Waterproof apertured surfaces or materials using nanoparticle hydrophobic treatments

Abstract

A method of manufacturing waterproof apertured materials or surfaces using nanoparticle hydrophobic compositions and treatments, and preferably superhydrophobic compositions and treatments, wherein apertures of a size that would normally render the surface or material water-permeable may be provided in the surface or material. The method comprises determining the extent of the hydrophobic field that extends beyond the physical edge of a particular treated intersecting member interwoven to form the material to determine the allowable size of an aperture, such that the extended hydrophobic field present on the intersecting members surrounding an aperture will be sufficient to prevent surface wetting and water permeability by fully overlapping the aperture or by presenting a reduced area effective aperture that precludes passage of water.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an apertured waterproof mesh material comprising the steps of:
 interweaving intersecting members to form a mesh material comprising apertures of a size such that said mesh material is not waterproof;   treating said intersecting members with a nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic composition to create a hydrophobic field extending beyond said intersecting members and into each of said apertures such that the effective size of each of said apertures is reduced to a size that precludes passage of water through said apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said intersecting members are treated prior to said interweaving step. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said intersecting members are treated after said interweaving step. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of interweaving intersecting members produces apertures of a size such that said hydrophobic fields of said intersecting members adjacent said apertures extend completely across said apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of interweaving intersecting members produces apertures of a size such that said hydrophobic fields of said intersecting members adjacent said apertures extend partially into said apertures a sufficient distance to define effective apertures that preclude passage of water through said apertures. 
     
     
         6 . An apertured waterproof mesh material produced by the process of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing an apertured waterproof mesh material comprised of intersecting members, the method comprising the steps of:
 treating said intersecting members with a nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic composition to create a hydrophobic field extending beyond said intersecting members;   determining the extent of said hydrophobic field;   interweaving intersecting members to form a mesh material having apertures wider than the width of each of said intersecting members, such that said hydrophobic field extends a sufficient distance into said apertures to preclude passage of water through said apertures.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said intersecting members are treated prior to said interweaving step. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said intersecting members are treated after said interweaving step. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said step of interweaving intersecting members produces apertures of a size such that said hydrophobic fields of said intersecting members adjacent said apertures extend completely across said apertures. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said step of interweaving intersecting members produces apertures of a size such that said hydrophobic fields of said intersecting members adjacent said apertures extend partially into said apertures a sufficient distance to define effective apertures that preclude passage of water through said apertures. 
     
     
         12 . An apertured waterproof mesh material produced by the process of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing an apertured waterproof mesh material comprised of intersecting members, the method comprising the steps of:
 treating said intersecting members with a nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic composition to create a hydrophobic field extending beyond said intersecting members;   determining the extent of said hydrophobic field;   interweaving intersecting members to form a mesh material having apertures of a size that would be water permeable but for said treating step, whereby said hydrophobic fields extending into each of said apertures precludes passage of water through said aperture.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said intersecting members are treated prior to said interweaving step. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said intersecting members are treated after said interweaving step. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of interweaving intersecting members produces apertures of a size such that said hydrophobic fields of said intersecting members adjacent said apertures extend completely across said apertures. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of interweaving intersecting members produces apertures of a size such that said hydrophobic fields of said intersecting members adjacent said apertures extend partially into said apertures a sufficient distance to define effective apertures that preclude passage of water through said apertures. 
     
     
         18 . An apertured waterproof mesh material produced by the process of  claim 13 .