 100 μm, from about 50 μm to about 200 μm, from about 75 μm to about 150 μm, from about 75 μm to about 200 μm, from about 100 μm to about 225 μm, from about 100 μm to about 250 μm, from about 125 μm to about 225 μm, from about 125 μm to about 250 μm, from about 150 μm to about 200 μm, from about 150 μm to about 250 μm, from about 175 μm to about 250 μm, from about 200 μm to about 250 μm, from about 225 μm to about 275 μm, or from about 250 μm to about 300 μm.


First particles may be incorporated into the elastomer binders at various ratios depending on the binder composition and the first particle's properties. In some embodiments, the first particles may have a content range selected from about 0.01% to about 60% or more by weight. Included within this broad range are embodiments in which the first particles are present, by weight, in ranges from about 0.02% to about 0.2%, from about 0.05% to about 0.5%, from about 0.075% to about 0.75%, from about 0.1% to about 1%, from about 0.5% to about 2.5%, from about 2% to about 5%, from about 5% to about 10%, from about 10% to about 15%, from about 15% to about 20%, from about 20% to about 25%, from about 25% to about 30%, from about 30% to about 35%, from about 35% to about 40%, from about 40% to about 45%, from about 45% to about 50%, from about 50% to about 55%, from about 55% to about 60%, and greater than 60%. Also included within this broad range are embodiments in which the first particles are present, by weight, in ranges from about 4% to about 30%, from about 5% to about 25%, from about 5% to about 35%, from about 10% to about 25%, from about 10% to about 30%, from about 10% to about 40%, from about 10% to about 45%, from about 15% to about 25%, from about 15% to about 35%, from about 15% to about 45%, from about 20% to about 30%, from about 20% to about 35%, from about 20% to about 40%, from about 20% to about 45%, from about 20% to about 55%, from about 25% to about 40%, from about 25% to about 45%, from about 25% to about 55%, from about 30% to about 40%, from about 30% to about 45%, from about 30% to about 55%, from about 30% to about 60%, from about 35% to about 45%, from about 35% to about 50%, from about 35% to about 60%, from about 40% to about 60%, from about 0.01% to about 5%, from about 0.03% to about 1%, from about 0.05% to about 0.15%, from about 0.1% to about 2.5%, from about 0.2% to about 5%, from about 0.05% to about 10%, from about 0.1% to about 10%, from about 0.05% to about 15%, or from about 0.05% to about 20%, on a weight basis.


In those embodiments where it is desirable to have coatings that are transparent, substantially transparent, or colored but transparent, it is generally desirable to employ particles that are transparent. In one set of embodiments, plastic (e.g., thermoplastic) microspheres are employed in the binder systems to develop surface texture. In another set of embodiments, glass microspheres are employed in the binder systems to develop surface texture.


In one embodiment, substantially spherical thermoplastic particles are added to the elastomeric binder composition to develop surface texture (e.g., EXPANCEL microspheres or EXPANCEL particles). Such microspheres consist of a polymer shell encapsulating a gas. The average diameter of these hollow spheres typically ranges from 6 to 45 μm and have a density of 1000 to 1300 kg/m3 (8.3-10.8 lbs/US Gallon). Upon heating, the microspheres expand and the volume of the microspheres can increase more than 40 times (with the diameter changing, for example, from 10 to 40 μm), resulting in a density below 30 kg/m3 (0.25 lbs/US Gallon). Typical expansion temperatures range from 80 to 190° C. (176-374° F.). When heating the microspheres the pressure of the gas inside the shell increases and the thermoplastic shell softens, resulting in a dramatic increase of the volume of the microspheres. Cooling the microspheres results in the shell stiffening again and produces lighter (lower density) expanded microspheres. Some thermoplastic microspheres produced under the EXPANCEL brand (AkzoNobel, distributed by Eka Chemicals, Inc., 2240 Northmont Parkway, Duluth, Ga. 30096, USA) are suitable for use in preparing HP/OP, particularly those that are substantially transparent. See Table 4.









TABLE 4







EXPANCEL particles and properties















Density of


Main


Solid content
EXPANCEL


types
Varieties
Description
[%]
[kg/m3]





Unex-
EXPANCEL
Wet. unexpanded
60-80
1000-1300


panded
WU
microspheres




micro-
EXPANCEL
Wet. unexpended
60-80
1000-1300


spheres
WUF
microspheres





EXPANCEL
Dry, unexpanded
>99
~1000



DU
microspheres





EXPANCEL
Dry, treated,
>99
~1000



OUT
unexpanded






microspheres





EXPANCEL
Wet, salted,
 40
1200



SL
unexpanded






microspheres





EXPANCEL
Wet, unexpanded
 44
1200



SLU
microspheres





EXPANCEL
Dry, unexpanded
65
1000



MB
microspheres
(EXPANCEL)





mixed with a






matrix, e.g. EVA




Ex-
EXPANCEL
Wet, expanded
 15
~30


panded
WE
microspheres




micro-
EXPANCEL
Dry, expanded
>89
25-70


spheres
DE
microspheres





EXPANCEL
Dry, treated,
>99
25



DET
expanded






microspheres









Where HP/OP coatings capable of withstanding higher temperatures are desired, and particularly coatings that are substantially transparent, glass microspheres may be employed in place of thermoplastic microspheres. Such glass microspheres include those produced by 3M™ (St. Paul, Minn.) or Sphere One, Inc. (Chattanooga, Tenn.).


3.1.1 Exemplary Sources of First Particles


First particles may be prepared from the diverse materials described above. Alternatively, first particles may be purchased from a variety of suppliers. Some commercially available first particles that may be employed in the formation of the HP/OP coatings described herein include those in Table 5.









TABLE 5







First Particles




















Particle





First
First Particle

First

Size

Crush


particle
(Filler)
First Particle
Particle

Range

Strength
Source


No.
ID
Type
Details
(g/cc)
(μm)
Color
(psi)
Location


















1
K1
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.125
 30-120
White
250
3M ™j


2
K15
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.15
 30-115
White
300
3M ™j


3
S15
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.15
25-95
White
300
3M ™j


4
S22
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.22
20-75
White
400
3M ™j


5
K20
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.2
 20-125
White
500
3M ™j


6
K25
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.25
 25-105
White
750
3M ™j


7
S32
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.32
20-80
White
2000
3M ™j


8
S35
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.35
10-85
White
3000
3M ™j


9
K37
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.37
20-85
White
3000
3M ™j


10
S38
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.38
15-85
White
4000
3M ™j


11
S38HS
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.38
15-85
White
5500
3M ™j


12
K46
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.46
15-80
White
6000
3M ™j


13
S60
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.6
15-65
White
10000
3M ™j


14
S60/HS
Glass Bubbles
GPSa
0.6
11-60
White
18000
3M ™j


15
A16/
Glass Bubbles
Floated
0.16
 35-135
White
500
3M ™j



500

Series


16
A20/
Glass Bubbles
Floated
0.2
 30-120
White
1000
3M ™j



1000

Series


17
H20/
Glass Bubbles
Floated
0.2
 25-110
White
1000
3M ™j



1000

Series


18
D32/
Glass Bubbles
Floated
0.32
20-85
White
4500
3M ™j



4500

Series


19
Expancel 551
Plastic Micro-
Dry
0.042 ± 0.004
30-50


AkzoNobeli



DE
spheres
Expanded



40 d42


20
Expancel 551
Plastic Micro-
Dry
0.042 ± 0.002
30-50


AkzoNobeli



DE 40 d42 ± 2
spheres
Expanded


21
Expancel 461
Plastic Micro-
Dry
 0.07 ± 0.006
15-25


AkzoNobeli



DE 20 d70
spheres
Expanded


22
Expancel 461
Plastic Micro-
Dry
 0.06 ± 0.005
20-40


AkzoNobeli



DE 40 d60
spheres
Expanded


23
Expancel 461
Plastic Micro-
Dry
0.025 ± 0.003
35-55


AkzoNobeli



DET 40 d25
spheres
Expanded


24
Expancel 461
Plastic Micro-
Dry
0.025 ± 0.003
60-90


AkzoNobeli



DET 80 d25
spheres
Expanded


25
Expancel 920
Plastic Micro-
Dry
0.030 ± 0.003
35-55


AkzoNobeli



DE 40 d30
spheres
Expanded


26
Expancel 920
Plastic Micro-
Dry
0.025 ± 0.003
35-55


AkzoNobeli



DET 40 d25
spheres
Expanded


27
Expancel 920
Plastic Micro-
Dry
0.030 ± 0.003
55-85


AkzoNobeli



DE 80 d30
spheres
Expanded


28
H50/10000
Glass Bubbles
Floated
0.5
20-60
White
10000
3M ™j



EPX

Series


29
iMK
Glass Bubbles
Floated
0.6
 8.6-26.7
White
28000
3M ™j





Series


30
G-3125
Z-Light
CMb
0.7
 50-125
Gray
2000
3M ™j




Spheres ™


31
G-3150
Z-Light
CMb
0.7
 55-145
Gray
2000
3M ™j




Spheres ™


32
G-3500
Z-Light
CMb
0.7
 55-220
Gray
2000
3M ™j




Spheres ™


33
G-600
Zeeo-
CMb
2.3
 1-40
Gray
>60000
3M ™j




Spheres ™


34
G-800
Zeeo-
CMb
2.2
 2-200
Gray
>60000
3M ™j




Spheres ™


35
G-850
Zeeo-
CMb
2.1
 12-200
Gray
>60000
3M ™j




Spheres ™


36
W-610
Zeeo-
CMb
2.4
 1-40
White
>60000
3M ™j




Spheres ™


37
SG
Extendo-
HSc
0.72
 30-140
Gray
2500
Sphere Onef




sphere ™


38
DSG
Extendo-
HSc
0.72
 30-140
Gray
2500
Sphere Onef




sphere ™


39
SGT
Extendo-
HSc
0.72
 30-160
Gray
2500
Sphere Onef




sphere ™


40
TG
Extendo-
HSc
0.72
 8-75
Gray
2500
Sphere Onef




sphere ™


41
SLG
Extendo-
HSc
0.7
 10-149
Off
3000
Sphere Onef




sphere ™



White


42
SLT
Extendo-
HSc
0.4
10-90
Off
3000
Sphere Onef




sphere ™



White


43
SL-150
Extendo-
HSc
0.62
70
Cream
3000
Sphere Onef




sphere ™


44
SLW-150
Extendo-
HSc
0.68
 8-80
White
3000
Sphere Onef




sphere ™


45
HAT
Extendo-
HSc
0.68
 10-165
Gray
2500
Sphere Onef




sphere ™


46
HT-150
Extendo-
HSc
0.68
 8-85
Gray
3000
Sphere Onef




sphere ™


47
KLS-90
Extendo-
HSc
0.56
 4-05
Light
1200
Sphere Onef




sphere ™



Gray


48
KLS-125
Extendo-
HSc
0.56
 4-55
Light
1200
Sphere Onef




sphere ™



Gray


49
KLS-150
Extendo-
HSc
0.56
 4-55
Light
1200
Sphere Onef




sphere ™



Gray


50
KLS-300
Extendo-
HSc
0.56
 4-55
Light
1200
Sphere Onef




sphere ™



Gray


51
HA-300
Extendo-
HSc
0.68
 10-146
Gray
2500
Sphere Onef




sphere ™


52
XI0M 512
Thermo-
MPRd
0.96
 10-100
White
508
XIOM




plastic





Corp.k


53
XIOM 512
Thermo-
MPRd
0.96
 10-100
Black
508
XIOM




plastic





Corp.k


54
CORVEL ™
Thermo-
Nylon
1.09
44-74
Black

ROHM &



Black 78-7001
plastic
Powder




HASSg





Coating


55
Micro-glass
Fibers
MMEGFe
1.05
16X120
White

Fibertech



3082


56
Micro-glass
Fibers
MMEGFe
0.53
10X150
White

Fibertech



9007D
Silane-




Treated


57
Tiger Drylac
Polyester





Tiger



Series 49
crosslinked





Drylac




with TGIC





USA, Inc.l




(triglycidyl




isocyanurate)


58
Soft-
Rubber based


90, 180, or
Various

SoftPoint



Sand ®



300
colors

Indust.










Copley, OH






aGPS—general purpose series




bceramic microspheres




chollow spheres




dmodified polyethylene resins




emicroglass milled E-glass filaments




fChattanooga, TN




gPhiladelphia, PA




hBridgewater, MA




iDistributed by Eka Chem., Inc., Duluth, GA




jSt. Paul, MN




kWest Babylon, NY




lSt. Charles, IL







3.2 Second Particles


The coatings disclosed herein employ second particles (e.g., nanoparticles), which are particles that bear, or are associated with, hydrophobic and/or oleophobic compounds or moieties (i.e., moieties that are covalently or non-covalently bound). The hydrophobic moieties can be introduced by treating the particles to include moieties such as siloxanes, fluorinated hydrocarbons (e.g., partly or fully fluorinated hydrocarbons) or nonfluorinated hydrocarbons. In an embodiment, second particles suitable for the preparation of elastomer-based HP/OP coatings have a size from about 1 nanometer (nm) to about 25 μm and are capable of binding covalently to one or more chemical moieties (groups or components) that provide the second particles, and the coatings into which they are incorporated, hydrophobicity, and when selected to include fluoroalkyl groups, hydrophobicity and oleophobicity.


In one embodiment the second particles have a surface area over 100, 150, 200, 250, or 300 square meters per gram (m2/g) of particulate. In another embodiment, where the particles are fumed silica, the surface area can be about or greater than 150, 175, 200, 225 or 250 m2/g.


Second particles having a wide variety of compositions may be employed in the durable HP/OP coatings described and employed herein. In some embodiments the second particles will be particles comprising metal oxides (e.g., aluminum oxides such as alumina, zinc oxides, nickel oxides, zirconium oxides, iron oxides, or titanium dioxides), or oxides of metalloids (e.g., metalloid oxides such as oxides of B, Si, Sb, Te and Ge) such as glass, silica (e.g., fumed silica), silicates, aluminosilicates, or particles comprising combinations thereof.


In some embodiments, the second particles may have an average size in a range selected from about 1 nm up to about 25 μm or more. Included within this broad range are embodiments in which the second particles have an average size in a range selected from: about 1 nm to about 10 nm, from about 10 nm to about 25 nm, from about 25 nm to about 50 nm, from about 50 nm to about 100 nm, from about 100 nm to about 250 nm, from about 250 nm to about 500 nm, from about 500 nm to about 750 nm, from about 750 nm to about 1 μm, from about 1 μm to about 5 μm, from about 5 μm to about 10 μm, from about 10 μm to about 15 μm, from about 15 μm to about 20 μm, from about 20 μm to about 25 μm, from about 1 nm to about 100 nm, from about 2 nm to about 200 nm, from about 10 nm to about 200 nm, from about 20 nm to about 400 nm, from about 10 nm to about 500 nm; from about 40 nm to about 800 nm, from about 100 nm to about 1 μm, from about 200 nm to about 1.5 μm, from about 500 nm to about 2 μm, from about 500 nm to about 2.5 μm, from about 1 μm to about 10 μm, from about 2 μm to about 20 μm, from about 2.5 μm to about 25 μm, from about 500 nm to about 25 μm, from about 400 nm to about 20 μm, from about 100 nm to about 15 μm, from about 1 nm to about 50 nm, from about 1 nm to about 400 nm, from about 1 nm to about 500 nm, from about 2 nm to about 120 nm, from about 5 nm to about 100 nm, from about 5 nm to about 200 nm; from about 5 nm to about 400 nm; from about 10 nm to about 300 nm; or from about 20 nm to about 400 nm.


In the above-mentioned embodiments, the lower size of second particles may be limited to particles greater than about 20 nm, about 25 nm, about 30 nm, about 35 nm, about 40 nm, about 45 nm, about 50 nm, or about 60 nm; and the upper size of second particles may be limited to particles less than about 20 μm, about 10 μm, about 5 μm, about 1 μm, about 0.8 μm, about 0.6 μm, about 0.5 μm, about 0.4 μm, about 0.3 μm, about 0.2 μm, or about 100 nm.


Any combination of particle size, particle composition, surface area, and/or percent composition in the coatings recited herein may be employed in preparing elastomer-based HP/OP coatings. Limitations on the upper and lower size of second particles may be used alone or in combination with any of the above-recited size limits on particle composition, surface area, percent composition in the coatings, and the like.


In some embodiments, the coatings may contain first particles in any of the above-mentioned ranges subject to either the proviso that the coatings do not contain only particles (e.g., first or second particles) with a size of 25 μm or less, or the proviso that the coatings do not contain more than an insubstantial amount of second particles with a size of 25 μm or less (recognizing that separation processes for particles greater than 25 μm may ultimately provide an unintended, insubstantial amount of particles that are 25 μm or less). An insubstantial amount of particles is less than 3% by weight or number of those particles, but it can also be less than 0.5%, 1%, or 2% wherever recited.


In other embodiments, second particles have an average size greater than 30 μm and less than 250 μm, and coatings comprising those particles do not contain more than insubstantial amounts of particles (e.g., first and second particles) with a size of 30 μm or less. In yet other embodiments, the coatings do not contain only particles (e.g., first and second particles) with a size of 40 μm or less, or particles with a size of 40 μm or less in substantial amounts. In addition, in still other embodiments, the coatings do not contain only particles (e.g., first and second particles) with a size of 50 μm or less, or particles with a size of 50 μm or less in substantial amounts.


In other embodiments, such as where the second particles are prepared by fuming (e.g., fumed silica or fumed zinc oxide), the second particles may have an average size in a range selected from about 1 nm to about 50 nm, from about 1 nm to about 100 nm, from about 1 nm to about 400 nm, from about 1 nm to about 500 nm, from about 2 nm to about 120 nm, from about 5 nm to about 100 nm, from about 5 nm to about 200 nm, from about 25 nm to about 100 nm, from about 30 nm to about 200 nm, from about 5 nm to about 400 nm, from about 10 nm to about 300 nm, from about 20 nm to about 400 nm, or from about 50 nm to about 400 nm.


As indicated above, second particles are treated to introduce one or more moieties (e.g., groups or components) that impart HP/OP properties to the particles, either prior to incorporation into the compositions that will be used to apply coatings or after incorporation into the coatings. In some embodiments, the second particles are treated with a silanizing agent, a silane, a siloxane or a silazane, to introduce hydrophobic/superhydrophobic and/or oleophobic/superoleophobic properties to the particles (in addition to any such properties already possessed by the particles).


In one embodiment, second particles are silica, silicates, alumina (e.g., Al2O3), titanium oxide, or zinc oxide that are treated with one or more silanizing agents, e.g., compounds of formula (I) (below). In other embodiments, second particles are comprised of silica, silicates, alumina (e.g., Al2O3), titanium oxide, or zinc oxide that are treated with a siloxane. In another embodiment, the second particles are silica, silicates, glass, alumina (e.g., Al2O3), titanium oxide, or zinc oxide, treated with a silanizing agent, a siloxane or a silazane. In another embodiment, the second particles may be a fumed metal or metalloid (e.g., particles of fumed silica or fumed zinc oxide).


In embodiments where a silanizing agent is employed, the silanizing agent may be a compound of the formula (I):

R4-nSi—Xn  (I)


where n is an integer from 1 to 3;

    • each R is independently selected from
      • (i) alkyl or cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms,
      • (ii) C1 to 20 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from fluorine atoms and C6 to 14 aryl groups, which aryl groups are optionally substituted with one or more independently selected halo, C1 to 10 alkyl, C1 to 10 haloalkyl, C1 to 10 alkoxy, or C1 to 10 haloalkoxy substituents,
      • (iii) C2 to 8 or C6 to 20 alkyl ether optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from fluorine and C6 to 14 aryl groups, which aryl groups are optionally substituted with one or more independently selected halo, C1 to 10 alkyl, C1 to 10 haloalkyl, C1 to 10 alkoxy, or C1 to 10 haloalkoxy substituents,
      • (iv) C6 to 14 aryl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halo or alkoxy, and haloalkoxy substituents,
      • (v) C4 to 20 alkenyl or C4 to 20 alkynyl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halo, alkoxy, or haloalkoxy, and
      • (vi) —Z—((CF2)q(CF3))r, wherein Z is a C1 to 12 or a C2 to 8 divalent alkane radical or a C2 to 12 divalent alkene or alkyne radical, q is an integer from 1 to 12, and r is an integer from 1 to 4;
    • each X is independently selected from —H, —Cl, —I, —Br, —OH, —OR2, —NHR3, or —N(R3)2 group;
    • each R2 is an independently selected C1 to 4 alkyl or haloalkyl group; and
    • each R3 is an independently selected H, C1 to 4 alkyl, or haloalkyl group.


