Thermally stable biuret and isocyanurate based surface modifying macromolecules and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to surface modifying macromolecules (SMMs) having high degradation temperatures and their use in the manufacture of articles made from base polymers which require high temperature processing. The surface modifier is admixed with the base polymer to impart alcohol and water repellency properties.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface modifier of formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein
 (i) A is a soft segment formed from diol hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxanes block copolymer (C22); 
 (ii) B is a hard segment comprising a urethane trimer formed from hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) biuret trimer; and 
 (iii) each G is a surface active group comprising polyfluoroalkyl; 
 wherein n is an integer between 0 to 10. 
 
     
     
         2 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The surface modifier of  claim 1 , wherein said surface active group is selected from the group consisting of radicals of the general formula CH m F (3-m) (CF 2 ) r CH 2 CH 2 — and CH m F (3-m) (CF 2 ) s (CH 2 CH 2 O) χ —, wherein
 m is 0, 1, 2, or 3; 
 χ is an integer between 1-10; 
 r is an integer between 2-20; and 
 s is an integer between 1-20. 
 
     
     
         11 . The surface modifier of  claim 10 , wherein m is 0. 
     
     
         12 . The surface modifier of  claim 10 , wherein m is 1. 
     
     
         13 . The surface modifier of  claim 10 , wherein each surface active group is selected, independently, from (CF 3 )(CF 2 ) 5 CH 2 CH 2 O—, (CF 3 )(CF 2 ) 7 CH 2 CH 2 O—, (CF 3 )(CF 2 ) 5 CH 2 CH 2 O—, CHF 2 (CF 2 ) 3 CH 2 O—, and (CF 3 )(CF 2 ) 2 CH 2 O—. 
     
     
         14 . The surface modifier of  claim 1 , wherein n is 0. 
     
     
         15 . The surface modifier of  claim 1 , wherein n is 1. 
     
     
         16 . The surface modifier of  claim 1 , wherein said surface modifier has a theoretical molecular weight of less than 10,000 Daltons. 
     
     
         17 . The surface modifier of  claim 1 , wherein said surface modifier comprises from 5 to 30% (w/w) of said hard segment, from 40 to 90% (w/w) of said soft segment, and from 25 to 55% (w/w) of said surface active group. 
     
     
         18 . The surface modifier of  claim 1 , wherein said surface modifier is formed by a process that comprises the steps of
 a) combining a solution comprising a hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) biuret trimer with a solution comprising the surface active group; and   b) combining the product of (a) with a solution comprising diol hydroxyl-terminated polydimethysiloxane block copolymer C22.   
     
     
         19 . The surface modifier of  claim 18 , wherein step (a) or step (b) is performed in the presence of a bismuth catalyst. 
     
     
         20 . The surface modifier of  claim 18 , wherein both step (a) and step (b) are performed in the presence of a bismuth catalyst. 
     
     
         21 . An admixture comprising a surface modifier of  claim 1  admixed with a base polymer. 
     
     
         22 . The admixture of  claim 21 , wherein said base polymer is selected from polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyesters, polyurethanes, nylons, polysilicones, polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylates), polyvinylacetates, polycarbonates, poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene), styrene, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polysulfones, and polyethersulfones, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The admixture of  claim 21 , formed by (i) combining said base polymer and said surface modifier to form a mixture, and (ii) heating said mixture above 200° C. 
     
     
         24 . The admixture of  claim 21 , wherein said admixture comprises from 0.05% to 10% (w/w) of said surface modifier. 
     
     
         25 . An article formed from an admixture of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 25 , wherein said article is selected from surgical caps, surgical sheets, surgical covering clothes, surgical gowns, masks, gloves, and surgical drapes. 
     
     
         27 . The article of  claim 25 , wherein said article is a filter. 
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 27 , wherein said filter is part of a respirator, water filter, air filter, or face mask. 
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 25 , wherein said article is a cable, film, panel, pipe, fiber, or sheet. 
     
     
         30 . The article of  claim 25 , wherein said article is an implantable medical device. 
     
     
         31 . The article of  claim 30 , wherein said article is a cardiac-assist device, a catheter, a stent, a prosthetic implant, an artificial sphincter, or a drug delivery device. 
     
     
         32 . A method for making an article, said method comprising the steps of:
 (i) combining a base polymer with a surface modifier of  claim 1  to form a mixture; and   (ii) heating said mixture to at least 200° C.   
     
     
         33 .- 60 . (canceled)