TREA

Transparent, super-hydrophobic, disordered composite material

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Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20070184247
  • Publication Number
    20070184247
  • Date Filed
    February 03, 2006
    18 years ago
  • Date Published
    August 09, 2007
    17 years ago
Information
Abstract
A super-hydrophobic disordered composite material having a protrusive surface feature includes a recessive phase and a protrusive phase, the recessive phase having a higher susceptibility to a preselected etchant than the protrusive phase, the composite material having an etched surface wherein the protrusive phase protrudes from the surface to form a protrusive surface feature, the protrusive feature being super-hydrophobic, the super-hydrophobic disordered composite material being transparent.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a photograph showing an overhead view of an embodiment of the invention.



FIG. 1 is a photograph showing an angular view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.


Claims
  • 1. A super-hydrophobic disordered composite material having a protrusive surface feature, said disordered composite material comprising a recessive phase and a protrusive phase, said recessive phase having a higher susceptibility to a preselected etchant than said protrusive phase, said composite material having a differentially etched surface wherein said protrusive phase protrudes from said surface to form a protrusive surface feature, said protrusive feature being hydrophobic, said super-hydrophobic disordered composite material being transparent.
  • 2. A composite material in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recessive phase and said protrusive phase are contiguous and interpenetrating.
  • 3. A composite material in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recessive phase comprises a first material selected from the group consisting of glass, metal, ceramic, polymer, and resin; and wherein said protrusive phase comprises a second material selected from the group consisting of glass, metal, ceramic, polymer, and resin.
  • 4. A composite material in accordance with claim 3 wherein said recessive phase comprises a first glass and said protrusive phase comprises a second glass.
  • 5. A composite material in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a hydrophobic coating on said protrusive surface feature.
  • 6. A composite material in accordance with claim 6 wherein said hydrophobic coating further comprises at least one fluorocarbon.