In some embodiments, R is an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms.


In other embodiments, R is an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms.


In other embodiments, R is an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms.


In other embodiments, R is an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms and n is 3.


In other embodiments, R is an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms and n is 3.


In other embodiments, R is an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and n is 3.


In other embodiments, R has the form —Z—((CF2)q(CF3))r, wherein Z is a C1 to 12 divalent alkane radical or a C2 to 12 divalent alkene or alkyne radical, q is an integer from 1 to 12, and r is an integer from 1 to 4.


In any of the previously mentioned embodiments of compounds of formula (I), the value of n may be varied such that 1, 2 or 3 independently selected terminal functionalities are present. Thus, in some embodiments, n is 3. In other embodiments, n is 2. In still other embodiments, n is 1.


In any of the previously mentioned embodiments of compounds of formula (I), all halogen atoms present in any one or more R groups may be fluorine.


In any of the previously mentioned embodiments of compounds of formula (I), X may be independently selected from H, Cl, —OR2, —NHR3, —N(R3)2, or combinations thereof. In other embodiments, X may be selected from Cl, —OR2, —NHR3, —N(R3)2, or combinations thereof. In still other embodiments, X may be selected from —Cl, —NHR3, —N(R3)2 or combinations thereof.


Any coating described herein may be prepared with one, two, three, four or more compounds of formula (I) employed alone or in combination to modify the nano-particles, and/or other components of the coating including filler-particles. The use of silanizing agents of formula (I) to modify nano-particles, or any of the other components of the coatings, will introduce one or more R3-nXnSi—groups (e.g., R3Si—, R2X1Si-, or RX2Si—groups) where R and X are as defined for a compound of formula (I). The value of n is 0, 1, or 2, due to the displacement of at least one “X” substituent and formation of at least one bond between a nano-particle and the Si atom (the bond between the nano-particle and the silicon atom is indicated by a dash “-” (e.g., R3Si—, R2X1Si—, or RX2Si—groups).


In other embodiments, suitable silanizing agents for modifying the nano-particles used in the coating compositions generally comprise those with fluorinated or polyfluorinated alkyl groups (e.g., fluoroalkyl groups) or alkyl groups (hydrocarbon containing groups) including, but not limited to:


(tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)silane (SIT8173.0);


(tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trichlorosilane (SIT8174.0);


(tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)triethoxysilane (SIT8175.0);


(tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trimethoxysilane (SIT8176.0);


(heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)dimethyl(dimethylamino)silane (SIH5840.5);


(heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)tris(dimethylamino)silane (SIH5841.7);


n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane (SIO6645.0); n-octyltriethoxysilane (SIO6715.0); and


3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-nonafluorohexyldimethyl(dimethylamino)silane (SIN6597.4) where the designations given in parentheses are the product numbers from Gelest, Inc., Morrisville, Pa.


Another group of reagents that can be employed to prepare first or second particles with hydrophobic and/or oleophobic properties include


(tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trichlorosilane:


(tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)triethoxysilane;


nonafluorohexyldimethylchlorosilane


(tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trimethoxysilane;


3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-nonafluorohexyldimethyl(dimethylamino)-silane:


nonafluorohexylmethyldichlorosilane;


nonafluorohexyltrichlorosilane;


nonafluorohexyltriethoxysilane; and


nonafluorohexyltrimethoxysilane.


In one embodiment, the coating compositions set forth herein comprise silica second particles treated with nonafluorohexyltrichlorosilane.


In addition to the silanizing agents recited above, a variety of other silanizing agents can be used to alter the properties of second particles and to provide hydrophobic and/or oleophobic properties. In some embodiments, second particles may be treated with an agent selected from dimethyldichlorosilane, hexamethyldisilazane, octyltrimethoxysilane, or tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl trichlorosilane. In such embodiments, the second particles may be silica. Silica second particles treated with such agents may have an average size in a range selected from about 1 nm to about 50 nm, from about 1 nm to about 100 nm, from about 1 nm to about 400 nm, from about 1 nm to about 500 nm, from about 2 nm to about 120 nm, from about 5 nm to about 150 nm, from about 5 nm to about 400 nm, from about 10 nm to about 300 nm, from about 20 nm to about 400 nm, or from about 50 nm to about 250 nm.


Other agents can be used to modify second particles, including, but not limited to, one or more of: polydimethylsiloxane, gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, Dynasylan® A (tetraethylorthosilicate), hexamethyldisilazane, and Dynasylan® F 8263 (fluoroalkylsilane), any one or more of which may be used alone or in combination with the silanizing agents recited herein.


Two attributes of silanizing agents that may be considered for the purposes of their reaction with second particles and the introduction of hydrophobic or oleophobic moieties are the leaving group (e.g., X groups of compounds of the formula (I)) and the terminal functionality (e.g., R groups of compounds of the formula (I)). A silanizing agent's leaving group(s) can determine the reactivity of the agent with the first or second particle(s), or other components of the coating, if applied after a coating has been applied. Where the first or second particles are a silicate or silica (e.g., fumed silica) the leaving group can be displaced to form Si—O—Si bonds. Leaving group effectiveness is ranked in the decreasing order as chloro>methoxy>hydro (H)>ethoxy (measured as trichloro>trimethoxy>trihydro>triethoxy). This ranking of the leaving groups is consistent with their bond dissociation energy. The terminal functionality determines the level of hydrophobicity that results from application of the silane to the surface.


3.2.1 Some Sources of Second Particles


Second particles such as those comprising fumed silica may be purchased from a variety of suppliers including, but not limited to, Cabot Corp., Billerica, Mass. (e.g., Nanogel TLD201, CAB-O-SIL® TS-720 (silica, pretreated with polydimethylsiloxane), and M5 (untreated silica)) and Evonik Industries, Essen, Germany (e.g., ACEMATT® silica such as untreated HK400, AEROXIDE® silica, AEROXIDE® TiO2 titanium dioxide, and AEROXIDE® Alu alumina).


Some commercially available second particles are set forth in Table 6 along with their surface treatment by a silanizing agent or polydimethyl siloxane.









TABLE 6







Some commercially available second particles















Nominal BET




Product
Surface
Level of
Surface Area of Base
Particle
Product


Name
Treatment
Treatment
Product (m2/g)
Size (nm)
Source





M-5
None
None
200

Cab-O-Sil


Aerosil ® 200
None
None
200
12
Evonik


Aerosil ® 255
None
None
255

Evonik


Aerosil ® 300
None
None
300
 7
Evonik


Aerosil ® 380
None
None
380
 7
Evonik


HP-60
None
None
200

Cab-O-Sil


PTG
None
None
200

Cab-O-Sil


H-5
None
None
300

Cab-O-Sil


HS-5
None
None
325

Cab-O-Sil


EH-5
None
None
385

Cab-O-Sil


TS-610
Dimethyldichlorosilane
Intermediate
130

Cab-O-Sil


TS-530
Hexamethyldisilazane
High
320

Cab-O-Sil


TS-382
Octyltrimethoxysilane
High
200

Cab-O-Sil


TS-720
Polydimethylsiloxane
High
200

Cab-O-Sil


Aerosil ® R202
Polydimethylsiloxane

100
14
Evonik


Aerosil ®
Hexamethyldisilazane

125-175

Evonik


R504
(HMDS) and







aminosilane






Aerosil ®
HMDS based on

220

Evonik


R812S
Aerosil ® 300





BET Surface Area is Brunauer, Emmett and Teller surface area




embedded image


embedded image








As purchased, the particles may be untreated (e.g., M5 silica) and may not possess any HP/OP properties. Such untreated particles can be treated to covalently attach one or more groups or moieties to the particles that give them HP/OP properties, for example, by treatment with the silanizing agents discussed above.


3.2.2 Dispersants for Second Particles


Second particles can be applied to a base coating of elastomeric binder after it has been applied to the surface of an object (or a part thereof) in the form of a second component having a composition comprising one or more independently selected second particles as described above (e.g., second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer (nm) to about 25 microns (μm) wherein said particles comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound, either directly or indirectly, to said second particles; wherein said second component optionally comprises one or more solvents (liquid dispersants).


If the elastomeric coating has not dried, or has been subjected to a solvent that dissolves at least the outermost portion of the binder (e.g., renders it sufficiently tacky), second particles may be applied directly to the elastomeric binder by contacting the second particles with the binder. Second particles may be contacted with the surface by any suitable means, including spraying them on the surface using a stream of gas (e.g., air, nitrogen, or an inert gas), exposing the binder coating to particles suspended in a gas, or contacting the base coat of elastomeric binder with a fluidized bed of second particles.


Second particles can also be applied to a base coating of elastomeric binder in a second coating component that, in addition to the second particles, contains a solvent (dispersant) that dissolves, expands or swells the outermost portion of the binder sufficiently (e.g., renders it tacky) to permit the second particles to become bound in at least the outermost portion of the binder base coat. Where second components of the coating composition comprise a solvent, the second particles are dispersed in the solvent for application. Second particles, and particularly smaller second particles (e.g., 1-50 nm or 1-100 nm), may form aggregates in solvents used as dispersants.


Suitable solvents include those with a surface energy lower than water including, but not limited to: alcohols, ketones, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), ethyl acetate, toluene, xylene, isopropyl acetate, 1,1,1,-trichloroethane, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), tertbutyl acetate (t-butyl acetate), cyclohexane, methyl-cyclohexane, or mixtures comprising any two, three, four or more thereof. In an embodiment, the solvents are non-aqueous (e.g., they contain less than 10%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, or 0.5% of water by weight or they contain only insubstantial amounts of water). Solvents that are miscible with water are employed in the second coating component in another embodiment. In another embodiment, the solvent comprises a non-aqueous water miscible solvent. In one embodiment, the solvent employed in the second coating component is acetone or is comprised of acetone. In another embodiment the solvent employed in the second coating component is NMP (N-methylpyrrolidone) or is comprised of NMP. In other embodiments, the solvent employed in the second coating composition comprises a mixture of acetone or NMP with water, particularly a minor proportion of water (e.g., less than about 5%, less than about 4%, less than about 2%, less than about 1%, or less than about 0.5% water).


In one embodiment, the second component of the coating composition (i.e., the top coat) comprises:


i) one or more independently selected second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer to about 25 microns, wherein said second particles comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound, either directly or indirectly, to said second particles; and


ii) optionally, one or more independently selected solvents, wherein when said one or more solvents are present, said second particles may be present in a weight percent range selected from (0.1-1, 1.0-2.0, 0.2-2.0, 0.5-1.5, 0.5-2.0, 0.75-2.5, 1.5-2.0, 1.5-2.5, 2.0-3.0, 2.0-3.5, or 2.5-3.5) based on the weight of the one or more solvents and second particles.


In another embodiment, the second component of the coating composition (i.e., the top coat) comprises:


(i) 0.1 to 3.5 parts by weight (e.g., 0.1-1, 1.0-2.0, 0.2-2.0, 0.5-1.5, 0.5-2.0, 0.75-2.5, 1.5-2.0, 1.5-2.5, 2.0-3.0, 2.0-3.5, or 2.5-3.5) of second particles that comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound, either directly or indirectly, to said second particles, or one or more siloxanes or silazanes associated with the second particles;


(ii) a fluorinated polyolefin, (e.g., a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride, such as Dyneon™ THV); and/or a Fluoroethylene-Alkyl Vinyl Ether (FEVE) copolymer; and


(iii) a solvent for a the remainder of a total of 100 parts by weight.


In another embodiment, the fluorinated polyolefin (e.g., a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride, such as Dyneon™ THV), if present, comprises from 0.1 to 1.0 parts by weight (e.g., 0.1-0.5, 0.5-1.0, or 0.3-0.7 parts) of the composition.


In another embodiment, the Fluoroethylene-Alkyl Vinyl Ether (e.g., the constituent polymer found in Lumiflon™), if present, comprises 0.06 to 0.6 parts by weight (e.g., 0.06-0.0.1, 0.1-0.2, 0.2-0.4, or 0.4-0.6 parts) of the composition. In such an embodiment the FEVE may have an average molecular weight of about 1,000 to 3,000 (e.g., about 1,000-2,000, 2,000-3,000, 1,500-2,500, or about 1,000, about 1,500, about 2,000, about 2,500, or about 3,000 Dalton). Accordingly, one embodiment of the second component comprises per 100 parts by weight:


i) 0.1 to 3.5 parts by weight (e.g., 0.1-1, 1.0-2.0, 0.2-2.0, 0.5-1.5, 0.5-2.0, 0.75-2.5, 1.5-2.0, 1.5-2.5, 2.0-3.0, 2.0-3.5, or 2.5-3.5) of one or more independently selected second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer to about 25 microns, wherein said second particles comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound, either directly or indirectly, to said second particles, or one or more siloxanes or silazanes associated with said second particles;


ii) 0.1 to 1.0 parts by weight (e.g., 0.1-0.5, 0.5-1.0, or 0.3-0.7 parts) of a fluorinated polyolefin, (e.g., a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride, such as Dyneon™ THV); and/or

    • 0.06 to 0.6 parts by weight (e.g., 0.06-0.0.1, 0.1-0.2, 0.2-0.4, or 0.4-0.6 parts) of a Fluoroethylene-Alkyl Vinyl Ether (FEVE) copolymer, having an average molecular weight of about 1,000 to 3,000 (e.g., about 1,000-2,000, 2,000-3,000, 1,500-2,500, or about 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, or 3,000 Da); and


(iii) one or more solvent for a the remainder of a total of 100 parts by weight.


Where the solvent employed in second coating compositions dissolves or renders at least the outermost layer of the elastomeric binder “tacky,” second particles can be introduced into completely dried and cured base coats of elastomeric binder. That permits the repair of worn or abraded coatings that have lost HP/OP behavior over all or part of their surface.


4.0 Surface Preparation and Priming

To improve the adherence and performance of the coatings described herein the surface to be coated, in whole or in part, should be clean, free of contaminants and capable of supporting the coatings (e.g., not friable).


Performance of the coatings in terms of their durability can be significantly improved by the application of a primer. Any primer compatible with both the surface of the object and the elastomeric coating can be employed.


A variety of primer compositions may be employed. In one embodiment the primers comprise one or more polymers that are elastic (i.e., have viscoelasticity), such as those that comprise the binder used in the first component of the coating compositions described herein (e.g., SBCs). In one embodiment, the primer comprises one or more polymers that are elastic (i.e., have viscoelasticity, e.g., SBCs) and a tackifier. In one embodiment, the primer is a PLASTI DIP™ metal primer f938hp.


In one embodiment, when a tackifier is employed, it may be selected from resins (e.g. rosins and their derivates; terpenes and modified terpenes; aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and aromatic resins (C5 aliphatic resins, C9 aromatic resins, and C5/C9 aliphatic/aromatic resins); hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins (e.g., Regalrez™ 1094, Eastman Chemical Co., Kingsport Tenn.), and mixtures thereof and/or terpene-phenol resins). In one embodiment the tackifier is an ester of hydrogenated rosin (e.g., FORAL™ 105-E ester of hydrogenated rosin).


In other embodiments the primer is an elastomeric primer comprising triblock copolymers of styrene and ethylene/butylene and an ester of a hydrogenated thermoplastic rosin (e.g., FORAL™ 105-E, Eastman Chemical). The polystyrene content of the triblock copolymers will typically be from about 8% to about 14%, from about 12% to about 20%, from about 18% to about 28%, from about 22% to about 32%, from about 26% to about 36%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, about 16%, about 18%, about 19%, about 20%, about 22%, about 24%, about 26%, about 28%, about 30%, about 32%, about 34%, or about 36%. Mixtures of any two or more, three or more, or four or more of such triblock copolymers may also be employed in the primer composition, and any one or more of such triblock copolymers may optionally comprise 1% to 3%, 1.4% to 2.0%, 1% to 1.4%, 1.6% to 3%, or 2% to 3% bound maleic anhydride (maleated copolymers). Any of the foregoing triblock copolymers may be linear or branched (e.g., dendrimers or arborols).


In one embodiment wherein the elastomeric primer comprises triblock copolymers of styrene and ethylene/butylene and an ester of a hydrogenated thermoplastic rosin, the primer comprises two different maleated triblock copolymers of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene: a first triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene having 0.4% to 1.6% (e.g., 0.5% to 1.5%, 0.6% to 1.4,% or 0.7% to 1.3%) substitution of maleic anhydride by weight of the first triblock copolymer (and optionally less than 0.3% free maleic anhydride); and a second triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene having 1.1% to 2.5% (e.g., 1.3 to 2.3 or 1.4 to 2.4%) substitution of maleic anhydride by weight of the second triblock copolymer. In such an embodiment the first and/or second triblock copolymers may be linear or branched copolymers (e.g., arborols or dendrimers), and the second triblock copolymers may be present in a weight ratio from about 4:1 to about 6.5:1 (e.g., the first copolymer to second copolymer ratio is about 4:1 to about 5.5:1, about 5:1 to about 6:1, or about 5.5:1 to about 6.5:1). The ratio of the total triblock copolymer (first and second) to the ester of a hydrogenated thermoplastic rosin is typically 1:5 to 2.5:5 (triblock copolymers: ester(s) of hydrogenated thermoplastic rosin). Ratios for all three components include 7:1:25, 7.2:1.3:25, 7.6:1.6:25, and 8:1.8:25 (first triblock copolymer: second triblock copolymer: ester of a hydrogenated thermoplastic rosin).


In any of the foregoing embodiments the primers may also comprise insubstantial amounts (e.g., less than about 2% by weight of the polymers present in the binder, such as less than 1.0%, 0.75%, 0.5%, 0.25%, or 0.1%) of colorants or particulates that are insoluble in the solvents that dissolve the elastomeric polymers and/or that would block the transmission of visible light in the dried cured coating (e.g., talc added for the flowability of particles of the polymers as produced).


In any of the foregoing embodiments the primers may also comprise first particles for texture development in the primer and/or the base coat (i.e., a base coat of elastomeric binder with or without first particles).


In another embodiment, when a tackifier is employed it may be a hydrocarbon resin. In one embodiment where hydrocarbon resins are employed, they may be selected from resins such as those prepared from petroleum based feedstocks (e.g., aliphatic (C5), aromatic (C9), DCPD (dicyclopentadiene) resins, or mixtures of these).


Elastomeric primers not only promote bonding to substrate surfaces such as metals, but also provide for improved adhesion to the base coat. In addition, such primers compensate for differences in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the HP/OP coating and the substrate.


In other embodiments, primers comprise polyurethane polymers. Such polyurethane containing primers (“polyurethane primers”) demonstrate excellent bonding to many substrates including metallic substrates. When employing a polyurethane primer, it is possible to incorporate first particles into the primer and/or the base coat (a base coat of elastomeric binder with or without first particles) for texture development. Thus, in addition to promoting adhesion, the primer can also serve to develop texture with increased surface area for improved adhesion of the base coat comprising an elastomeric binder, develop wear resistance, and develop hydrophobicity/oleophobicity. The HP/OP coatings applied over the elastomeric primers or two part polyurethane primers described herein display essentially equal resistance to the loss of hydrophobicity in Taber Abraser wear/abrasion resistance tests (as measured by Taber Abraser cycles) when abrasive (CS-10) and soft (CS-0) wheels are employed.


5.0 Coating Application Method:

The coatings described herein (including any underlying primer) can be applied to surfaces using any means known in the art including, but not limited to, brushing, painting, printing, stamping, rolling, dipping, spin-coating, spraying, or electrostatic spraying. In one embodiment, one or more of a primer, base coat and/or top coat are applied by spraying. In another embodiment, each of a primer (if present), base coat and top coat are applied by spraying.


In one embodiment the first and second coating compositions described herein are separately prepackaged in a delivery system/apparatus for spray applications, such as aerosol canisters (e.g., pre-pressurized aerosol cans). In such an embodiment, the first component and second component can be packaged in separate delivery systems/apparatus. A propellant is added to the system/apparatus that serves to drive the components out of their canisters for delivery. Propellants will typically be a gas at 25° C. and 1 atmosphere, but may be in a different phase (liquid) under pressure, such as in a pressurized aerosol delivery system. The propellant may be a gas (e.g., air or nitrogen) or a liquefiable gas having a vapor pressure sufficient to propel and aerosolize the first and/or second components as they exit their delivery system/apparatus). Some exemplary propellants include: liquefied petroleum gases, ethers (e.g., dimethyl ether (DME) and diethyl ether); C1-C4 saturated hydrocarbons (e.g., methane, ethane, propane, n-butane, and isobutene); hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) (e.g., 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), 1,1,1,2,3,3,3,-heptafluoropropane (HFC-227HFC), difluoromethane (HFC-32), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134), and 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a)), and mixtures comprising any two, three or more of the foregoing. In another embodiment, the propellant is a blend of n-butane and propane.


