Low Surface Energy Touch Screens, Coatings, and Methods

Abstract

Substrates, surfaces, assemblies, kits, compositions, and methods are provided for forming touch screens and other appliance surfaces exhibiting good hydrophobicity, oleophobicity, and abrasion resistance. Methods are provided for increasing a population density of hydroxyl groups on a touch surface of a touch screen substrate without affecting the compressive strength of the back surface. The treated touch surface of the substrate can then be coated with a coating that includes an organo-metalic and/or silane, for example, a fluorosilane such as a perfluoropolyether alkoxysilane. A substrate can retain its compressive resistance to breakage by impact applied to the touch surface while minimizing any decrease in compressive strength against impact against the touch surface. Examples of such substrates include touch screens for mobile and desktop electronic devices, components of 3D display devices, and components for electrowetting display devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A micro-sized or nano-sized object coated with a perfluoropolyether silane composition consisting of a perfluoropolyether silane and optionally a non-volatile fluorinated oil, the perfluoropolyether silane having the formula: R f —CH 2 —O w —R—Si(Y) 3  wherein R f  represents a K type perfluoropolyether or a Y type perfluoropolyether, Y represents a hydrolysable group independently selected from a chloro group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, and an aryloxy group, R represents an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and w is 0 or 1. 
     
     
         2 . The micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a powder or a fiber. 
     
     
         3 . A coating comprising the micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 1 , wherein the object is in the coating, at a surface of the coating, or both. 
     
     
         4 . The micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 1 , wherein the perfluoropolyether silane composition consists of the perfluoropolyether silane and the non-volatile fluorinated oil. 
     
     
         5 . An article comprising a rough surface that is coated, at least in part, by a coating composition comprising the micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 1 , wherein the rough surface has a repeating or random topography, a relief, an impression, a texture, a pattern, a design, a feature, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . An article comprising a rough surface that is coated, at least in part, by a coating composition comprising the micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 1 , wherein the rough surface has a pattern. 
     
     
         7 . A surface comprising the coating of  claim 3 , wherein the surface exhibits a contact angle to water of 170° or greater. 
     
     
         8 . A micro-sized or nano-sized object coated with a perfluoropolyether silane composition consisting of a perfluoropolyether silane and optionally a non-volatile fluorinated oil, the perfluoropolyether silane having the formula: R f —CH 2 —R—Si(Y) 3  wherein R f  represents a K type perfluoropolyether or a Y type perfluoropolyether, Y represents a hydrolysable group independently selected from a chloro group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, and an aryloxy group, and R represents an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         9 . The micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 8 , wherein the object is a powder or a fiber. 
     
     
         10 . A coating comprising the micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 8 , wherein the object is in the coating, on a surface of the coating, or both. 
     
     
         11 . The micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 8 , wherein the perfluoropolyether silane composition consists of the perfluoropolyether silane and the non-volatile fluorinated oil. 
     
     
         12 . An article comprising a rough surface that is coated, at least in part, by a coating composition comprising the micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 8 , wherein the rough surface has a repeating or random topography, a relief, an impression, a texture, a pattern, a design, a feature, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . An article comprising a rough surface that is coated, at least in part, by a coating composition comprising the micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 8 , wherein the rough surface has a pattern. 
     
     
         14 . A surface comprising the coating of  claim 10 , wherein the surface exhibits a contact angle to water of 170° or greater. 
     
     
         15 . A micro-sized or nano-sized object coated with a perfluoropolyether silane composition consisting of a perfluoropolyether silane and a non-volatile fluorinated oil, the perfluoropolyether silane having the formula: R f —CH 2 —O—R—Si(Y) 3  wherein R f  represents a K type perfluoropolyether or a Y type perfluoropolyether, Y represents a hydrolysable group independently selected from a chloro group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, and an aryloxy group, and R represents an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         16 . The micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 15 , wherein the object is a powder or a fiber. 
     
     
         17 . A coating comprising the micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 15 , wherein the object is in the coating, at a surface of the coating, or both. 
     
     
         18 . An article comprising a rough surface that is coated, at least in part, by a coating composition comprising the micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 15 , wherein the rough surface has a repeating or random topography, a relief, an impression, a texture, a pattern, a design, a feature, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . An article comprising a rough surface that is coated, at least in part, by a coating composition comprising the micro-sized or nano-sized object of  claim 15 , wherein the rough surface has a pattern. 
     
     
         20 . A surface comprising the coating of  claim 17 , wherein the surface exhibits a contact angle to water of 170° or greater.