Methods for surface modification of materials

Abstract

The invention concerns methods and compositions for modifying a surface of a material by anchoring a surface modifying additive to a polymer matrix using an anchor molecule, wherein the surface modifying additive and the anchor molecule are both added to a melt phase of the polymer matrix.

1 . A method for modifying a surface of a material comprising anchoring a surface modifying additive to a polymer matrix using an anchor molecule, wherein the surface modifying additive and the anchor molecule are both added to a melt phase of the polymer matrix. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive has both hydrophobic blocks and hydrophilic blocks. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a ratio of the hydrophobic blocks and the hydrophilic blocks enables surface segregation of the surface modifying additive. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive comprises polytetrafluoroethylene and ethylene oxide blocks 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the ethylene oxide blocks comprise polyethyelene glycol or polyethylene oxide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive comprises a fluorinated polyetherdiol having ethylene oxide segments in a backbone and hydrophobic sidechains. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the anchor molecule comprises maleated polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises polyolefins. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive comprises a fluorinated polyether molecule. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the material is rendered hydrophilic. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the material is rendered hydrophobic. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricity of the surface of the material is modified. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive is uniformly distributed over a surface of the material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 modifying metallic nanoparticles with the surface modifying additive; and   segregating the metallic nanoparticles to a surface of the material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 modifying metallic nanoparticles with the surface modifying additive;   reacting the metallic nanoparticles with the anchor molecule; and   binding the metallic nanoparticles to the polymer matrix.  16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive and the anchor molecule are added separately to the polymer matrix.   
     
     
         17 . An article formed using a method comprising the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A surface modifying additive comprising
 a polymer;   at least one hydrophilic block on the polymer; and   at least one hydrophobic block on the polymer;   wherein the polymer is configured to render an article hydrophilic.   
     
     
         19 . The surface modifying additive of  claim 18 , wherein a ratio of the at least one hydrophilic block to the at least one hydrophobic block is configured to enable surface segregation of the at least one hydrophilic block. 
     
     
         20 . The surface modifying additive of  claim 18 , wherein a ratio of the at least one hydrophilic block to the at least one hydrophobic block is configured to render the article hydrophilic. 
     
     
         21 . The surface modifying additive of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic block is fluorinated. 
     
     
         22 . The surface modifying additive of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic block is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, a carboxy functionalized fluorinated compound, and an anhydride functionalized fluorinated compound. 
     
     
         23 . The surface modifying additive of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one hydrophobic block comprises trifluoroacetic anhydride or dodecafluoroheptanoyl chloride. 
     
     
         24 . The surface modifying additive of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one hydrophilic block comprises ethylene oxide. 
     
     
         25 . The surface modifying additive of  claim 18 , wherein the surface modifying additive has a fluorine content in a range of 15% to 46%. 
     
     
         26 . The surface modifying additive of  claim 18 , wherein the surface modifying additive has a fluorine content in a range of 5% to 75%.