Generally, the surfaces will be rigid or semi-rigid, but the surfaces can also be flexible, for example in the instance of wires, tapes, rubberized materials, gaskets, and ribbons.


The coatings described herein can be applied to virtually any substrate to provide HP/OP properties. The choice of coatings and coating processes that will be used may be affected by the compatibility of the substrate and its surface to the coating process and the component of the coating compositions. Among the considerations are the compatibility of the substrate and its surface with any solvents that may be employed in the application of the coatings and the ability of a desired coating to adhere to the substrate's surface.


Coatings may take any desired shape or form, limited only by the manner and patterns in which they can be applied. In some embodiments, the coating will completely cover a surface. In other embodiments the coating will cover only a portion of a surface, such as one or more of a top, side or bottom of an object. In one embodiment, a coating is applied as a line or strip on a substantially flat or planar surface. In such an embodiment the line or strip may form a spill-resistant border.


The shape, dimensions and placement of HP/OP coatings on surfaces can be controlled by a variety of means including the use of masks, which can control not only the portions of a surface that will receive a coating, but also the portions of a surface that may receive prior treatments such as the application of a primer layer or cleaning by abrasion or solvents. For example, where sandblasting or a chemical treatment is used to prepare a portion of a surface for coating, a mask resistant to those treatments would be selected (e.g., a mask such as a rigid or flexible plastic, resin, or rubber/rubberized material). Masking may be attached to the surface through the use of adhesives, which may be applied to the mask agent, the surface, or both.


In another embodiment HP/OP coatings are applied to a ribbon, tape or sheet that may then be applied to a substrate by any suitable means including adhesive applied to the substrate, the ribbon or tape, or both. Ribbons, tapes and sheets bearing a superhydrophobic coating may be employed in a variety of applications, including forming spill proof barriers on surfaces. Ribbons, tapes, and sheets are generally formed of a substantially flat (planar) flexible material where one side (the top) is made hydrophobic or superhydrophobic. This includes metal sheets, ribbons, and tapes such as aluminum tape or other tapes (e.g., metal adhesive tape, plastic adhesive tape, paper adhesive tape, fiberglass adhesive tape), wherein one side is coated with an HP/OP coating and adhesive is applied to the other side. Once such HP/OP ribbons, tapes, and sheets are prepared, they can be applied to any type of surface including metal, ceramic, glass, plastic, or wood surfaces, for a variety of purposes.


In one embodiment, HP/OP coatings are applied to the surface of an object by a method comprising:


(a) applying a first component to all or part of the surface of an object; followed by


(b) applying a second component to all or the part of the surface of said object to which said first component was applied.


In another embodiment, HP/OP coatings are applied by a coating method comprising:


(a) applying a first component of a two-component coating composition to all or part of the surface of an object; followed by


(b) applying a second component of the two-component coating composition to all or the part of the surface of said object to which said first component was applied.


In such an embodiment, the first component and second component may be applied using one or more methods selected independently from brushing, painting, printing, stamping, rolling, dipping, spin-coating, or spraying. Such a process is at least a two-step process, but may include additional steps, such as a second application of the second component making it a three or more step process.


In an embodiment, one or both of the first and second components are applied to a surface by spraying in a method comprising:


(a) spraying a first component of a two-component coating composition (e.g., an elastomeric binder and first particles) on all or part of the surface of an object; followed by


(b) spraying a second component of said two-component coating composition (e.g., second particles and optionally a solvent) on all or part of the surface of an object to which said first component was applied. In one embodiment, the spraying may be conducted using first, second, or both components packaged in aerosol spray canisters.


In an embodiment of the above-described coating process, a base coat of elastomeric polymer binder and first particles (e.g., EXPANCEL particles) is applied as the first component. Once the base coat loses sufficient solvent so that it: does not run when a second component is applied; is close to being dry to touch (e.g., is tacky); becomes dry to touch; or is dry, a second coating component (e.g., second particles and an optional dispersant such as acetone) is applied. The solvent in the dispersant helps attach the functional second particles to the binder of the base coat. Other than allowing any solvent used as a dispersant to evaporate no additional curing cycle is needed.


The coating obtained is durable and delivers HP/OP behavior and can be applied to a variety of substrates including metals, ceramics, polymerics and fabrics and in a number of specific applications as set forth below.


6.0 Applications:

The elastomeric coating described herein may be employed in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, coatings for all or part of:

  • 1) electronic equipment and their electronic components or subassemblies (e.g., circuit boards), including, but not limited to: cell phones, laptop computers, electronic tablets (e.g., iPads), cameras, video games, Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, radios, MP3 and electronic music players, watches, video equipment, security systems, satellite dishes and other portable electronics;
  • 2) shoes (e.g., athletic shoes, casual shoes, dress shoes) and apparel for medical and recreational use;
  • 3) toys such as toy vehicles (e.g., trucks, cars), bikes, scooters, playground equipment (e.g., swings, slides, teeter-totters), water toys, and toys for use in bathtubs;
  • 4) cleaning products—toilet brushes, toilet plungers, mops, dust mops and cloths;
  • 5) furniture and cooking preparation and serving surfaces including both indoor and outdoor furniture (e.g., lawn/patio furniture and park furniture such as tables, chairs and benches) or employed as spill resistant borders on surfaces that are substantially horizontal.
  • 6) pet products (e.g., litter boxes, litter scoopers, drinking and food bowls, collars, litter particles, animal beds);
  • 7) farm tools and home and garden tools including shovels, spades, and rakes;
  • 8) outdoor and exercise equipment (e.g., skis, snow boards), balls, in-line skates, roller skates);
  • 9) appliances—portions or entire refrigerator plates (e.g., spill proof borders), freezer liners, parts in washing machines, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and dryers;
  • 11) baby/toddler products (e.g., car seats, potty seats, bibs, silverware (made from plastics), cups, plates and diapers (or parts thereof);
  • 12) food and beverage containers (e.g., bottles and containers for beverages, water, food);
  • 13) sports equipment including balls (e.g., baseballs, tennis balls, footballs, soccer balls), gloves, backpacks, and tents;
  • 14) bedding (sheets, mattresses, pillows, blankets);
  • 15) food processing equipment and kitchen equipment including coatings and/or spill resistant borders for counters, backsplashes, the walls behind counters where food is prepared, and abattoirs (e.g., wall coatings and/or curtains used to section off a slaughter floor);
  • 16) superhydrophobic body spray;
  • 17) automotive parts (e.g., bumpers, internal plastic parts, engine parts, structural parts, fender well (wheel well) liners, and car seats, particularly for convertibles);
  • 18) protective equipment (e.g., helmets, pads, and uniforms);
  • 19) building products (e.g., rain spouts, doors, counters (polymer), flooring, ceilings, screens, and roofing);
  • 20) laboratory equipment (e.g., trays, storage bins, tools, petri dishes, funnels, tubing and animal cages);
  • 21) electrical equipment (e.g., electrical housings, electrical wiring, motors, switches, insulators, and circuit boards);
  • 22) communications equipment (e.g., satellite dishes, antennas, and communications towers);
  • 23) plastic and/or metal tubing and piping (e.g., PVC piping, copper piping, plastic and steel piping);
  • 24) lavatory/bathroom equipment and fixtures (e.g., urinals, toilets, toilet seats, air and/or heat hand drying equipment, potty seat bowls, counters, sinks, and soap dispensers);
  • 25) medical products including: beds and bed parts, bed pans, tubing, tubular products, catheters, stents, surgical tools and operating room equipment (such as robotic surgical tools), operating room equipment (e.g., tables, light fixtures), walls, floors, sinks, imaging equipment/machinery, laboratory testing equipment/machinery, and medical instruments (e.g., medical instruments used in surgical and nonsurgical applications);
  • 26) wound care products, spray-on bandages, regular bandages, and body affecting products (e.g., skin and/or hair spray; and
  • 27) aviation and boating equipment (e.g., airplane fuselage, wings and instrumentation), and boat bottoms, decks, and other places throughout a boat.


Use of the coating can be facilitated by providing the first and second components for preparing the coatings described herein in a form that permits facile application. In one embodiment the first and/or second components are prepackaged in solvent or propellant delivery systems such as aerosol canisters (e.g., aerosol cans).


7.0 Coating Evaluation

Coatings prepared using the elastomeric binder first component and second coating composition described herein can be evaluated using one or more criteria including, but not limited to:

  • 1. transparency and appearance, which are evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively;
  • 2. durability of the SH/OP behavior (wear resistance of the coating) to an applied force using:
    • 2a. semi-quantitative glove rub test in which the thumb of a latex rubber gloved hand is stroked by hand over the surface of the coating that has been applied to a substantially planar surface until the coating no longer shows superhydrophobic behavior. This test is a proxy for the ability of the surface to be handled and retain its HP/OP properties. During the test, the area of the surface contacted with the rubber glove is approximately 25 mm×25 mm and the force applied approximately 300 g (or about 0.5 g/square mm). The end of superhydrophobic behavior is judged by the failure of more than half of the water droplets applied (typically 20) to the tested surface to run (roll) off when the surface is inclined at 5 degrees from horizontal. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary testing apparatus used to determine the end of SH/OP,
    • 2b. loss of superhydrophobic behavior can also be judged after the surface is subject to the action of a cylindrical rubber finger moved across the surface. The finger is rubbed across the surface using a motorized American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) CM-5 Crockmeter fitted with a 14/20 white rubber septum (outside diameter of 13 mm and inside diameter of 7 mm with a contact surface area of 94 mm2) to contact the coating with a force of 9N (Ace Glass, Inc., Vineland, N.J., Catalog No. 9096-244). The end of superhydrophobic behavior is judged by the failure of more than half of the water droplets applied to the tested surface (typically 20 droplets) to run (roll) off when the surface is inclined at 5 degrees from horizontal,
    • 2c. loss of superhydrophobic behavior when the samples are subject to Taber Abraser testing using CS-10 (abrasive) and/or CS-0 (non-abrasive) wheels at the indicated loads and speeds to determine the point at which the surfaces lose superhydrophobicity. Unless indicated otherwise, a load of 1,000 g is employed. All Taber tests were conducted at a speed of 95 rpm unless stated otherwise. The end of superhydrophobic behavior is judged by the failure of more than half of the water droplets applied to the tested surface (typically 20) to run (roll) off when the surface is inclined at 5 degrees from horizontal,
    • 2d. time to the loss of superhydrophobicity under a shower of water. Water is applied from a showerhead placed 152.4 cm (60 inches) above a substantially planar test surface inclined at 5 degrees from the horizontal, the showerhead having 70 nozzles with a 1 mm diameter orifice arranged in 5 spokes of 5 nozzles and 15 spokes of 3 nozzles about a central point on the circular showerhead. The apparatus delivers a shower of 6 liters of water per minute using about 137900 to about 310275 Pa (about 20 to about 45 psi) over an approximately circular area of about 150 cm in diameter at the level of the test surface. The time to loss of superhydrophobic behavior is determined to be the period of time after which water droplets from the shower begin to “stick” to the surface (no longer freely run off the surface) of a sample placed in the shower;
  • 3. coating thickness and/or surface roughness, expressed as the average roughness (Ra) unless stated otherwise. Surface roughness has been found to be an indicator that positively correlates with abrasion resistance (increasing abrasion resistance with increasing roughness);
  • 4. the ability of coated surfaces to resist ice formation in dynamic testing and the adherence of ice to surfaces;
  • 5. electrical properties including resistance and permittivity′
  • 6. oleophobicity, using either the contact angle of light mineral oil with the coating or by assessing the interaction of droplets of various liquid hydrocarbons having different surface tensions employed in the ATCC 118-1997 Oil Repellancy test with the coating surface. For testing, a coating is applied to a 4×4 inch substantially planar plate. After the plate has dried and cured it is placed on a 5±1 degree slope relative to the horizontal and five droplets of a test hydrocarbon are applied beginning with Kaydol™ (available from CBM Group of N.C. Inc., 1308 N. Ellis Ave., Dunn N.C. 28334). When droplets stick to the coating or wet the coating, the Score (Oil Repellency Grade Number) is assigned. Thus, Kaydol™ droplets rolling off earns a value of 1 or greater, 65:35 Kaydol™: n-hexadecane droplets rolling off earns a value of 2 or greater, and so on. All test are conducted at room temperature.













Score (Oil Repellency



Grade Number)
hydrocarbon







0
None (Fails Kaydol ™)


1
Kaydol ™ (mineral oil)


2
65:35 Kaydol ™:n-hexadecane


3
n-hexadecane


4
n-tetradecane


6
n-dodecane


6
n-decane


7
n-octane


8
n-heptane









The oleophobicity of first or second particles (e.g., fumed silica treated with a silane, silazane, silanol, siloxane, fluorinated versions thereof, etc.) can be tested in the same manner. In such tests the first and/or second particles are applied to a clean 4×4 inch aluminum plate by spraying a suspension containing 2% particles 98% acetone by weight to form a coating of particles that cover the aluminum plate. After the plate has dried, the above-listed hydrocarbon liquids are tested on the particle coatings in the same manner as they would be on an elastomeric coating, and the particles scored in the same manner.


8.0 Certain Embodiments

Embodiment 1, has is divided into two sub-embodiments, that are recited below as embodiments 1.1. and 1.2. In embodiment 1.1 the second component comprises second particles and one or more solvents, but does not require a fluoropolymer. In contrast, the second component of sub-embodiment 1.2 requires not only second particles, but also a fluorinated polyolefin and/or a Fluoroethylene-Alkyl Vinyl Ether (FEVE) copolymer, and one or more solvents. In subsequent embodiments, any reference to embodiment 1 refers to either embodiment 1.1 and/or 1.2.


Embodiment 1.1 A combination of components for forming a coating comprising:






    • A) a first component which comprises:
      • i) an elastomeric binder comprising one or more styrenic block copolymers, wherein said elastomeric binder comprises from about 1% to about 30% of said one or more styrenic block copolymers by weight (e.g., about 1% to about 5%, about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 15%, about 15% to about 25%, or about 25% to about 30% of said one or more styrenic block copolymers);
      • ii) optionally, one or more independently selected first particles having a size of about 30 microns to about 225 microns, wherein, when said first particles are present, the first component comprises from about 0.01% to about 5% of said first particles by weight (e.g., about 0.01% to about 5%, about 0.03% to about 1%, about 0.05% to about 0.15%, about 0.1% to about 2.5%, or about 0.2% to about 5% of said first particles by weight); and
      • iii) one or more independently selected solvents; and

    • B) a second component which comprises:
      • i) one or more independently selected second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer to about 25 microns, wherein said second particles comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound, either directly or indirectly, to said second particles; and
      • ii) optionally, one or more independently selected solvents, wherein when said one or more solvents are present, said second particles may be present in a weight percent range selected from (0.1-1, 1.0-2.0, 0.2-2.0, 0.5-1.5, 0.5-2.0, 0.75-2.5, 1.5-2.0, 1.5-2.5, 2.0-3.0, 2.0-3.5, or 2.5-3.5) based on the weight of the one or more solvents and second particles.


        Embodiment 1.2 A combination of components for forming a coating comprising:

    • A) a first component which comprises:
      • i) an elastomeric binder comprising one or more styrenic block copolymers, wherein said elastomeric binder comprises from about 1% to about 30% of said one or more styrenic block copolymers by weight (e.g., about 1% to about 5%, about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 15%, about 15% to about 25%, or about 25% to about 30% of said one or more styrenic block copolymers);
      • ii) optionally, one or more independently selected first particles having a size of about 30 microns to about 225 microns, wherein, when said first particles are present, the first component comprises from about 0.01% to about 5% of said first particles by weight (e.g., about 0.01% to about 5%, about 0.03% to about 1%, about 0.05% to about 0.15%, about 0.1% to about 2.5%, or about 0.2% to about 5% of said first particles by weight); and
      • iii) one or more independently selected solvents; and

    • B) a second component which comprises per 100 parts by weight:
      • i) 0.1 to 3.5 parts by weight (e.g., 0.1-1, 1.0-2.0, 0.2-2.0, 0.5-1.5, 0.5-2.0, 0.75-2.5, 1.5-2.0, 1.5-2.5, 2.0-3.0, 2.0-3.5, or 2.5-3.5) of one or more independently selected second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer to about 25 microns, wherein said second particles comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound, either directly or indirectly, to said second particles, or one or more siloxanes or silazanes associated with said second particles;
      • ii) 0.1 to 1.0 parts by weight (e.g., 0.1-0.5, 0.5-1.0, or 0.3-0.7 parts) of a fluorinated polyolefin, (e.g., a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride, such as Dyneon™ THV);
      • and/or
      •  0.06 to 0.6 parts by weight (e.g., 0.06-0.0.1, 0.1-0.2, 0.2-0.4, or 0.4-0.6 parts) of a Fluoroethylene-Alkyl Vinyl Ether (FEVE) copolymer, having an average molecular weight of about 1,000 to 3,000 (e.g., about 1,000-2,000, 2,000-3,000, 1,500-2,500, or about 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, or 3,000 Da);
      • and
      • iii) one or more independently selected solvents for a the remainder of a total of 100 parts by weight.



  • 2. The combination of embodiment 1, wherein one or more of the styrenic block copolymers has a rubber phase crosslinked to the polystyrene phase.

  • 3. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 2, wherein one or more of the styrenic block copolymers has a rubber phase comprising polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polyolefin or a mixture of any of those rubber phase components (e.g., linear triblock copolymers of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene content of about 8% to about 36% by weight (e.g., about 8% to about 12%, about 12% to about 18%, about 18% to about 24%, about 24% to about 30%, about 30% to about 36%, about 10% to about 20%, or about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, about 15%, about 17%, about 19%, about 20%, about 22%, about 24%, about 26%, about 28%, about 30%, about 32%, about 34%, about 36%) or mixtures of any two or more, three or more, or four or more of such triblock copolymers, any one or more of which may optionally comprise 1% to 3% or 1.4% to 2.0% maleic anhydride).

  • 4. The combination according to any of embodiments 2 to 3, wherein said rubber component comprises 60%-98%, 60%-70%, 70%-80%, 60%-90%, 80%-90%, 83%-93%, 85%-95%, or 89%-98%, of the elastomer by weight (based on the dry weight of the elastomer present in the first component not including any contribution by the first particles or other materials present in that component).

  • 5. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein said first component further comprises one or more colorants, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, rheological agents, and/or fillers.

  • 6. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein said first component further comprises up to 30% by weight of one or more tackifiers (e.g., 1%-5%, 2%-8%, 5%-10%, 10%-15%, 15%-20%, 20%-25%, or 25%-30%).

  • 7. The combination of embodiment 6, wherein said one or more styrenic block copolymers and said one or more tackifiers together comprise up to about 30% by weight of said first component (e.g., up to about 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30%).

  • 8. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein said elastomeric binder comprises one, two, three, or more triblock copolymers.

  • 9. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein said elastomeric binder comprises one or more styrenic block copolymers of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene content of about 8% to about 36% by weight (e.g., about 8% to about 14%, about 12% to about 20%, about 18% to about 28%, about 22% to about 32%, about 26% to about 36%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, about 16%, about 18%, about 19%, about 20%, about 22%, about 24%, about 26%, about 28%, about 30%, about 32%, about 34%, about 36%), or mixtures of any two or more, three or more, or four or more of such triblock copolymers.

  • 10. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein one or more of said styrenic block copolymers present in the elastomeric binder comprise maleic anhydride (e.g., maleated copolymers having 1% to 3%, 1.4% to 2.0%, 1% to 1.4%, 1.6% to 3%, or 2% to 3% maleic anhydride based on the weight of the copolymer).

  • 11. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein at least one, or at least two, of said one or more styrenic block copolymers is a linear copolymer or a branched copolymer (e.g., a dendrimer or arborol).

  • 12. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the elastomeric binder comprises a first and a second maleated triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene wherein:
    • said first maleated triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene has a polystyrene content from about 8% to about 14%, with 0.4% to 1.6% (e.g., 0.5% to 1.5%, 0.6% to 1.4%, or 0.7% to 1.3%) substitution (content by weight) of maleic anhydride by weight of the first triblock copolymer (and optionally less than 0.3% maleic anhydride free); and
    • said second maleated triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene has a polystyrene content of about 22% to about 32%, with 1.1% to 2.5% (e.g., 1.3% to 2.3% or 1.4% to 2.4%) substitution of maleic anhydride by weight of the second triblock copolymer.

  • 13. The combination of embodiment 12, wherein said first and/or second triblock copolymers are independently selected linear or branched (e.g., arborols or dendrimers) copolymers.

  • 14. The combination according to any of embodiments 12 to 13, wherein said first and second triblock copolymers may be present in a weight ratio from about 4:1 to about 6.5:1 (e.g., the first copolymer to second copolymer ratio is:about 4:1 to about 5.5:1; about 5:1 to about 6:1; or about 5.5:1 to about 6.5:1).

  • 15. The combination according to any of embodiments 1-14, wherein said first particles are selected from the group consisting of: glass, ceramic, rubber, plastic, thermoplastic, wood, cellulose, metal oxides, silicon dioxide, silicates, tectosilicates, germanium dioxide, plastic particles, carbide particles, nitride particles, boride particles (e.g., zirconium or titanium boride), spinel particles, diamond particles, fly ash particles, fibers and hollow glass spheres, hollow glass particles or hollow plastic particles (e.g., glass, polymer, plastic or thermoplastic particles, spheres, or microspheres), wherein said first particles optionally comprise a colorant (e.g., colored or pigmented glass particles, plastic particles, rubber particles, hollow glass or hollow plastic particles).

  • 16. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein said first particles comprise hollow glass or plastic particles (e.g., glass, polymer, plastic or thermoplastic particles or microspheres), and wherein said first particles optionally comprise a colorant.

  • 17. The combination according to embodiment 16, wherein said hollow glass or hollow plastic particles have a size (average diameter) in a range selected from the group consisting of 5 to 50 microns, 6 to 45 microns, 5 to 20 microns, 20 to 35 microns, and 35 to 50 microns.

  • 18. The combination according to any of embodiments 15 to 17, wherein said hollow plastic particles have a density selected from the group consisting of less than 60 kg/m3, less than 50 kg/m3, less than 40 kg/m3, less than 30 kg/m3, or less than 25 kg/m3, and wherein said hollow glass particles have a density selected from the group consisting of less than 125 kg/m3, less than 150 kg/m3, less than 200 kg/m3, less than 250 kg/m3, less than 300 kg/m3, less than 350 kg/m3, less than 400 kg/m3, less than 450 kg/m3, less than 500 kg/m3, less than 550 kg/m3, less than 600 kg/m3, or 600 kg/m3.

  • 19. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 18, wherein the second particles have an average size in a range selected from the group consisting of from: about 1 nm to about 100 nm; about 10 nm to about 200 nm; about 20 nm to about 400 nm; about 10 nm to 500 nm; about 40 nm to about 800 nm; about 100 nm to about 1 micron; about 200 nm to about 1.5 microns; about 500 nm to about 2 microns; about 500 nm to about 2.5 microns; about 1 micron to about 10 microns; about 2 microns to about 20 microns; about 2.5 microns to about 25 microns; about 500 nm to about 25 microns; about 400 nm to about 20 microns; and about 100 nm to about 15 microns.

  • 20. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein said second particles comprise a metal oxide, an oxide of a metalloid (e.g., silica), a silicate, or a glass.

  • 21. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein said second particles are comprised of silica and have an average size in a range selected from: about 1 nm to about 50 nm; about 1 nm to about 100 nm; about 1 nm to about 400 nm; about 1 nm to about 500 nm; about 2 nm to about 120 nm; about 5 nm to about 150 nm; about 5 nm to about 400 nm; about 10 nm to about 300 nm; or about 20 nm to 400 nm.

  • 22. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 21, wherein said second particles have an average size in the range of from 1 nm to 100 nm or from 2 nm to 200 nm.

  • 23. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein said second particles comprise one or more hydrophobic and/or oleophobic moieties.

  • 24. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 23, wherein said second particles comprise one or more alkyl, fluoroalkyl, and/or perfluoroalkyl moieties that are covalently bound to the second particles directly, or bound indirectly through one or more atoms bound to the second particles.

  • 25. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 24, wherein said one or more hydrophobic or oleophobic moieties result from contacting the second particles with one or more silanizing agents of formula (I):

    R4-nSi—Xn  (I)
    • where n is an integer from 1 to 3;
      • each R is independently selected from
        • (i) alkyl or cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms,
        • (ii) C1 to 20 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from fluorine atoms and C6 to 14 aryl groups, which aryl groups are optionally substituted with one or more independently selected halo, C1 to 10 alkyl, C1 to 10 haloalkyl, C1 to 10 alkoxy, or C1 to 10 haloalkoxy substituents,
        • (iii) C2 to 8 or C6 to 20 alkyl ether optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from fluorine and C6 to 14 aryl groups, which aryl groups are optionally substituted with one or more independently selected halo, C1 to 10 alkyl, C1 to 10 haloalkyl, C1 to 10 alkoxy, or C1 to 10 haloalkoxy substituents,
        • (iv) C6 to 14 aryl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halo or alkoxy, and haloalkoxy substituents,
        • (v) C4 to 20 alkenyl or C4 to 20 alkynyl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halo, alkoxy, or haloalkoxy, and
        • (vi) —Z—((CF2)q(CF3))r, wherein Z is a C1 to 12 or a C2 to 8 divalent alkane radical or a C2 to 12 divalent alkene or alkyne radical, q is an integer from 1 to 12, and r is an integer from 1 to 4;
      • each X is independently selected from —H, —Cl, —I, —Br, —OH, —OR2, —NHR3, or —N(R3)2 group;
      • each R2 is an independently selected C1 to 4 alkyl or haloalkyl group; and
      • each R3 is an independently selected H, C1 to 4 alkyl, or haloalkyl group.

  • 26. The combination according to embodiment 25, wherein each R is selected independently from:
    • (a) an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms;
    • (b) an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms;
    • (c) an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms;
    • (d) an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms when n is 2 or 3;
    • (e) an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms when n is 2 or 3; and
    • (f) an alkyl or fluoroalkyl group having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms when n is 2 or 3.

  • 27. The combination according to any of embodiments 25 to 26, wherein R is —Z—((CF2)q(CF3))r, wherein Z is a C1 to 12 divalent alkane radical or a C2 to 12 divalent alkene or alkyne radical, q is an integer from 1 to 12, and r is an integer from 1 to 4.

  • 28. The combination according to any of embodiments 25 to 27, wherein n is 1, 2, or 3.

  • 29. The combination according to any of embodiments 25 to 28, wherein all halogen atoms present in any one or more R groups are fluorine atoms.

  • 30. The combination according to any of embodiments 25 to 29, wherein each X is independently selected from —H, —Cl, —OR2, —NHR3, and —N(R3)2.

  • 31. The combination according to any of embodiments 25 to 30, wherein each X is independently selected from —Cl, —OR2, —NHR3, and —N(R3)2.

  • 32. The combination according to any of embodiments 25 to 31, wherein each X is independently selected from —Cl, —NHR3, and —N(R3)2.

  • 33. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 32, wherein two, three, four, or more than four compounds of formula (I) are employed alone or in combination to modify at least one second particle; or wherein said second particles incorporated into said second component have an Oil Repellancy Grade Number greater than or equal to about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 when measured as a coating applied to a metal plate in the absence of a binder.

  • 34. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 33, wherein said second particles are treated with a silanizing agent selected from the group consisting of: tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)silane; (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trichlorosilane; (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)triethoxysilane; (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trimethoxysilane; (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)dimethyl(dimethylamino)silane; (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)tris(dimethylamino)silane; n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane; n-octyltriethoxysilane; and nonafluorohexyldimethyl(dimethylamino)silane.

  • 35. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 34, wherein said second particles are treated with a silanizing agent selected from the group consisting of dimethyldichlorosilane, hexamethyldisilazane, octyltrimethoxysilane, polydimethylsiloxane, and (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trichlorosilane.

  • 36. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 35, wherein said first component and/or said second component further comprise an independently selected solvent and/or propellant.

  • 37. The combination of embodiment 36, wherein said solvent is an organic solvent or a mixture of two or more organic solvents, and wherein either said organic solvent or said mixture of two or more organic solvents comprises less than 10%, 5%, 2%, or 1% of water by weight.

  • 38. The combination of embodiment 36 or 37, wherein said solvent or propellant comprises greater than 1%, greater than 2%, greater than 5%, up to 10%, up to 20%, or greater than 20% by weight of any one, two, three or more of each of air, nitrogen, an inert gas, an alkane, a ketone, an ether, a halogenated alkane, a halogenated alkene, an aromatic hydrocarbon, an alcohol, methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, ethylene, propene, acetone, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIKB), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), dimethylether (DME), diethylether, methyl ethyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether, chloromethane, dichloromethane, carbontetrachloride, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, benzene, toluene, xylene, 1-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzene, carbon disulfide, and isomers of any of the foregoing, based upon the total weight of solvent or propellant present in the composition.

  • 39. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 38, wherein either the first component and/or second component further comprise a colorant or pigment.

  • 40. The combination according to any of embodiments 1 to 39, wherein said elastomeric binder has an ultimate strength greater than about 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, or 34 Mega Pascals (MPa) (e.g., greater than about 2,500, 2,750, 2,800, 2,900, 3,000, 3,200, 3,500, 3,750, 4,000, 4,250, 4,500, 4,750, or 4,900 psi) according to ASTM D412.

  • 41. A method of forming a hydrophobic coating on a portion of a surface comprising the following steps:
    • (a) applying a first component according to any of embodiments 1 to 40 to at least a portion of the surface, wherein the portion of the surface has optionally been treated with a primer (e.g, an elastomeric primer) on all or part of the surface to which said first component is to be applied; and
    • (b) applying a second component according to any of embodiments 1 (i.e., 1.1 or 1.2) to 40 to all or a portion of the portion coated in step (a),
    • wherein said coating has either hydrophobic or superhydrophobic properties, and optionally is also oleophobic or superoleophobic.

  • 42. The method of embodiment 41, wherein said steps of applying said first component and applying said second component are conducted by methods selected independently from painting, printing, stamping, rolling, dipping, spin-coating, spraying, and electrostatic spraying.

  • 43. A coating prepared by the method according to any of embodiments 41 to 42.

  • 44. The coating of embodiment 43, wherein said coating is superhydrophobic and/or superoleophobic.

  • 45. The coating according to any of embodiments 43 to 44, wherein said coating has an ultimate strength greater than about 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 26 mega Pascals (MPa) (e.g., greater than about 2,500, 2,750, 2,800, 2,900, 3,000, 3,200, 3,500, or 3,750 psi) according to ASTM D412.

  • 46. The coating according to any of embodiments 43 to 45, wherein said coating has a modulus at 100% elongation of greater than 10, 11, 12, or 13 mega Pascals (MPa) (e.g., greater than about 1,700, about 1,750, about 1,800, or about 1,850 psi) according to ASTM D412.

  • 47. The coating according to any of embodiments 43 to 46, having an elongation at break of greater than about 100%, 110%, 120%, 140%, 160%, 180%, 200%, 250%, 300%, 350%, 400%, or 420%.

  • 48. The coating according to any of embodiments 43 to 47, having a relative electrical permittivity at 100 MHz from about 0.2 to about 4 at about 22° C. (e.g., a relative electrical permittivity from about 0.2 to about 1, from about 1 to about 2, from about 2 to about 3, or from about 3 to about 4) as measured by ASTM D150 using a 0.11 mm thick film.

  • 49. The coating according to any of embodiments 43 to 48, having a Total Luminous Transmittance of about 75% to about 85% and a haze of about 85% to about 90% as measure by ASTM D1003-11 on a film about 25 microns thick.

  • 50. The coating according to any of embodiments 43-49, wherein said coating is superhydrophobic and retains its superhydrophobicity after being subjected to greater than 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 cycles on a Taber Abraser using CS-0 or CS-10 wheels and a 250 gram load at 95 rpm at room temperature, wherein the end of superhydrophobicity is determined to be the point when more than half of the water droplets applied to the portion of the surface subject to the action of the wheels do not roll off the surface when the surface is inclined at a 5 degree angle at room temperature.

  • 51. The coating according to embodiment 50, wherein said coating retains its superhydrophobicity after being subjected to greater than 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 cycles on a Taber Abraser using CS-0 or CS-10 wheels and a 1,000 gram load at 95 rpm at 20° C.-25° C., wherein the end of superhydrophobicity is determined to be the point when more than half of the water droplets applied to the portion of the surface subject to the action of the wheels do not roll off the surface when the surface is inclined at a 5 degree angle at room temperature.

  • 52. The coating according to any of embodiments 43 to 51, wherein said coating is superhydrophobic and when said coating is applied to a planar surface, it continues to display superhydrophobic behavior after being subjected to a continuous shower test of about six liters of water per minute at about 20° C.-25° C. for greater than 0.3, 0.5, 0.6, 1, 2, 3, or 3.5 hours, wherein the duration of superhydrophobic behavior is determined to be the time when more than half of the water droplets applied to a portion of the surface subject to said shower do not roll off the surface when it is inclined at a 5 degree angle at room temperature,
    • wherein the shower test is conducted using a showerhead with 70 nozzles with a 1 mm diameter orifice arranged in 5 spokes of 5 nozzles and 15 spokes of 3 nozzles about a central point on a circular showerhead, and wherein the showerhead delivers approximately 6 liters of potable tap water per minute using about 137900 Pa (Pascals) to 310275 Pa (20-45 psi cycle over 5 minutes), and wherein the coating placed about 1.5 meters below the showerhead.

  • 53. The coating of embodiment 52, wherein, when said coating is subjected to said continuous shower test for a period of time sufficient to lose superhydrophobic behavior, the coating regains superhydrophobic behavior following drying at 20° C. to 25° C. and one atmosphere of pressure, said shower testing and drying collectively comprising a single test cycle.

  • 54. The coating of embodiment 53, wherein said coating regains superhydrophobic behavior following more than 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, or 200 of said test cycles.

  • 55. A method according to embodiment 41 or 42, wherein applying according to step (b) is repeated to at least a portion of the coated surface if that portion of the coated surface loses said hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic properties, and wherein following the repetition of step (b), the coated portion regains hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic properties.

  • 56. A method according to embodiment 41 or 42, wherein both steps (a) and (b) are repeated on at least a portion of the coated surface if that portion of the coated surface loses said hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic properties, and wherein following the repetition of steps (a) and (b), the coated portion regains hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic properties.

  • 57. A coated surface, or a portion thereof, resulting from the process of embodiment 55 or 56.

  • 58. A product comprising an aerosol spray container (e.g., a metal canister) containing a first component according to any of embodiments 1 to 40 and a propellant.

  • 59. The product of embodiment 58, wherein the aerosol spray container comprises a valve assembly, a dip tube, and an actuator.

  • 60. A product comprising an aerosol spray container (e.g., a metal canister) containing a second component according to any of embodiments 1 to 40 and a propellant.

  • 61. The product of embodiment 60, wherein the aerosol spray container comprises a valve assembly, a dip tube, and an actuator.

  • 62. A product comprising an aerosol spray container according to embodiment 58 or 59, and a second aerosol spray container according to embodiment 60 or 61.



9.0 EXAMPLES
Example 1
An HP/OP Elastomeric Coating

One part by weight of elastomeric coating (24% by weight of solids) supplied as clear liquid from PLASTI DIP™ International, Inc. (Blaine, Minn.) is combined with two parts by weight of xylene and mixed. The mixture of elastomer and xylene is divided into six aliquots and the indicated amounts of EXPANCEL 461 DET d25 (0.01% to 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of the elastomer and xylene mixture) is added to separate aliquots. The aliquots are mixed to form first component compositions. The first component compositions are sprayed onto individual aluminum plates to form a base coat. The base coated aluminum plates are then top coated with a second component consisting of a 2% (w/w) dispersion in acetone of fumed silica particles modified to render them hydrophobic by reacting them with tridecafluoro tetrahydroctyl trichloro silane (fumed silica to silane ration is 2:1 by weight). Test data for plates is summarized in the table below and the data is plotted in FIG. 5. Coatings formed from PLASTI DIP™ elastomer have a tensile strength of 3,740 psi (ASTM D-638), salt spray resistance greater than 1,000 hours (ASTM B-117) and elongation at break of 430% (ASTM D-638) without added first or second particles.


Data on HP/OP Elastomeric Coatings from Example 1

















Approximate Taber Abraser



EXPANCEL
Glove
Cycles to loss of SH behavior
Shower


wt %
Rubs
CS-0 wheel CS-10 wheel ( )
(hr)*


















0.01%
100
22 (13)



0.03%
325
72 (43)
1


0.06%
700
156 (93) 
2


0.10%
750
167 (100)
3.5


0.30%
500
111 (67) 
3.5


0.50%
400
89 (53)
3.5





Taber cycles estimated based upon a value of 4.5 glove rubs per Taber cycle using CS-0 wheels and 7.5 glove rubs per Taber cycle (sample rotation) using CS-10 wheels. The number in parentheses is for the CS-10 data estimate. Taber load was 250 g.


*Shower test was terminated at 3.5 hours.






Data in the table above and FIG. 5 show that the abrasion resistance (glove rub performance and estimated Taber cycles) reaches a maximum when about 0.1% of EXPANCEL particles are incorporated into the base coat. Shower time to loss of superhydrophobicity also increases with increasing amounts of EXPANCEL particles incorporated in the base coat. Shower time to loss of superhydrophobic behavior saturates beyond 0.1% addition.


Example 2

Six first component mixtures are prepared as in Example 1 using 0.1% of five different types of EXPANCEL particles (duplicate samples containing EXPANCEL 031 DU 400), and the first components are each applied to a different aluminum plate by spraying to form a base coat. The base coating on each plate is then top coated with a second component comprising a 2% (w/w) dispersion of fumed silica particles treated with tridecafluoro tetrahydroctyl trichlorosilane suspended in acetone. For samples containing EXPANCEL 031 DU 400) the aluminum plates were heated to 80° C. for 2-3 minutes either before or after the application of the second component to expand the EXPANCEL particles. Test data for the plates are summarized in the table of performance data, below, and plotted in FIG. 6.


Performance Data by Using 0.1% by Weight of Different EXPANCEL Particles in Elastomeric Coating















EXPANCEL
Glove
Taber Abraser Cycles to
Shower


type
Rubs
loss of SH behavior
(hr)


















461 DET d25
800
178 (106)
4


461 DE 40 d25
500
111 (67) 
2.5


461 DET 40 d25
650
144 (87) 
4


920 DE 80 d30
400
89 (53)
2.5


031 DU 40
75
17 (10)
0.5


(heated before





top coating)





031 DU 40
75
17 (10)
0.5


(heated after





top coating)





Taber cycles estimated based upon a value of 4.5 glove rubs per Taber cycle using a 250 g load, CS-0 wheels and 7.5 glove rubs per Taber cycle (sample rotation) using CS-10 wheels. The number in parentheses is for the CS-10 data estimate.






Data in the table above and FIG. 6 show that incorporation of EXPANCEL 461 DET d25 and EXPANCEL 461 DET 40 d25 produces a combination of resistance to the loss of HP/OP when being handled (“handleability” assessed by glove rubs and resistance to Taber abrasion testing), and shower time to loss of superhydrophobicity. Unexpanded EXPANCELs 031 DU 40 did not show good performance. The shower times track closely and positively correlate with glove rubs and Taber cycles (higher glove rubs correspond to higher shower time).


Example 3
Scaled Preparation of Fumed Silica Second Particles

A series of aluminum plates primed with PLASTI DIP™ primer for metals according to the manufacturer's instructions are base coated as in Example 1, with 0.1% EXPANCEL 461 DET d25 particles added to the first component, which is applied by spraying. After the base coat has dried at room temperature, one set of plates is treated with a second component as in Example 1. The second component comprises 20 g of 20-80 nm fumed silica particles having a surface area of about 200m2/g (Evonik Industries, Horsham PA), treated in an Osterizer kitchen blender for 10minutes at room temperature with 10 g of tridecafluoro tetrahydroctyl trichloro silane. A second set of plates is also treated with a second component as in Example 1, using silica from the same supplier prepared in a larger batch using 5,000 g of the silica reacted with tridecafluoro tetrahydroctyl trichloro silane 2,500 g in a 10 kg reactor system at room temperature for 2-3 hours. In this example, after top coats are applied the plates are dried for 15 minutes at 170° F. (77° C.). Two plates treated with fumed silica prepared in the blender and two plates treated with fumed silica prepared in the reactor are subjected to thickness and surface roughness measurements. The point at which the plates lose superhydrophobic behavior is also determined using Taber Abraser equipped with CS-0 wheels at a 1,000 g load and using glove rub testing. Loss of superhydrophobic behavior is deemed to be the point at which more than half of the water droplets applied to the tested portion of a substantially planar surface inclined at 5 degrees from the horizontal do not roll off the plate.


Data on plates coated with fumed silica particles prepared in the blender is summarized in Table 7, and data on plates treated with fumed silica prepared in the reactor is shown in Table 8.









TABLE 7







Blender Grade NPT 74












Coating

Coating




Thickness

Thickness




(mils)
Ra
(mils)
Ra



Sample #1
Sample #1
Sample #2
Sample #2















0.73
2.61
1.1
3.267



0.67
2.66
1.01
3.337



0.49

0.82




0.76

1.08



Avg
0.6625
2.635
1.0025
3.302


Glove Rubs
600





Taber Abraser


50



cycles to






loss of SH
















TABLE 8







Reactor Grade NPT 74












Coating

Coating




Thickness

Thickness




(mils)
Ra
(mils)
Ra



Sample #1
Sample #1
Sample #2
Sample #2















0.92
3.246
1.07
3.027



1.35
3.259
0.94
2.35



0.88

0.86




1.01

0.88



Avg
1.04
3.2525
0.9375
2.6885


Glove Rubs
900





Taber Abraser


30



cycles to






loss of SH










The data in Tables 7 and 8 indicate that superhydrophobic coatings prepared with fumed silicas produced in reactors on different scales display similar properties.


Example 4
Transparency and Haze

Glass plates are coated with a near transparent coating based on elastomeric binder systems as in Example 1 with the exception that the plate marked P does not include first particles (EXPANCEL particles) in the base coat (first component). The plate marked SE-1 contains 0.1% of EXPANCEL particles in the first component. Samples are tested for Haze value and Total Luminous Transmittance (TLT) values using the method described in ASTM D1003. The instrument is calibrated without a sample present using air as a standard. Calibration values are TLT=100 and Haze=0. Clear, clean, uncoated glass plates have average readings of TLT=90.6 and a haze reading of 0.18. Plates lacking first particles (P-coat) have about the same transparency as clear clean glass. The presence of EXPANCEL particles in the base coat reduces the transparency by about 10%. The coating haze increases from about 0.18 for glass to about 61% for coatings without first particles and to about 90% for coatings including EXPANCEL particles in the base coating. See Table 9.













TABLE 9









Average



Reading 1
Reading 2
Reading 3
Readings



















P-Coat Sample






(no first particles)






Transmittance
90.50
90.30
90.40
90.4


Haze
60.70
62.40
60.80
61.30


SE-1 Sample






(first particles included






in the base coat)






Transmittance
80.00
79.10
80.10
79.73


Haze
88.60
90.80
89.30
89.57









Example 5
Effect of Coating Thickness

Six aluminum plates (10 cm×10 cm) are primed with PLASTI DIP™ primer for metal (product f938 hp). Pairs of the primed plates are spray coated with first component as in Example 1 (0.1% EXPANCELs) to achieve a base coat thicknesses of about 1, 1.5, or 2.6 ml respectively. One plate at each coating thickness is top coated with 2 ml of the second component as described in Example 1, and the second plate at each coating thickness is top coated with 4 ml of second component. Coating thicknesses, which include the primer thickness, and Taber Abraser data are summarized in Table 10A and data is plotted in FIG. 7.









TABLE 10A







Data summary for plates made with varying coating thicknesses













Volume of
Passes of
Final
Tabers (CS-10)




Topcoat
Base
Thickness
to end of super-



Sample
(mL)
Coat
(mil)
hydrophobicity
Notes















1.1
2
1
0.55
35
some







tearing


2.1
2
3
1.5
35
no tearing


3.1
2
5
2.6
35
no tearing


1.2
4
1
0.9
45
some







tearing


2.2
4
3
2.2
50
no tearing


3.2
4
5
2.9
50
no tearing









Based on the data above, 2 ml of top coat (0.02 ml/cm2) produces no benefits in performance improvement at any thickness. However, when the top coat is increased to 4 ml (0.04 ml/cm2), it provides an adequate performance that increases with coating thickness. While not wishing to be bound by any theory, it appears that at the higher application rate the top coat penetrates to some depth into the base coat. When only 2 ml (0.02 ml/cm2) is applied the coating may be sufficient to just cover the base coat, but not enough to permit the second particles to penetrate at any significant level that will increase the durability of SH performance. In addition, when the base coat is very thin, tearing becomes the failure mode.


Example 6
Effect of Priming with Polyurethane Primer

Aluminum plates are primed with a two-part polyurethane coating (DESMOPHEN 670BA with DESMODUR N75 BA-XBMS, Bayer Material Science) prepared and applied per manufacturer's instructions. An elastomeric coating as described in Example 1 (0.1% of EXPANCEL 461 DET d25) is employed in the first component. Coated plates are measured for coating thickness (including primer thickness) and their ability to resist the loss of superhydrophobic behavior using a Taber Abraser fitted with CS-10 (abrasive) wheels and CS-0 (soft rubber) wheels at a 1,000 g load is recorded. All end points for loss for superhydrophobic behavior are measured for water droplet roll off with the plates inclined at 5 degrees from the horizontal (5 degree tilt angle). Test data is summarized in Table 10B.









TABLE 10B







Summary of data on Al plates primed


with two-part polyurethane as primer









Sample











1
2
3






Total Coating
Total Coating
Total Coating



and Primer
and Primer
and Primer



Thickness
Thickness
Thickness



(mils)
(mils)
(mils)






3.25
3.13
4.7



3.13
3.06
4.9



3
3.1
4.16



3.32
3.45
4.24



4.15
4.01
4.47


Avg Thickness
3.37
3.35
4.494






CS-10 Wheel
CS-0 Wheel
Glove Rubs





Tabers CS-10
40




Tabers CS-0

40



Glove Rubs


>1000









Example 7
Nearly Transparent HP/OP Elastomeric Coating with Various First Particles

Elastomeric coatings are prepared on aluminum test plates as described in Example 1, with the exception that the first component contains first particles as indicated in Table 11. The test plates are assessed for loss of superhydrophobic behavior using glove rubs as a rapid test for assessment of handleability and abrasion resistance/durability. Test data for all coated plates are summarized in Table 11.









TABLE 11







Summary of data for non near transparent


elastomeric binder system based coatings

















Taber







Abraser




Particle
Amount
Glove
Predicted


Particle
Particle
Size
weight
Rubs
cycles with


Designation
Type
(micron)
(%)
(#s)
CS-0 wheel*















EXPANCEL
Thermo-
10-40
0.01
100
22


DET
plastic







Encapsu-







lated







with gas






EXPANCEL
Thermo-
10-40
0.1
750
167


DET
plastic







Encapsu-







lated







with gas






EXPANCEL
Thermo-
10-40
0.5
400
89


DET
plastic







Encapsu-







lated







with gas






Hollow
Hollow
25-90
0.5
800
178


Glass
glass






Spheres
spheres






K25







Hollow
Hollow
15-70
0.5
>400
>89


Glass
glass






Spheres
spheres






K46





*Projected based on GR/CS-0 = 4.5






Thermoplastic particles and hollow glass particles yield similar performance in increasing coating durability.


Example 8
Non-Transparent Elastomeric Coatings Prepared with Micronized Rubber First Particles

PLASTI DIP™ (24% solids by weight) elastomeric coating (5 parts by weight of the liquid as provided by the supplier) is combined with seven parts by weight of xylene and mixed. To the resulting mixture of elastomer and xylene, micronized rubber particles (Lehigh Technology, Tucker, Ga.) about 4% or about 7.7% by weight are added to separate aliquots (based on the weight of the elastomer and xylene combined). The particles are mixed into each aliquot to form first component compositions. The first component compositions are applied to separate aluminum plates to form base coats, and the base coats are top coated with a second component as described in Example 1.


Test data showing resistance to the loss of superhydrophobicity based on glove rub testing and Taber testing for the coatings incorporating rubber particles is provided in Table 12. That data shows the incorporation of elastomeric binder used in this example with micronized rubber particles produces highly durable surfaces that show increasing resistance to the loss of hydrophobicity with increasing amounts of rubber first particles incorporated into the binder up to at least 7.69%.









TABLE 12







Summary of data on non near transparent


elastomeric binder based coatings














Particle
Amount
Glove
Taber Abraser


Particle
Particle
Size
weight
Rubs
cycles with


Designation
Type
(μm)
(%)
(#s)
CS-0*















Micronized
Ground
70
4
1450
191


Rubber
Rubber







particles






Micronized
Ground
70
7.69
1800
237


Rubber
Rubber







particles





*Projected based on GR/CS-0 wheel ratio of 7.6 for a 250 g load at 95 rpm.






Example 9
Non-Transparent Elastomeric Coating with Micronized Rubber Particles with and without Primer

Elastomeric coatings are prepared as in Example 8 employing 7.69% of micronized rubber by weight in the first component. The coatings are applied to clean but unprimed aluminum plates or aluminum plates that have been treated with an elastomeric metal primer (PLASTI DIP™ metal primer) per the manufacturer's instructions. All plates are substantially planar. The top coating step is the same as in Example 8 and Example 1. The coated plates are assessed for resistance to the loss of SH behavior using a Taber Abraser fitted with CS-0 wheels or CS-10 wheels (as indicated) using 1,000 g loads at 95 rpm, resistance to the loss of SH behavior using glove rubs, and coating thickness, which is measured including primer where present. The appearance of coating failures is also recorded for each plate and the data set forth in Table 13.









TABLE 13





Observations from Taber Abraser Testing


of Plates With and Without Primer







Coating Without Primer












Coating Thickness




without primer
(mil)
Comments





Taber CS-0
 6 cycles
1.5
Rips and Tears


Taber CS-10
10 cycles
1.5
Rips and Tears


Glove Rubs
1200
1.5
No Rips or Tears


With primer










Coating With Elastomeric Primer











with elastomeric
Coating Thickness




primer
(mil)
Comments





Taber CS-0
50 cycles
1.75
No Rips or Tears


Taber CS-10
40 cycles
1.65
No Rips or Tears


Glove Rubs
1600
1.75
No Rips or Tears









The data indicates that samples with and without primer resist the loss of superhydrophobicity with a very large number of glove rubs. Taber Abraser testing results in a loss of that property due to ripping and/or tearing of the coating in the absence of primer. Loss of superhydrophobic behavior is assessed using the above-described droplet run off test with plates inclined at 5 degrees from the horizontal. Priming of the metal surfaces increases the number of Taber cycles the test samples can withstand without losing superhydrophobic behavior by about 4 to about 8 fold, regardless of whether non-abrasive rubber (CS-0) or abrasive (CS-10) wheels are employed.


Example 10
Thermal Stability of Elastomeric Coatings

Elastomeric coatings incorporating EXPANCELs as in Example 1, or micronized rubber as in Example 8, are scraped from their plates and used for thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA data for the coatings is plotted in FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively. Details of the test conditions are listed inside each of the graphs. Data from these charts show the following:


1. The coating containing EXPANCEL is stable up to 241° C. (465° F.)


2. The coating containing micronized rubber is stable up to 261° C. (502° F.)


Based upon the data presented above the coatings may be used up to temperatures of 200° C. or 400° F.


Example 11
HP/OP Coatings Employing Varying Proportions of a Styrenic Block Copolymer and Tackifier

Three styrenic block copolymers (SBCs), FG 1901, FG 1924 and RP 6670, each obtained from KRATON®, are dissolved in xylene at 20% by weight. Regalrez™ 1094 tackifier, obtained from Eastman Chemical Company, is dissolved in xylene at 20% by weight. Varying ratios of SBCs and tackifier solutions are mixed and UV stabilizers and antioxidants, 0.1% Irganox® 1520L, 0.056% Tinuvin® 328, and 0.056% Tinuvin® 770DF (% by weight), are added.


Each of the mixtures of SBCs and tackifier formed is used as a first component and HP/OP coatings are prepared as in Example 1, using 0.1% EXPANCEL particles as first particles. The HP/OP coatings were tested for durability using a Taber Abraser equipped with CS-10 wheels and a 1,000 g load. The results are shown in Table 14.











TABLE 14







FG 1901/
FG 1924/
RP 6670/


Regalrez 1094
Regalrez 1094
Regalrez 1094
















Glove
Taber

Glove
Taber

Glove
Taber


Ratio
Rubs
cycles
Ratio
Rubs
cycles
Ratio
Rubs
cycles


















43/57
300
35
25/75
300
30
25/75
500
30


50/50
400
40
50/50
750
35
33/66
500
40


57/43
550
45
 66/33*
800
20
50/50
750
45


66/33
1000
60



66/33
1500
50


 75/25*
350
35



 75/25*
1000
50


 90/10*
600
25


100/0* 
600
25





*Taber testing induced tearing.






Example 12
HP/OP Coatings Employing Maleated Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene (SEBS) Block Copolymers

Coatings were prepared using first components comprising maleated SBCs (e.g., maleated SEBS block copolymers)











TABLE 15








Total Component




Parts by Weight
Exemplary Composition


Base Coat
(Total of 100
Components


Component
parts)
(By weight where given)





Maleated SBC
7 to 9
One or more maleated Styrene-




Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene




(SEBS) Block Copolymers




(e.g., Kraton FG 1901, FG 1924




and/or RP 6670♦)


Tackifier
3.5 to 7
Nonpolar hydrogenated hydrocarbon




resin (e.g., produced by




polymerization and hydrogenation




of monomeric hydrocarbons) or




esterified hydrogenated rosin.




e.g., Eastman Regalrez ™ 1094 or




Foral ™ 105E


Antioxidant(s)
0.05 to 0.2
Antioxidant(s) (e.g., phenolic or




hindered phenolic antioxidants




e.g., Irganox 1520L


First Particles
0.05 to 20
Expancel 461 DET 40 d25




(0.05-0.2%) SoftSand 5-15%




Glass bubbles (e.g., K1, S22, or




A16/500) 1%-10%


UV
0.05 to 0.5
e.g., Tinuvin ® 328 and/or 770DF


stabilizer(s)




Solvent
Bring to 100
xylene (or mixed xylenes), acetone,



parts total
n-hexane (or mixed hexanes),



including all
1-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-



other components
benzene or mixtures thereof





Top Coat




Component
Parts by weight
Source





Reactor Grade
0.05 to 6.0
Ross Technology -- see Example 3


NPT 74
(e.g., 2%)



Solvent
Bring to 100
xylene (including mixed xylenes or



parts by weight
technical grade), acetone, n-hexane



total including
(or mixed hexanes), 1-chloro-4-



all other
(trifluoromethyl)-benzene or



components
mixtures thereof





♦RP 6670 is a maleated form of KRATON series A polymers, which are hydrogenated block copolymers having styrene copolymerized with ethylene/butylene in the midblock (S-(EB/S)-S). Styrenic block copolymers (SBCs FG 1901, FG 1924 and RP 6670, each obtained from KRATON ®), tackifier (Regalrez ™ 1094 or FORAL ™ 105E obtained from Eastman Chemical Company), UV stabilizers (e.g., Tinuvin ® 328 and/or 770DF from BASF), antioxidants (e.g., Irganox ® 1520L) and first particles are dissolved/suspended in solvent using solvent to adjust the total components by weight to 100 parts.






The HP/OP coatings were tested for durability using a Taber Abraser equipped with CS-10 wheels and a 1,000 g load. The results are shown in Table 14.

Claims
  • 1. A system for forming a coating comprising: A) a first component which comprises i) an elastomeric binder comprising one or more styrenic block copolymers, wherein said elastomeric binder comprises from about 1% to about 30% of said one or more styrenic block copolymers by weight;ii) one or more independently selected first particles having a size of about 30 microns to about 225 microns, wherein the first component comprises from about 0.01% to about 5% of said first particles by weight; andiii) one or more solvents; andB) a second component which either comprises i) one or more independently selected second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer to about 25 microns, wherein said second particles comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound, either directly or indirectly, to said second particles, andii) optionally, one or more solvents;or comprises per 100 parts by weight: i) 0.1 to 3.5 parts by weight of one or more independently selected second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer to about 25 microns, wherein said second particles either comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound directly or indirectly to said second particles, or comprise one or more siloxanes or silazanes associated with said second particles;ii) 0.1 to 1.0 parts by weight of a fluorinated polyolefin; or 0.06 to 0.6 parts by weight of a Fluoroethylene-Alkyl Vinyl Ether (FEVE) copolymer; andiii) one or more solvents for a total of 100 parts by weight;wherein a coating formed by(a) applying the first component to at least a portion of a surface, wherein the portion of the surface has optionally been treated with a primer on all or part of the surface to which said first component is to be applied; and(b) applying the second component to all or a portion of the surface coated with the first component in step (a),results in a coating that has an elongation at break greater than about 200%, an arithmetical mean roughness value from about 3 microns to about 20 microns, or a ten point mean roughness from about 7 microns to about 100 microns, and a total luminous transmittance of about 75% to about 85% as measured by ASTM D1003-11 for a coating about 25 microns thick without added colorants; andwherein said coating has either hydrophobic or superhydrophobic properties, and optionally is oleophobic or superoleophobic.
  • 2. The system for forming a coating according to claim 1 comprising: an aerosol spray container containing the first component and a propellant and/or an aerosol spray containing the second component and a propellant.
  • 3. A method of forming a hydrophobic coating on a portion of a surface comprising the steps: (a) applying a first component to at least a portion of the surface, wherein the portion of the surface has optionally been treated with a primer on all or part of the surface to which said first component is to be applied; and(b) applying a second component to all or a portion of the surface coated with the first component in step (a),wherein the first component comprises i) an elastomeric binder comprising one or more styrenic block copolymers, wherein said elastomeric binder comprises from about 1% to about 30% of said one or more styrenic block copolymers by weight;ii) one or more independently selected first particles having a size of about 30 microns to about 225microns, wherein the first component comprises from about 0.2% to about 5% of said first particles by weight; andiii) one or more solvents;wherein the second component either comprises: i) one or more independently selected second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer to about 25 microns, wherein said second particles comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound, either directly or indirectly, to said second particles, andii) one or more solvents;or comprises per 100parts by weight: i) 0.1to 3.5parts by weight of one or more independently selected second particles having a size of about 1 nanometer to about 25 microns, wherein said second particles either comprise one or more independently selected alkyl, haloalkyl, or perfluoroalkyl moieties bound, directly or indirectly to said second particles, or comprise one or more siloxanes or silazanes associated with said second particles;ii) 0.1 to 1.0 parts by weight of a fluorinated polyolefin; or 0.06 to 0.6 parts by weight of a Fluoroethylene-Alkyl Vinyl Ether (FEVE) copolymer; andiii) one or more solvents for a total of 100 parts by weight;wherein said coating has either hydrophobic or superhydrophobic properties, and optionally is oleophobic or superoleophobic; andwherein the coating formed by said method has an elongation at break greater than about 200%, an arithmetical mean roughness value from about 3 microns to about 20 microns, or a ten point mean roughness from about 7 microns to about 100 microns, and a total luminous transmittance of about 75% to about 85% as measured by ASTM D1003-11for a coating about 25 microns thick without added colorants.
  • 4. The method of claim 3, wherein one or more of the styrenic block copolymers has a rubber phase crosslinked to a polystyrene phase.
  • 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said rubber phase comprises 60%-80% of the styrenic block copolymers in the elastomeric binder by weight, based on the dry weight of the styrenic block copolymers present in the first component not including any contribution by the first particles or other materials present in the first component.
  • 6. The method of claim 3, wherein one or more of the styrenic block copolymers has a rubber phase comprising polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polyolefin or a mixture of any of those rubber phase components, any one or more of which may optionally comprise 1% to 3% of maleic anhydride.
  • 7. The method of claim 3, wherein said first component further comprises one or more colorants, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, rheological agents, and/or fillers.
  • 8. The method of claim 3, wherein said first component further comprises up to 30% by weight of one or more tackifiers, wherein said one or more styrenic block copolymers and said one or more tackifiers together comprise up to about 30% by weight of said first component.
  • 9. The method of claim 3, wherein said elastomeric binder comprises one or more triblock copolymers.
  • 10. The method of claim 3, wherein said elastomeric binder comprises one or more styrenic block copolymers of styrene and ethylene/butylene with a polystyrene content of about 8% to about 36% by weight, or mixtures of any two or more of such triblock copolymers.
  • 11. The method of claim 3, wherein one or more of said styrenic block copolymers present in the elastomeric binder comprise maleic anhydride or a first and a second maleated triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene wherein: said first maleated triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene has a polystyrene content from about 8% to about 14%, with 0.4% to 1.6% substitution of maleic anhydride by weight of the first triblock copolymer; andsaid second maleated triblock copolymer of styrene and ethylene/butylene has a polystyrene content of about 22% to about 32%, with 1.1% to 2.5% substitution of maleic anhydride by weight of the second triblock copolymer.
  • 12. The method of claim 3, wherein said first particles are selected from the group consisting of: glass, ceramic, rubber, plastic, thermoplastic, wood, cellulose, metal oxides, silicon dioxide, silicates, tectosilicates, germanium dioxide, plastic particles, carbide particles, nitride particles, boride particles, spinel particles, diamond particles, fly ash particles, fibers, hollow glass spheres, hollow glass particles, and hollow plastic particles, wherein said first particles optionally comprise a colorant.
  • 13. The method of claim 3, wherein said second particles comprise a metal oxide, an oxide of a metalloid, a silicate, or a glass, wherein said second particles have an average size in the range of from 1 nm to 100 nm or from 2 nm to 200 nm.
  • 14. The method of claim 3, wherein said one or more moieties result from contacting the second particles with one or more silanizing agents of formula (I): R4-nSi—Xn  (I)where n is an integer from 1 to 3; each R is independently selected from (i) alkyl or cycloalkyl group optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms,(ii) C1 to 20 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from fluorine atoms and C6 to 14 aryl groups, which aryl groups are optionally substituted with one or more independently selected halo, C1 to 10 alkyl, C1 to 10 haloalkyl, C1 to 10 alkoxy, or C1 to 10 haloalkoxy substituents,(iii) C2 to 8 or C6 to 20 alkyl ether optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from fluorine and C6 to 14 aryl groups, which aryl groups are optionally substituted with one or more independently selected halo, C1 to 10 alkyl, C1 to 10 haloalkyl, C1 to 10 alkoxy, or C1 to 10 haloalkoxy substituents,(iv) C6 to 14 aryl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halo, alkoxy, and haloalkoxy substituents,(v) C4 to 20 alkenyl or C4 to 20 alkynyl, optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halo, alkoxy, or haloalkoxy, or(vi) —Z—((CF2)q(CF3))r, wherein Z is a C1 to 12 or a C2 to 8 divalent alkane radical or a C2 to 12 divalent alkene or alkyne radical, q is an integer from 1 to 12, and r is an integer from 1 to 4;each X is independently selected from —H, —Cl, —I, —Br, —OH, —OR2, —NHR3, or —N(R3)2 group;each R2 is an independently selected C1 to 4 alkyl or haloalkyl group; andeach R3 is an independently selected H, C1 to 4 alkyl, or haloalkyl group.
  • 15. The method of claim 14, wherein R is —Z—((CF2)q(CF3))r, wherein Z is a C1 to 12 divalent alkane radical or a C2 to 12 divalent alkene or alkyne radical, q is an integer from 1 to 12, and r is an integer from 1 to 4.
  • 16. The method of claim 14, wherein n is 3.
  • 17. The method of claim 3, wherein said second particles are treated with an agent selected from the group consisting of: (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl) trichlorosilane; (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)triethoxysilane; (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trimethoxysilane; (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)dimethyl(dimethylamino)silane; (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)tris(dimethylamino)silane; n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane; n-octyltriethoxysilane; nonafluorohexyldimethyl(dimethylamino)silane; dimethyl dichlorosilane; hexamethyldisilazane; octyltrimethoxysilane, and polydimethylsiloxane.
  • 18. The method of claim 3, wherein said first component and said second component each further comprises an independently selected solvent and/or propellant.
  • 19. The method of claim 3, wherein said elastomeric binder has an ultimate strength greater than about 20 Mega Pascals (MPa) according to ASTM D412.
  • 20. The method according to claim 3, wherein applying according to step (b) is repeated to a portion of the coated surface if that portion of the coated surface loses said hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic properties, and wherein following the repetition of step (b), the coated surface regains hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic properties.
  • 21. The method according to claim 3, wherein both steps (a) and (b) are repeated on a portion of the coated surface if that portion of the coated surface loses said hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic properties, and wherein following the repetition of steps (a) and (b), the coated surface regains hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, oleophobic and/or superoleophobic properties.
  • 22. A hydrophobic coating prepared by the method according to claim 3.
  • 23. The hydrophobic coating of claim 22, wherein said coating is superhydrophobic or superhydrophobic and superoleophobic.
  • 24. The hydrophobic coating according to claim 22, wherein said coating has an ultimate strength greater than about 20 mega Pascals (MPa) according to ASTM D412.
  • 25. The hydrophobic coating according to claim 22, wherein said coating has a modulus at 100% elongation of greater than 10 mega Pascals (MPa) according to ASTM D412.
  • 26. The hydrophobic coating according to claim 22, having an elongation at break of greater than about 300%.
  • 27. The hydrophobic coating according to claim 22, having a total luminous transmittance of about 75% to about 85% and a haze of about 85% to about 90% as measured by ASTM D1003-11 for a coating about 25 microns thick without added colorants.
  • 28. The hydrophobic coating according to claim 22, wherein said coating is superhydrophobic and retains its superhydrophobicity after being subjected to greater than 20 cycles on a Taber Abraser using CS-0 or CS-10 wheels and a 250 gram load at room temperature, wherein the end of superhydrophobicity is determined to be the point when more than half of the water droplets applied to the portion of the surface subject to the action of the wheels do not roll off the surface when the surface is inclined at a 5 degree angle at room temperature.
  • 29. The hydrophobic coating according to claim 22, wherein said coating is superhydrophobic and when said coating is applied to a planar surface, it continues to display superhydrophobic behavior after being subjected to a continuous shower test of about six liters of water per minute at about 20° C.-25° C. for greater than 0.3 hours, wherein the end of superhydrophobic behavior is determined to be the time when more than half of the water droplets applied to a portion of the surface subject to said shower do not roll off the surface when it is inclined at a 5 degree angle at room temperature, wherein the shower test is conducted using a showerhead with 70 nozzles with a 1 mm diameter orifice arranged in 5 spokes of 5 nozzles and 15 spokes of 3nozzles about a central point on a circular showerhead, and wherein the showerhead delivers approximately 6 liters of potable tap water per minute using about 137900 Pa (Pascals) to 310275 Pa, and wherein the coating is placed about 1.5 meters below the showerhead.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/663,985, filed Jun. 25, 2012; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/708,760, filed Oct. 2, 2012; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/768,290, filed Feb. 22, 2013, the entirety of each of which application is incorporated herein by reference.

US Referenced Citations (652)
Number Name Date Kind
870439 Kade Nov 1907 A
2191701 Wood Feb 1940 A
2976386 Salton Lewis Mar 1961 A
3185426 Bjerke May 1965 A
3212106 Noel Oct 1965 A
3244541 Fain et al. Apr 1966 A
3354022 Dettre et al. Nov 1967 A
3579540 Ohlhausen May 1971 A
3716502 Loew Feb 1973 A
3931428 Reick Jan 1976 A
3950588 McDougal Apr 1976 A
3963349 Albright et al. Jun 1976 A
3967030 Johnson et al. Jun 1976 A
3975197 Mikelsons Aug 1976 A
3976572 Reick Aug 1976 A
3980153 Andrews Sep 1976 A
4142724 Reick Mar 1979 A
4151327 Lawton Apr 1979 A
4199142 Reick Apr 1980 A
4301197 Franz et al. Nov 1981 A
4301213 Davies Nov 1981 A
4308353 Saito et al. Dec 1981 A
4311755 Rummel Jan 1982 A
4377665 Shiraki et al. Mar 1983 A
4397988 Sherman Aug 1983 A
4415405 Ruddle et al. Nov 1983 A
4451619 Heilmann et al. May 1984 A
4453533 Scheidler et al. Jun 1984 A
4474852 Craig Oct 1984 A
4492217 Scheidler Jan 1985 A
4536454 Haasl Aug 1985 A
4581149 Horodysky et al. Apr 1986 A
4591530 Lui May 1986 A
4614464 Christensen Sep 1986 A
4624900 Fau Nov 1986 A
4646948 Jennings Mar 1987 A
4680173 Burger Jul 1987 A
4687707 Matsuo et al. Aug 1987 A
4716183 Gamarra et al. Dec 1987 A
4733843 Bessinger Mar 1988 A
4738426 Bessinger Apr 1988 A
D295950 Johnston May 1988 S
4745139 Haasl May 1988 A
4749110 Maeno et al. Jun 1988 A
4753977 Merrill Jun 1988 A
4782112 Kondo et al. Nov 1988 A
4835014 Roth et al. May 1989 A
4837260 Sato et al. Jun 1989 A
4855176 Ohwaki et al. Aug 1989 A
4870907 McKee Oct 1989 A
4923260 Poulsen May 1990 A
4971912 Buhl et al. Nov 1990 A
4983459 Franz et al. Jan 1991 A
5011727 Kido et al. Apr 1991 A
5011963 Ogawa et al. Apr 1991 A
5032641 Nanishi et al. Jul 1991 A
5041304 Kusano et al. Aug 1991 A
5057050 Hill Oct 1991 A
5084191 Nagase et al. Jan 1992 A
5104938 Toyama et al. Apr 1992 A
5112911 Mori et al. May 1992 A
5121134 Albinson et al. Jun 1992 A
5156611 Haynes et al. Oct 1992 A
5192603 Slater et al. Mar 1993 A
5202361 Zimmerman et al. Apr 1993 A
5212215 Nanri et al. May 1993 A
5225274 Ogawa et al. Jul 1993 A
5228764 Cherry et al. Jul 1993 A
5228905 Grunewalder et al. Jul 1993 A
5238746 Soga et al. Aug 1993 A
5240774 Ogawa et al. Aug 1993 A
5274159 Pellerite et al. Dec 1993 A
5284707 Ogawa et al. Feb 1994 A
5294252 Gun Mar 1994 A
5300239 Ozaki et al. Apr 1994 A
5308705 Franz et al. May 1994 A
5312573 Rosenbaum et al. May 1994 A
5314940 Stone May 1994 A
5316799 Brunken et al. May 1994 A
5317129 Taplan et al. May 1994 A
5324566 Ogawa et al. Jun 1994 A
5328768 Goodwin Jul 1994 A
5338345 Scarborough et al. Aug 1994 A
5348547 Payne et al. Sep 1994 A
5352733 Hart Oct 1994 A
5362145 Bird et al. Nov 1994 A
5364299 Hill et al. Nov 1994 A
5366810 Merrifield et al. Nov 1994 A
5368892 Berquier Nov 1994 A
5372888 Ogawa et al. Dec 1994 A
5380585 Ogawa et al. Jan 1995 A
5385966 Hermansen et al. Jan 1995 A
5395657 Strepparola et al. Mar 1995 A
5424130 Nakanishi et al. Jun 1995 A
5429433 Bird et al. Jul 1995 A
5435839 Ogawa Jul 1995 A
5437894 Ogawa et al. Aug 1995 A
5437900 Kuzowski Aug 1995 A
5441338 Kane et al. Aug 1995 A
5441809 Akhter Aug 1995 A
5458976 Horino et al. Oct 1995 A
5466770 Audenaert et al. Nov 1995 A
5489328 Ono et al. Feb 1996 A
5500216 Julian et al. Mar 1996 A
5527536 Merkle et al. Jun 1996 A
5534580 Mitsui et al. Jul 1996 A
5539054 LaFleur Jul 1996 A
5540493 Kane et al. Jul 1996 A
5556667 Teranishi et al. Sep 1996 A
5558940 Michels et al. Sep 1996 A
5564809 Kane et al. Oct 1996 A
5576096 Ono et al. Nov 1996 A
5578361 Tsujioka et al. Nov 1996 A
5584957 Schultheis et al. Dec 1996 A
5585896 Yamazaki et al. Dec 1996 A
5599893 Asai et al. Feb 1997 A
5612433 Ono et al. Mar 1997 A
5618627 Merrifield et al. Apr 1997 A
5618883 Plamthottam et al. Apr 1997 A
5651921 Kaijou Jul 1997 A
5658969 Gerace Aug 1997 A
5674967 Goodwin Oct 1997 A
5679460 Schakenraad et al. Oct 1997 A
5688864 Goodwin Nov 1997 A
5697991 Frazer Dec 1997 A
5707740 Goodwin Jan 1998 A
5719226 Kegley Feb 1998 A
5725789 Huber et al. Mar 1998 A
5735589 Herrmann et al. Apr 1998 A
5747561 Smirnov et al. May 1998 A
5753734 Maruyama May 1998 A
5777043 Shafer et al. Jul 1998 A
5798144 Varanasi et al. Aug 1998 A
5800918 Chartier et al. Sep 1998 A
5813741 Fish et al. Sep 1998 A
5814411 Merrifield et al. Sep 1998 A
5824421 Kobayashi et al. Oct 1998 A
5830529 Ross Nov 1998 A
5840201 Elledge Nov 1998 A
5843338 Inoue et al. Dec 1998 A
5853690 Hibino et al. Dec 1998 A
5853800 Dombrowski et al. Dec 1998 A
5856378 Ring et al. Jan 1999 A
5858551 Salsman Jan 1999 A
5876806 Ogawa Mar 1999 A
5890907 Minasian Apr 1999 A
5910557 Audenaert et al. Jun 1999 A
5921411 Merl Jul 1999 A
5924359 Watanabe Jul 1999 A
5945482 Fukuchi et al. Aug 1999 A
5947574 Avendano Sep 1999 A
5948685 Angros Sep 1999 A
5952053 Colby Sep 1999 A
5958601 Salsman Sep 1999 A
5980990 Goodwin Nov 1999 A
6013724 Mizutani et al. Jan 2000 A
6017609 Akamatsu et al. Jan 2000 A
6017831 Beardsley et al. Jan 2000 A
6017997 Snow et al. Jan 2000 A
6020419 Bock et al. Feb 2000 A
6024948 Samain et al. Feb 2000 A
6025025 Bartrug et al. Feb 2000 A
6033738 Teranishi et al. Mar 2000 A
6040382 Hanes Mar 2000 A
6045650 Mitchnick et al. Apr 2000 A
6068911 Shouji et al. May 2000 A
6090447 Suzuki et al. Jul 2000 A
6093559 Bookbinder et al. Jul 2000 A
6096380 Takebe et al. Aug 2000 A
6105233 Neal Aug 2000 A
6114446 Narisawa et al. Sep 2000 A
6117555 Fujimori et al. Sep 2000 A
6119626 Miyazawa et al. Sep 2000 A
6120720 Meier et al. Sep 2000 A
6136210 Biegelsen et al. Oct 2000 A
6153304 Smith et al. Nov 2000 A
6162870 Yamada et al. Dec 2000 A
6187143 Juppo et al. Feb 2001 B1
6191122 Lux et al. Feb 2001 B1
6201058 Mahr et al. Mar 2001 B1
6207236 Araki et al. Mar 2001 B1
6214278 Yamada et al. Apr 2001 B1
6221434 Visca et al. Apr 2001 B1
6224974 Wuu May 2001 B1
6228435 Yoshikawa et al. May 2001 B1
6228972 Hikita et al. May 2001 B1
6235383 Hong et al. May 2001 B1
6235833 Akamatsu et al. May 2001 B1
6245387 Hayden Jun 2001 B1
6248850 Arai Jun 2001 B1
6264751 Kamura et al. Jul 2001 B1
6280834 Veerasamy et al. Aug 2001 B1
6288149 Kroll Sep 2001 B1
6291054 Thomas et al. Sep 2001 B1
6333074 Ogawa et al. Dec 2001 B1
6333558 Hasegawa Dec 2001 B1
6337133 Akamatsu et al. Jan 2002 B1
6340502 Azzopardi et al. Jan 2002 B1
6342268 Samain Jan 2002 B1
6352758 Huang et al. Mar 2002 B1
6358569 Badyal et al. Mar 2002 B1
6361868 Bier et al. Mar 2002 B1
6376592 Shimada et al. Apr 2002 B1
6379751 Schaefer et al. Apr 2002 B1
6383642 Le Bellac et al. May 2002 B1
6403397 Katz Jun 2002 B1
6410673 Arai et al. Jun 2002 B1
6419985 Ishizuka Jul 2002 B1
6423372 Genzer et al. Jul 2002 B1
6423381 Colton et al. Jul 2002 B1
6432181 Ludwig Aug 2002 B1
6451432 Azzopardi et al. Sep 2002 B1
6458420 Akamatsu et al. Oct 2002 B1
6458467 Mizuno et al. Oct 2002 B1
6461537 Turcotte et al. Oct 2002 B1
6461670 Akamatsu et al. Oct 2002 B2
6462115 Takahashi et al. Oct 2002 B1
6471761 Fan et al. Oct 2002 B2
6476095 Simendinger, III Nov 2002 B2
6479612 Del Pesco et al. Nov 2002 B1
6482524 Yamamoto et al. Nov 2002 B1
6488347 Bienick Dec 2002 B1
6559234 Arai et al. May 2003 B1
6564935 Yamamoto et al. May 2003 B1
6566453 Arai et al. May 2003 B1
6579620 Mizunno et al. Jun 2003 B2
6582825 Amarasekera et al. Jun 2003 B2
6584744 Schultheis et al. Jul 2003 B1
6589641 Stirniman et al. Jul 2003 B1
6596060 Michaud Jul 2003 B1
6610363 Arora et al. Aug 2003 B2
6613860 Dams et al. Sep 2003 B1
6623863 Kamitani et al. Sep 2003 B2
6641654 Akamatsu et al. Nov 2003 B2
6649222 D'Agostino et al. Nov 2003 B1
6652640 Asai et al. Nov 2003 B2
6660339 Datta et al. Dec 2003 B1
6660363 Barthlott Dec 2003 B1
6660686 Inagaki et al. Dec 2003 B2
6683126 Keller et al. Jan 2004 B2
6685992 Ogawa et al. Feb 2004 B1
6689200 Scarborough et al. Feb 2004 B2
6692565 Johansen, Jr. et al. Feb 2004 B2
6706798 Kobayashi et al. Mar 2004 B2
6720371 Furuta et al. Apr 2004 B2
6729704 Ames May 2004 B2
6733892 Yoneda et al. May 2004 B1
6743467 Jones et al. Jun 2004 B1
6767984 Toui et al. Jul 2004 B2
6770323 Genzer et al. Aug 2004 B2
6780497 Walter Aug 2004 B1
6786562 Obrock et al. Sep 2004 B2
6793821 Lee et al. Sep 2004 B2
6800354 Baumann et al. Oct 2004 B2
6806299 Baumann et al. Oct 2004 B2
6808835 Green et al. Oct 2004 B2
6811716 Stengaard et al. Nov 2004 B1
6811844 Trouilhet Nov 2004 B2
6811884 Goodwin Nov 2004 B2
6835778 Swisher et al. Dec 2004 B2
6845788 Extrand Jan 2005 B2
6852389 Nun et al. Feb 2005 B2
6852390 Extrand Feb 2005 B2
6855375 Nakagawa et al. Feb 2005 B2
6855759 Kudo et al. Feb 2005 B2
6858284 Nun et al. Feb 2005 B2
6871923 Dietz et al. Mar 2005 B2
6872441 Baumann et al. Mar 2005 B2
6890360 Cote et al. May 2005 B2
6923216 Extrand et al. Aug 2005 B2
6926946 Ogawa et al. Aug 2005 B2
6931888 Shekunov et al. Aug 2005 B2
6938774 Extrand Sep 2005 B2
6942746 Niejelow et al. Sep 2005 B2
6966990 Chattopadhyay et al. Nov 2005 B2
6976585 Extrand Dec 2005 B2
6976998 Rizzo et al. Dec 2005 B2
6982242 Liss et al. Jan 2006 B2
6994045 Paszkowski Feb 2006 B2
6998051 Chattopadhyay et al. Feb 2006 B2
7004184 Handique et al. Feb 2006 B2
7019069 Kobayashi et al. Mar 2006 B2
7022416 Teranishi Apr 2006 B2
7026018 Kranovich Apr 2006 B2
7037591 Henze et al. May 2006 B2
7048889 Arney et al. May 2006 B2
7052244 Fouillet et al. May 2006 B2
7056409 Dubrow Jun 2006 B2
7057832 Wu et al. Jun 2006 B2
7057881 Chow et al. Jun 2006 B2
7074273 Shimomura et al. Jul 2006 B2
7074294 Dubrow Jul 2006 B2
7083748 Chattopadhyay et al. Aug 2006 B2
7083828 Muller et al. Aug 2006 B2
7109256 Amano et al. Sep 2006 B2
7112369 Wang et al. Sep 2006 B2
7124450 Davidson Oct 2006 B2
7141276 Lehmann et al. Nov 2006 B2
7144947 Camus et al. Dec 2006 B2
7148181 Tanaka et al. Dec 2006 B2
7150904 D'Urso et al. Dec 2006 B2
7153357 Baumgart et al. Dec 2006 B2
7157018 Scheidler Jan 2007 B2
7166235 Majeti et al. Jan 2007 B2
7175723 Jones et al. Feb 2007 B2
7179758 Chakrapani et al. Feb 2007 B2
7179864 Wang Feb 2007 B2
7188917 Bienick Mar 2007 B2
7198855 Liebmann-Vinson et al. Apr 2007 B2
7204298 Hodes et al. Apr 2007 B2
7211223 Fouillet et al. May 2007 B2
7211313 Nun et al. May 2007 B2
7211329 Metz et al May 2007 B2
7211605 Coronado et al. May 2007 B2
7213309 Wang et al. May 2007 B2
D547640 Remmers Jul 2007 S
7238751 Wang et al. Jul 2007 B2
7253130 Chiang et al. Aug 2007 B2
7258731 D'Urso et al. Aug 2007 B2
7264845 Papadaki et al. Sep 2007 B2
7265180 Chang et al. Sep 2007 B2
7265468 Mancl et al. Sep 2007 B1
7268179 Brown Sep 2007 B2
7273658 Benayoun et al. Sep 2007 B2
7285331 Reihs et al. Oct 2007 B1
7288311 Kawashima et al. Oct 2007 B2
7288592 Stark et al. Oct 2007 B2
7291653 Baumann et al. Nov 2007 B2
7306895 Kano et al. Dec 2007 B2
7309278 Shibata Dec 2007 B2
7312057 Bookbinder et al. Dec 2007 B2
7323033 Kroupenkine et al. Jan 2008 B2
7338835 Bao Mar 2008 B2
7342551 King Mar 2008 B2
7344619 Helmeke Mar 2008 B2
7344758 Franchina et al. Mar 2008 B2
7344783 Shea Mar 2008 B2
7354328 Lee Apr 2008 B2
7354624 Millero et al. Apr 2008 B2
7354650 Nakajima et al. Apr 2008 B2
D568344 Baacke et al. May 2008 S
7368510 Lee et al. May 2008 B2
7393515 Hoshino et al. Jul 2008 B2
7396395 Chen et al. Jul 2008 B1
7419615 Strauss Sep 2008 B2
7449233 Arora Nov 2008 B2
7468333 Kimbrell, Jr. et al. Dec 2008 B2
7524531 Axtell, III et al. Apr 2009 B2
7527832 Sakoske et al. May 2009 B2
7531598 Müller et al. May 2009 B2
7544411 Baumann et al. Jun 2009 B2
D596931 Fernandez Jul 2009 S
D596932 Kleinsasser Jul 2009 S
7563505 Reihs Jul 2009 B2
7568583 Wing et al. Aug 2009 B2
7607744 Casoli et al. Oct 2009 B2
D607020 Baacke et al. Dec 2009 S
D612404 Picken et al. Mar 2010 S
D612405 Eicher Mar 2010 S
D613316 Schmidt Apr 2010 S
7726615 Rutz Jun 2010 B2
7731316 Wing Jun 2010 B2
7748806 Egan Jul 2010 B2
7919180 Furukawa Apr 2011 B2
7989619 Guire et al. Aug 2011 B2
8258206 Kanagasabapathy et al. Sep 2012 B2
8286561 Driver et al. Oct 2012 B2
8580884 Ding Nov 2013 B2
8596205 Driver et al. Dec 2013 B2
8715906 Blanchet et al. May 2014 B2
8779025 Stone Jul 2014 B1
9067821 Bleecher et al. Jun 2015 B2
9096786 Sikka et al. Aug 2015 B2
9139744 Sikka et al. Sep 2015 B2
20010018130 Hayden Aug 2001 A1
20010019773 Akamatsu et al. Sep 2001 A1
20010024728 Kamitani et al. Sep 2001 A1
20010030808 Komatsu et al. Oct 2001 A1
20010055677 Wuu Dec 2001 A1
20020001676 Hayden Jan 2002 A1
20020034627 Jacquiod et al. Mar 2002 A1
20020045007 Arora et al. Apr 2002 A1
20020049276 Zwick Apr 2002 A1
20020077412 Kobayashi et al. Jun 2002 A1
20020111402 Mizuno et al. Aug 2002 A1
20020115736 Koshy Aug 2002 A1
20020161130 Arai et al. Oct 2002 A1
20020177655 Pratt et al. Nov 2002 A1
20020192472 Metz et al. Dec 2002 A1
20020197490 Amidaiji et al. Dec 2002 A1
20030009049 Smith et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030013795 Nun et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030021902 Yamamoto et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030026972 Reihs Feb 2003 A1
20030040243 Ward Feb 2003 A1
20030040568 Furuta et al. Feb 2003 A1
20030065093 Custro et al. Apr 2003 A1
20030070677 Handique et al. Apr 2003 A1
20030072723 Gers-Barlag et al. Apr 2003 A1
20030073067 Bookfinder et al. Apr 2003 A1
20030077533 Murota et al. Apr 2003 A1
20030091809 Scarborough et al. May 2003 A1
20030110976 Abidh et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030117051 Kweon Jun 2003 A1
20030119684 Tsao Jun 2003 A1
20030125656 Davankov et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030143339 Kobayashi Jul 2003 A1
20030149218 Cote' et al. Aug 2003 A1
20030166840 Urry et al. Sep 2003 A1
20030170401 Shimomura et al. Sep 2003 A1
20030176572 Maekawa et al. Sep 2003 A1
20030179494 Kaneko Sep 2003 A1
20030194565 Schaefer Oct 2003 A1
20030203771 Rosenberg et al. Oct 2003 A1
20040005469 Metz et al. Jan 2004 A1
20040020104 Feldhege et al. Feb 2004 A1
20040025747 Kamitani et al. Feb 2004 A1
20040039128 Sasagawa et al. Feb 2004 A1
20040050297 Kobayashi et al. Mar 2004 A1
20040053058 Kamitani et al. Mar 2004 A1
20040056575 Dietz et al. Mar 2004 A1
20040097616 Hoppler et al. May 2004 A1
20040102124 Suzuki May 2004 A1
20040102588 Arai et al. May 2004 A1
20040121168 Goodwin et al. Jun 2004 A1
20040137814 Kimbrell, Jr. et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040138083 Kimbrell, Jr. et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040142557 Levy et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040154106 Oles et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040192844 Ikematsu et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040201048 Seki et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040202872 Fang et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040209203 Kano et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040213904 Muller et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040216227 Papadaki et al. Nov 2004 A1
20050000463 Mochizuki Jan 2005 A1
20050004264 Tanabe Jan 2005 A1
20050008859 Forgacs Jan 2005 A1
20050009953 Shea Jan 2005 A1
20050020763 Milic Jan 2005 A1
20050022313 Scheidler Feb 2005 A1
20050053793 Benay-Oun et al. Mar 2005 A1
20050075020 Benayoun et al. Apr 2005 A1
20050075455 Chang et al. Apr 2005 A1
20050106762 Chakrapani et al. May 2005 A1
20050121782 Nakamura et al. Jun 2005 A1
20050143547 Stark et al. Jun 2005 A1
20050165194 Benayoun et al. Jul 2005 A1
20050170098 Baumann et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050197447 Gu et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050221098 Azzopardi et al. Oct 2005 A1
20050239211 Uchihara et al. Oct 2005 A1
20050245395 Tanaka et al. Nov 2005 A1
20060013983 Sebastian et al. Jan 2006 A1
20060029808 Zhai et al. Feb 2006 A1
20060040164 Vyas et al. Feb 2006 A1
20060051561 Badyal Mar 2006 A1
20060052556 Franchina et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060057390 Kittle et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060058458 Hasskerl et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060062695 Haab et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060062929 Kittle et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060081394 Li et al. Apr 2006 A1
20060089466 Shimomura et al. Apr 2006 A1
20060110541 Russell et al. May 2006 A1
20060110542 Dietz et al. May 2006 A1
20060113443 Remmers Jun 2006 A1
20060147634 Strauss Jul 2006 A1
20060147705 Huang et al. Jul 2006 A1
20060151739 Sandner et al. Jul 2006 A1
20060154048 Teranishi et al. Jul 2006 A1
20060162373 McMillin et al. Jul 2006 A1
20060172641 Hennige et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060185555 Giessler et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060205874 Uzee et al. Sep 2006 A1
20060207032 Reiners et al. Sep 2006 A1
20060213791 Holden Sep 2006 A1
20060213792 Nguyen et al. Sep 2006 A1
20060213849 Bienick Sep 2006 A1
20060222865 Hoshino et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060240218 Parce Oct 2006 A1
20060263516 Jones et al. Nov 2006 A1
20060266258 Asakura et al. Nov 2006 A1
20060269758 Helmeke Nov 2006 A1
20060281889 Kobayashi et al. Dec 2006 A1
20060286305 Thies et al. Dec 2006 A1
20060292345 Dave et al. Dec 2006 A1
20070003705 Strauss Jan 2007 A1
20070005024 Weber et al. Jan 2007 A1
20070009657 Zhang et al. Jan 2007 A1
20070014970 Nun et al. Jan 2007 A1
20070026193 Luzinov et al. Feb 2007 A1
20070036906 Reeve Feb 2007 A1
20070046160 Egan Mar 2007 A1
20070065668 Idei Mar 2007 A1
20070075199 Stewart et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070141114 Muisener et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070141306 Kasai et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070148407 Chen et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070166513 Sheng et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070172650 O'Rear, III et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070172658 Deruelle et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070172661 Fechner et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070176379 Sonnendorfer et al. Aug 2007 A1
20070196656 Rowell Aug 2007 A1
20070202342 Whiteford et al. Aug 2007 A1
20070213230 Pfeiffer et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070215004 Kuroda et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070218265 Harris et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070224898 Deangelis et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070231517 Golownia Oct 2007 A1
20070238807 Safir et al. Oct 2007 A1
20070259156 Kempers et al. Nov 2007 A1
20070274871 Jiang Nov 2007 A1
20070275245 Persson et al. Nov 2007 A1
20070298216 Jing et al. Dec 2007 A1
20080008838 Arpac et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080012459 Picken et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080015306 Wright et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080018709 Takenaka et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080020127 Whiteford et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080021212 Whiteford et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080032403 Saito et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080039558 Lazzari et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080039576 Griswold et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080044635 O'Neill et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080050567 Kawashima et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080063870 O'Rear et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080066648 Asakura et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080070146 Fomitchev et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080081858 Okazaki Apr 2008 A1
20080088192 Hsu Apr 2008 A1
20080090004 Zhang et al. Apr 2008 A1
20080101041 Chang et al. May 2008 A1
20080102347 Blunk May 2008 A1
20080107864 Zhang et al. May 2008 A1
20080131653 Lyons et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080160257 Takada et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080166549 Shieh et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080171805 Mingarelli Jul 2008 A1
20080172937 Palmer et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080176991 Osawa et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080193740 Nesbitt Aug 2008 A1
20080197760 Leconte et al. Aug 2008 A1
20080199657 Capron et al. Aug 2008 A1
20080199659 Zhao Aug 2008 A1
20080205950 Moorlag et al. Aug 2008 A1
20080206550 Borlner Aug 2008 A1
20080207581 Whiteford et al. Aug 2008 A1
20080213601 Yamamoto et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080220170 Van Der Flaas Sep 2008 A1
20080220676 Marin et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080221009 Kanagasabapathy et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080221263 Kanagasabapathy et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080226694 Gelbert et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080237126 Hoek et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080241512 Boris et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080241523 Huignard et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080245273 Vyorkka et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080246804 Kawase et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080248263 Kobrin Oct 2008 A1
20080250978 Baumgart et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080261024 Xenopoulos et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080268233 Lawin et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080269358 Inoue et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080280699 Jarvholm Nov 2008 A1
20080286556 D'Urso et al. Nov 2008 A1
20080295347 Braham Dec 2008 A1
20080296252 D'Urso et al. Dec 2008 A1
20080306202 Lin et al. Dec 2008 A1
20080310660 Lin Dec 2008 A1
20090010870 Greiner et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090011222 Xiu et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090011227 Furukawa Jan 2009 A1
20090011960 Wu Jan 2009 A1
20090018249 Kanagasabapathy et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090025508 Liao et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090025609 Egami et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090032088 Rabinowitz Feb 2009 A1
20090035519 Gaeta et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090036978 Kleiner et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090042469 Simpson Feb 2009 A1
20090058247 Collins et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090064894 Baumgart et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090076430 Simpson et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090084574 Balfour et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090084914 Picken et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090085453 Daley et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090087670 Peng et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090095941 Nakata et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090099301 Naraghi et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090105409 Munzmay et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090105679 Joubert et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090111344 Murphy et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090115302 Benz et al. May 2009 A1
20090123728 Cheung et al. May 2009 A1
20090134758 Vardon May 2009 A1
20090136737 Ring et al. May 2009 A1
20090142604 Imai et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090155566 Gentleman et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090162592 Baikerikar et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090163637 Li et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090182085 Escobar Barrios et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090186070 Guire et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090188877 Stewart Jul 2009 A1
20090193743 Wiercinski Aug 2009 A1
20090195136 Wing et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090208739 Husemann et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090212505 McMillin et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090240004 Maier et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090263604 Arai et al. Oct 2009 A1
20090286023 Dobreski et al. Nov 2009 A1
20090298369 Koene et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090324910 Gemici et al. Dec 2009 A1
20100001625 Eckartsberg et al. Jan 2010 A1
20100003493 Cheng et al. Jan 2010 A1
20100004373 Zhu et al. Jan 2010 A1
20100006223 Krawinkel et al. Jan 2010 A1
20100026156 Leconte et al. Feb 2010 A1
20100052491 Vardon Mar 2010 A1
20100102693 Driver et al. Apr 2010 A1
20100109498 Ramm et al. May 2010 A1
20100117502 Kang et al. May 2010 A1
20100133970 Shin et al. Jun 2010 A1
20100176703 Kim Jul 2010 A1
20100181884 De La Garza et al. Jul 2010 A1
20100196702 Furukawa Aug 2010 A9
20100213334 Davenport Aug 2010 A1
20100272913 Russell et al. Oct 2010 A1
20100314575 Gao et al. Dec 2010 A1
20100330347 Badyal et al. Dec 2010 A1
20110020637 Ikishima et al. Jan 2011 A1
20110027531 Uchida et al. Feb 2011 A1
20110033662 Ikishima et al. Feb 2011 A1
20110111656 Gao et al. May 2011 A1
20110184082 Wright et al. Jul 2011 A1
20110217544 Young et al. Sep 2011 A1
20110243985 Pagani et al. Oct 2011 A1
20110251318 Ishizaki et al. Oct 2011 A1
20110303156 Sikka et al. Dec 2011 A1
20110313082 Popp Dec 2011 A1
20120009396 Sikka et al. Jan 2012 A1
20120040577 Kissel et al. Feb 2012 A1
20120045954 Bleecher et al. Feb 2012 A1
20130139309 Bleecher et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130216820 Riddle et al. Aug 2013 A1
20140087134 Gesford et al. Mar 2014 A1
20140296409 Sikka et al. Oct 2014 A1
20140349061 Sikka et al. Nov 2014 A1
20150005424 Jones et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150030779 Bleecher et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150097475 Sikka et al. Apr 2015 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (231)
Number Date Country
1002256 Dec 1976 CA
2175848 Dec 1996 CA
2796305 Dec 2011 CA
10306891 Aug 2004 DE
10 2010 022 265 May 2010 DE
0 166 363 Jan 1986 EP
0 207 282 Jul 1987 EP
0 307 915 Mar 1989 EP
0 317 057 May 1989 EP
0 332 141 Sep 1989 EP
0 386 991 Sep 1990 EP
0 399 568 Nov 1990 EP
0 446 391 Sep 1991 EP
0 452 723 Oct 1991 EP
0 472 215 Feb 1992 EP
0 476 510 Mar 1992 EP
0 493 270 Jul 1992 EP
0 545 201 Jun 1993 EP
0 623 656 Nov 1994 EP
0 649 887 Apr 1995 EP
0 657 393 Jun 1995 EP
0 714 870 Jun 1996 EP
0 714 921 Jun 1996 EP
0 719 743 Jul 1996 EP
0 719 821 Jul 1996 EP
0 739 714 Oct 1996 EP
0 745 567 Dec 1996 EP
0 745 568 Dec 1996 EP
0 752 459 Jan 1997 EP
0 770 706 May 1997 EP
0 904 343 May 1997 EP
0 799 791 Oct 1997 EP
0 811 430 Dec 1997 EP
0 863 191 Sep 1998 EP
0 969 718 Sep 1998 EP
0 903 389 Mar 1999 EP
0 914 873 May 1999 EP
0 915 103 May 1999 EP
0 930 351 Jul 1999 EP
1 047 735 Nov 2000 EP
1 048 696 Nov 2000 EP
1 097 979 May 2001 EP
1 108 735 Jun 2001 EP
1 113 064 Jul 2001 EP
1 136 539 Sep 2001 EP
1 180 533 Feb 2002 EP
1 187 872 Mar 2002 EP
1 193 289 Apr 2002 EP
1 215 252 Jun 2002 EP
1 401 903 Sep 2002 EP
1 261 559 Dec 2002 EP
1 392 619 Dec 2002 EP
1 392 772 Dec 2002 EP
1 429 919 Feb 2003 EP
1 492 837 Oct 2003 EP
1 360 253 Nov 2003 EP
1 362 904 Nov 2003 EP
1 503 813 Nov 2003 EP
1 387 011 Feb 2004 EP
1 387 169 Feb 2004 EP
1 407 792 Apr 2004 EP
1 433 821 Jun 2004 EP
1 583 615 Jul 2004 EP
1 473 355 Nov 2004 EP
1 475 234 Nov 2004 EP
1 479 738 Nov 2004 EP
1 524 290 Apr 2005 EP
1 875 279 Nov 2006 EP
1 883 669 Nov 2006 EP
1 902 091 Jan 2007 EP
1 752 284 Feb 2007 EP
1 857 497 Nov 2007 EP
1 873 218 Jan 2008 EP
1 908 804 Apr 2008 EP
1 988 129 Nov 2008 EP
1 997 619 Dec 2008 EP
2 346 678 Jul 2011 EP
2 678 400 Aug 2012 EP
2 547 832 AO Jan 2013 EP
1 902 091 May 2013 EP
2 791 255 Jun 2013 EP
2 864 430 AO Apr 2015 EP
1 341 605 Dec 1973 GB
1 465 495 Feb 1977 GB
2 484 751 Apr 2012 GB
62-246960 Oct 1987 JP
H05-186738 Jul 1993 JP
H07-090691 Apr 1995 JP
H10-309768 Nov 1998 JP
2002-020575 Oct 2002 JP
2004162133 Jun 2004 JP
2004-143352 Nov 2004 JP
2004308984 Nov 2004 JP
2005082616 Mar 2005 JP
2006131938 May 2006 JP
2006-176559 Sep 2006 JP
2007144917 Jun 2007 JP
2007182491 Jul 2007 JP
2008228958 Oct 2008 JP
2009071672 Apr 2009 JP
2009-120792 Sep 2009 JP
10-2003-052853 Jun 2003 KR
10-2009-90240 Oct 2010 KR
175646 Aug 1994 MX
183533 Dec 1996 MX
192053 May 1999 MX
195031 Jan 2000 MX
199899 Nov 2000 MX
201072 Mar 2001 MX
203880 Aug 2001 MX
205074 Nov 2001 MX
PA01011653 Dec 2002 MX
215752 Aug 2003 MX
PA02006399 Sep 2003 MX
PA04010165 Feb 2005 MX
PA05006898 Aug 2005 MX
PA02012841 Jan 2006 MX
234477 Feb 2006 MX
PA06003323 Mar 2006 MX
WO 8605389 Sep 1986 WO
WO 91-04305 Apr 1991 WO
WO 93-16131 Aug 1993 WO
WO 94-13734 Jun 1994 WO
WO 96-04123 Feb 1996 WO
WO 96-07621 Mar 1996 WO
WO 97-07993 Mar 1997 WO
WO 98-20960 May 1998 WO
WO 99-23137 May 1999 WO
WO 99-23437 May 1999 WO
WO 99-40431 Aug 1999 WO
WO 99-47578 Sep 1999 WO
WO 99-48339 Sep 1999 WO
WO 99-57185 Nov 1999 WO
WO 99-64363 Dec 1999 WO
WO 00-05321 Feb 2000 WO
WO 00-14297 Mar 2000 WO
WO 00-25938 May 2000 WO
WO 00-34361 Jun 2000 WO
WO 00-39240 Jul 2000 WO
WO 00-46464 Aug 2000 WO
WO 00-66241 Nov 2000 WO
WO 01-19745 Mar 2001 WO
WO 01-62682 Aug 2001 WO
WO 01-74739 Oct 2001 WO
WO 01-79142 Oct 2001 WO
WO 01-79371 Oct 2001 WO
WO 01-98399 Dec 2001 WO
WO 02-14417 Feb 2002 WO
WO 02-28951 Apr 2002 WO
WO 02-062910 Aug 2002 WO
WO 02-074869 Sep 2002 WO
WO 02-098983 Dec 2002 WO
WO 03-010255 Feb 2003 WO
WO 03-012004 Feb 2003 WO
WO 03-030879 Apr 2003 WO
WO 03-037702 May 2003 WO
WO 03-045693 Jun 2003 WO
WO 03-063646 Aug 2003 WO
WO 03-080258 Oct 2003 WO
WO 03-082998 Oct 2003 WO
WO 03-093568 Nov 2003 WO
WO 2004-012625 Feb 2004 WO
WO 2004-043319 May 2004 WO
WO 2004-058418 Jul 2004 WO
WO 2004-104116 Dec 2004 WO
WO 2004-110132 Dec 2004 WO
WO 2005-021843 Mar 2005 WO
WO 2005-023935 Mar 2005 WO
WO 2005-028562 Mar 2005 WO
WO 2005-068399 Jul 2005 WO
WO 2005-077429 Aug 2005 WO
WO 2006044641 Apr 2006 WO
WO 2006-044642 Apr 2006 WO
WO 2006-081891 Aug 2006 WO
WO 2006-083600 Aug 2006 WO
WO 2006-101934 Sep 2006 WO
WO 2006-135755 Dec 2006 WO
WO 2007-011731 Jan 2007 WO
WO 2007-027276 Mar 2007 WO
WO 2007-052260 May 2007 WO
WO 2007-053266 May 2007 WO
WO 2007-056427 May 2007 WO
WO 2007-070801 Jun 2007 WO
WO 2007-075407 Jul 2007 WO
WO 2007-092746 Aug 2007 WO
WO 2007-102960 Sep 2007 WO
WO 2007-104494 Sep 2007 WO
WO 2007-126432 Nov 2007 WO
WO 2007-126743 Nov 2007 WO
WO 2007-130294 Nov 2007 WO
WO 2007-149617 Dec 2007 WO
WO 2008-004827 Jan 2008 WO
WO 2008-004828 Jan 2008 WO
WO 2008-006078 Jan 2008 WO
WO 2008-021791 Feb 2008 WO
WO 2008-035347 Mar 2008 WO
WO 2008-035917 Mar 2008 WO
WO 2008-050895 May 2008 WO
WO 2008-051221 May 2008 WO
WO 2008-066828 Jun 2008 WO
WO 2008-078346 Jul 2008 WO
WO 2008-106494 Sep 2008 WO
WO 2008-112158 Sep 2008 WO
WO 2008-123650 Oct 2008 WO
WO 2008-123955 Oct 2008 WO
WO 2008-123961 Oct 2008 WO
WO 2008-134243 Nov 2008 WO
WO 2008-137973 Nov 2008 WO
WO 2008-151991 Dec 2008 WO
WO 2008-153687 Dec 2008 WO
WO 2009-003847 Jan 2009 WO
WO 2009-005465 Jan 2009 WO
WO 2009-012116 Jan 2009 WO
WO 2009-018327 Feb 2009 WO
WO 2009-032988 Mar 2009 WO
WO 2009-037717 Mar 2009 WO
WO 2009-041752 Apr 2009 WO
WO 2009-061199 May 2009 WO
WO 2009-148611 Dec 2009 WO
WO 2009-158567 Dec 2009 WO
WO 2010033288 Mar 2010 WO
WO 2010042191 Apr 2010 WO
WO2010042191 Apr 2010 WO
WO 2010-042668 Apr 2010 WO
WO 2011-116005 Sep 2011 WO
WO 2011116005 Dec 2011 WO
WO 2011-151151 Dec 2011 WO
WO 2012-115986 Aug 2012 WO
WO 2013-090939 Jun 2013 WO
WO 2014-003852 Jan 2014 WO
WO 2015-048539 Apr 2015 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (115)
Entry
EXPANCEL DE product list, Oct. 2010.
Yield strength, elastic limit, and ultimate strength NPL document, retrieved Mar. 20, 2015.
Machine translation of JP 2004-143352, retrieved Aug. 6, 2015.
Machine translation of DE 10306891, retrieved Aug. 6, 2015.
Machine translation of JP 2006-176559, retrieved Aug. 6, 2015.
Machine translation of JP 2009-120792, retrieved Aug. 6, 2015.
Machine translation of JP 2002-020575, retrieved Aug. 6, 2015.
Prosecution History U.S. Appl. No. 14/323,660 Aug. 2015.
Prosecution History EP Patent Application No. 13 809 987.4 Aug. 2015.
KratonI M FG1901 Data Document Jun. 17, 2014.
KratonI M Polymers for Modification of Thermoplastics—available on the world wide web at http://docs.kraton.com/kraton/attachments/downloads/81311AM.pdf, last accessed Aug. 3, 2015.
U.S. Appl. No. 60/699,200, filed Jul. 14, 2005, Guire et al. (Innovative Surface Technologies, Inc.).
U.S. Appl. No. 60/807,143, filed Jul. 12, 2006, Guire et al. (Innovative Surface Technologies, Inc.).
U.S. Appl. No. 60/891,876, filed Feb. 27, 2007, Lawin et al. (Innovative Surface Technology, Inc.).
U.S. Appl. No. 61/058,902, filed Jun. 4, 2008, Driver et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/090,002, filed Aug. 19, 2008, Driver et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/133,273, filed Jun. 27, 2008, Driver et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/198,414, filed Jun. 16, 2009, Gao.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/216,540, filed May 18, 2009, Driver et al.
U.S. Appl. No. 61/252,229, filed Oct. 16, 2009, Gao.
U.S. Appl. No. 12/037,520 file history, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,943,234, filed Feb. 26, 2008, Lawin et al.
“Composition,” in Collins English Dictionary, found at http://www.credoreference.com/entry/hcengdict/composition, 2000 (viewed Aug. 26, 2013).
“NeverWet—product characteristics,” found at http://www.neverwet.com/product-characteristics.php, NeverWet LLC (viewed Mar. 7, 2013).
“Yield strength, elastic limit, and ultimate strength,” found at http://inventor.grantadesign.com/en/notes/science/material/S04%20strength.htm, Granta Design Ltd. (viewed Feb. 10, 2015).
2009 R&D 100 Award Entry Form (p. 5 excerpt from another document) showing Fig. 1 Schematic of NICE (“no ice nanocoating”) (2009).
Bae et al., “Superhydrophobicity of cotton fabrics treated with silica nanoparticles and water-repellent agent,” J Colloid Interface Sci, abstract only (May 3, 2009; epublication ahead of print).
Bayer Materials Science product information on Bayhydrol® 110 polyurethane dispersion (two first pages of this brochure) (Aug. 2002).
Bayer Materials Science product information on Bayhydrol® 122 polyurethane dispersion (Jan. 2004).
Bayer Materials Science product information on Bayhydrol® 124 polyurethane dispersion (Jan. 2004).
Bayer Materials Science product information on Bayhydrol® 140AQ, polyurethane dispersion (Aug. 2002).
Bayer Materials Science product information on Bayhydrol® A145, aqueous hydroxyl-functional polyurethane dispersion (Jan. 2010).
Beyler et al, “Thermal Decomposition of Polymers,” Chapter 7 of The SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering (3rd ed.), pp. 1-110-1-131 (2002).
Bliznakov et al., “Double-scale roughness and superhydrophobicity on metalized Toray carbon fiber paper,” Langmuir, 25(8):4760-4766, abstract only (Apr. 21, 2009).
Boinovich et al., “Principles of design of superhydrophobic coatings by deposition from dispersions,” Langmuir, 25(5):2907-2912, abstract only (Mar. 3, 2009).
Boinovich et al., “Principles of Design of Superhydrophobic Coatings by Deposition from Dispersions,” Langmuir, abstract only (Feb. 10, 2009; epublication ahead of print).
Bravo et al., “Transparent superhydrophobic films based on silica nanoparticles,” Langmuir, 23(13):7293-7298, abstract only (Jun. 19, 2007; epublished May 25, 2007).
Choi et al., “Large slip of aqueous liquid flow over a nanoengineered superhydrophobic surface,” Phys Rev Lett, 96(6):066001, abstract only (Feb. 17, 2006; epublished Feb. 16, 2006).
Clark, M.D.T. et al. “Paints and Pigments” available at nzic.org.nz/ChemProcesses/polymers/10D.pdf (copyright 2005-2008 at http://nzic.org.nz/ChemProcesses/polymers/).
de Givenchy et al., “Fabrication of Superhydrophobic PDMS Surfaces by Combining Acidic Treatment and Perfluorinated Monolayers,” Langmuir, 25(11):6448-6453, abstract only (Jun. 2, 2009).
Du, “Surfactants, Dispersants, and Defoamers for the Coatings, Inks, and Adhesives Industries,” in Coatings Technology Handbook, Third Edition, Tracton (ed.), CRC Press (2005).
EPO Communication dated Dec. 5, 2011, regarding third-party observations filed in European Application No. 09771098.2.
Extended European search report for European Application No. 920119918, dated Jul. 22, 1997.
Extended European search report for European Application No. 09771098.2, dated Dec. 27, 2011.
Extended European search report for European Application No. 09819518, dated Jul. 22, 2014.
Fürstner et al., “Wetting and self-cleaning properties of artificial superhydrophobic surfaces,” Langmuir, 21(3):956-961, abstract only (Feb. 1, 2005).
García et al., “Use of p-toluenesulfonic acid for the controlled grafting of alkoxysilanes onto silanol containing surfaces; preparation of tunable hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and super-hydrophobic silica,” J Am Chem Soc, 129(16):5052-5060, abstract only (Apr. 25, 2007; epublished Mar. 31, 2007).
Gonçalves et al., “Superhydrophobic cellulose nanocomposites,” J. Colloid Interface Sci, 324(1-2):42-46, abstract only (Aug. 2008; epublished May 7, 2008).
Guo et al., “A novel approach to stable superhydrophobic surfaces,” Chemphyschem, 7(8):1674-1677, abstract only (Aug. 11, 2006; epublished Jul. 17, 2006).
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for International Application No. PCT/US2009/048775, dated Jan. 13, 2011.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for International Application No. PCT/US2010/059909, dated Apr. 21, 2011.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2009/005512, dated Dec. 8, 2009.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2009/048775, dated Nov. 19, 2009.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2009/059909, dated Dec. 4, 2009.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2010/048711, dated Mar. 17, 2011.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2010/054936, dated Feb. 16, 2011.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2010/070200, dated Feb. 27, 2013.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2012/025982, dated Jun. 13, 2012.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2013/031751, dated Dec. 23, 2013.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2014/057848, dated Dec. 29, 2014.
Jauregui-Beloqui et al., “Thermoplastic polyurethane-fumed silica composites: influence of the specific surface area of fumed silica on the viscoelastic and adhesion properties,” Journal of Adhesive Science and Technology, 13(6):695-711, abstract only (1999).
Kietzig et al., “Patterned superhydrophobic metallic surfaces,” Langmuir, 25(8):4821-4827, abstract only (Apr. 21, 2009).
Kim et al., “A simple fabrication route to a highly transparent super-hydrophobic surface with a poly(dimethylsiloxane) coated flexible mold,” Chem Commun (Camb), 22:2237-2239, abstract only (Jun. 14, 2007; epublished Mar. 6, 2007).
Kraton® FG1924 G Polymer, Data Document, Identifier K123DDe09U, the KRATON Polymers Group of Companies (Aug. 10, 2009).
Le Marechal et al., “Textile Finishing Industry as an Important Source of Organic Pollutants,” in Organic Pollutants Ten Years After the Stockholm Convention—Environmental and Analytical Update, Puzyn (ed.), Chapter 2, pp. 29-54, InTech (2012).
Lee et al., “Impact of a superhydrophobic sphere onto water,” Langmuir, 24(1):142-145, abstract only (Jan. 1, 2008; epublished Nov. 14, 2007).
Li et al., “Conversion of a metastable superhydrophobic surface to an ultraphobic surface,” Langmuir, 24(15):8008-8012, abstract only (Aug. 5, 2008; epublished Jul. 8, 2008).
Ling et al., “Stable and transparent superhydrophobic nanoparticle films,” Langmuir, 25(5):3260-3263, abstract only (Mar. 3, 2009).
Litvinov et al., “Structure of a PDMS Layer Grafted onto a Silica Surface Studied by Means of DSC and Solid-State NMR,” Macromolecules, 35(11):4356-4364 (2002).
Manca et al., “Durable superhydrophobic and antireflective surfaces by trimethylsilanized silica nanoparticles-based sol-gel processing,” Langmuir, 25(11):6357-6362, abstract only (Jun. 2, 2009).
Marmur, “Super-hydrophobicity fundamentals: implications to biofouling prevention,” Biofouling, 22(1-2):107-115, abstract only (2006).
Ming et al., “Toward Superlyophobic Surfaces,” Contact Angle, Wettability and Adhesion (ed. Mittal), vol. 6, pp. 191-205, Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden (2009).
Nosonovsky et al., “Patterned nonadhesive surfaces: superhydrophobicity and wetting regime transitions,” Langmuir, 24(4):1525-1533, abstract only (Feb. 19, 2008; epublished Dec. 12, 2007).
Park et al., “Wetting transition and optimal design for microstructured surfaces with hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials,” J. Colloid Interface Sci, 336(1):298-303, abstract only (Aug. 1, 2009; epublished Apr. 15, 2009).
Perez, Jr., et al., “Performance and Processing Enhancements of Aromatic Polyurea Elastomer Systems Prepared from High 2,4'-MDI Isocyanates,” in Polyurethanes Conference 2000: Defining the Future Through Technology, Boston, Massachusetts, pp. 219-232 (Oct. 8-11, 2000).
Piret et al., “Biomolecule and nanoparticle transfer on patterned and heterogeneously wetted superhydrophobic silicon nanowire surfaces,” Langmuir, 24(5):1670-1672, abstract only (Mar. 4, 2008; epublished Feb. 6, 2008).
Puukilainen et al., “Superhydrophobic polyolefin surfaces: controlled micro- and nanostructures,” Langmuir, 23(13):7263-7268, abstract only (Jun. 19, 2007; epublished May 23, 2007).
Sakai et al., “Direct observation of internal fluidity in a water droplet during sliding on hydrophobic surfaces,” Langmuir, 22(11):4906-4909, abstract only (May 23, 2006).
Sherwin Williams Chemical Coatings product information for CC-D14, POLANE® 2.8T, plus polyurethane enamel (Oct. 19, 2006).
Sherwin Williams Chemical Coatings product information for CC-D5, POLANE® T, polyurethane enamel (Sep. 2001).
Sherwin Williams Chemical Coatings product information for CC-E14, POLANE® 700T, water reducible enamel (May 2010).
Shirtcliffe et al., “Wetting and wetting transitions on copper-based super-hydrophobic surfaces,” Langmuir, 21(3):937-943, abstract only (Feb. 1, 2005).
Smith et al., “Modeling of PDMS—Silica Nanocomposites,” NSTI-Nanotech, 3:115-118 (2004).
SSW Holding Company, Inc. v. Schott Gemtron Corporation, Civil Docket, Civil Action No. 3:12-cv-00661-CRS (as of Dec. 6, 2013).
SSW Holding Company, Inc. v. Schott Gemtron Corporation, Complaint for Patent Infringement, Demand for Jury Trial, Civil Action No. 3:12-cv-00661-CRS (Oct. 16, 2012).
Su et al., “From Suerhydrophophilic to Superhydrophobic: Controlling Wettability of Hydroxide Zinc Carbonate Film on Zinc Plates,” Langmuir, abstract only (Feb. 10, 2009; epublication ahead of print).
Synytska et al., “Wetting on Fractal Superhydrophobic Surfaces from ‘Core-Shell’ Particles: a Comparison of Theory and Experiment,” Langmuir, abstract only (Feb. 10, 2009; epublication ahead of print).
Torró-Palau et al., “Characterization of polyurethanes containing different silicas,” International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 21(1):1-9, abstract only (2001).
Two webpages re pigment particle size: http://www.specialchem4coatings.com/tc/color-handbook/index.aspx?id=size and http://www.specialchem4coatings.com/tc/tio2/index.aspx?id=whiteness, SpecialChem, S.A. (printed Jul. 19, 2013).
Venkateswara et al., “Preparation of MTMS based transparent superhydrophobic silica films by sol-gel method,” J Colloid Interface Sci, 332(2):484-490, abstract only (Apr. 15, 2009; epublished Jan. 14, 2009).
Wang et al., “One-step coating of fluoro-containing silica nanoparticles for universal generation of surface superhydrophobicity,” Chem Commun (Camb),7:877-879, abstract only (Feb. 21, 2008; epublished Dec. 18, 2007).
Yang et al., “Influence of surface roughness on superhydrophobicity,” Phys Rev Lett, 97(11):116103, abstract only (Sep. 15, 2006; epublished Septenber 14, 2006).
Zhang et al., “Application of superhydrophobic edge effects in solving the liquid outflow phenomena,” Langmuir, 23(6):3230-3235, abstract only (Mar. 13, 2007; epublished Jan. 25, 2007).
Zhou et al., “Study on the morphology and tribological properties of acrylic based polyurethane/fumed silica composite coatings,” Journal of Materials Science, 39:1593-1594, abstract only (2004).
Prosecution History of U.S. Appl. No. 13/082,327, “Highly Durable Superhydrophobic, Oleophobic and Anti-Icing Coatings and Methods and Compositions for Their Preparation,” filed Apr. 7, 2011.
Prosecution History of U.S. Appl. No. 14/320,358, “Highly Durable Superhydrophobic, Oleophobic and Anti-Icing Coatings and Methods and Compositions for Their Preparation,” filed Jun. 30, 2014.
Prosecution History of U.S. Appl. No. 14/323,660, “Elastomeric Coatings Having Hydrophobic and/or Oleophobic Properties,” filed Jul. 3, 2014.
“Surfactant,” found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrfactant, Wikipedia (viewed Dec. 28, 2015).
“Taber® Test Method Reference,” found at http://www.taberindustries.com/documents/Taber Test Reference by Method.pdf (Jun. 2014, viewed Oct. 6, 2015) (2 pages).
Courbin et al., “Your wetting day,” Physics Today, 60(2):84 (Feb. 2007).
Extended European search report for European Application No. 12749985.3, dated Apr. 7, 2015.
Extended European search report for European Application No. 12857248.4, dated Apr. 7, 2015.
Kim et al., “A simple fabrication route to a highly transparent super-hydrophobic surface with a poly(dimethylsiloxane) coated flexible mold,” Chem Commun(Camb), 22:2237-2239, abstract only (Jun. 14, 2007; epublished Mar. 6, 2007).
Kobayashi et al., Surface Tension of Poly[(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-nonafluorohexyl)-methylsiloxane], Macromolecules, 23:4929-4933 (1990).
Kovalchuk et al., “Fluoro- vs hydrocarbon surfactants: Why do they differ in wetting performance?,” Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 210:65-71 (available online Apr. 13, 2014).
Kraton® FG1901 G Polymer, Data Document, Identifier K127DDh14U, the Kraton Polymers Group of Companies (Jun. 17, 2014).
Mohammadi et al., “Effect of Surfactants on Wetting of Super-Hydrophobic Surfaces,” Langmuir, 20:9657-9662 (available online Oct. 2, 2004).
Prosecution History of U.S. Appl. No. 13/082,319, filed Apr. 7, 2011, as downloaded on Jan. 5, 2016.
Prosecution History of U.S. Appl. No. 13/618,779, filed Sep. 14, 2012, as downloaded on Jan. 5, 2016.
Prosecution History of U.S. Appl. No. 13/972,034, filed Aug. 21, 2013, as downloaded on Jan. 5, 2016.
Prosecution History of U.S. Appl. No. 14/305,425, filed Jun. 16, 2014, as downloaded on Jan. 5, 2016.
Prosecution History of U.S. Appl. No. 14/320,315, filed Jun. 30, 2014, as downloaded on Jan. 5, 2016.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2011/028541 (published as WO Publication No. 2011/116005), dated May 17, 2011.
Prosecution History of U.S. Appl. No. 14/837,253, filed Aug. 27, 2015.
Extended European search report for European Application No. 13809987.4, dated Feb. 22, 2016.
Shang, et al. Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic surface via SiO2/fluro-containing polymer composite particles, CAPlus Accession No. 2013:1045604, 2 pages (Jul. 5, 2013).
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20140205804 A1 Jul 2014 US
Provisional Applications (3)
Number Date Country
61663985 Jun 2012 US
61708760 Oct 2012 US
61768290 Feb 2013 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent PCT/US2013/031751 Mar 2013 US
Child 14229047 US