Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

University of Illinois

The University of Akron

Constantine Michael Megaridis

Jian Qin

Ilker S Bayer

Thomas Schutzius

Donald Eugene Waldroup

Ranjan Ganguly

George G Chase

Deborah Joy Calewarts

Lisha Yu

Ali Ibrahim

Richard N Dodge

Alexander L Yarin

Aritra Ghosh

Jared Morrissette

Patrick Carroll

Manish K Tiwari

Joseph Edward Mates

Pallab Sinha Mahapatra

Souvick Chatterjee

Thomas M Schutzius

A material for manipulating liquid includes a porous substrate having first and second surfaces; and a wedge-shaped transport element disposed on one of the first and second surfaces, wherein the wedge-shaped transport element has a narrow end and a wide end, the wide end connected to a first reservoir, wherein the wedge-shaped transport element is configured to pass liquid from the narrow end to the wide end to the first reservoir, regardless of gravity, and wherein the first reservoir is configured to pass liquid away from the substrate in a z-direction opposite from the surface on which a liquid is deposited. The surface on which the wedge-shaped transport element is disposed is one of hydrophobic or superhydrophobic, and the wedge-shaped transport element is one of a) superhydrophilic when the first surface is hydrophobic, b) superhydrophilic when the first surface is superhydrophobic, and c) hydrophilic when the first surface is superhydrophobic.

Wettability-patterning method and designs for pumpless transport and precise manipulation of liquid volumes on and through porous materials

A composition configured to create a superhydrophobic surface includes a fluorinated hydrophobic component dispersible in an aqueous dispersion; cellulosic elements of a size ranging from 100 nm to 100 &#x3bc;m; and water. The hydrophobic component is selected from the group consisting of fluorinated polymers, perfluorinated polymers, and mixtures thereof; and the cellulosic elements are micro- and nano-fibrillated cellulose. A disposable absorbent article includes a substrate having a surface, the surface including a composition including a fluorinated hydrophobic component dispersible in an aqueous dispersion; cellulosic elements of a size ranging from 100 nm to 100 &#x3bc;m; and water, wherein the surface exhibits a contact angle greater than 150 degrees.

Low-fluorine compositions with cellulose for generating superhydrophobic surfaces

A superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition includes a hydrophobic matrix component free of fluorine, a hydrophilic filler particles, wherein the filler particles are metal oxide nanoparticles, and water, wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion. Also, a superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition includes a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine, a titanium dioxide nanoparticle filler particle, and water. In addition, a superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition includes a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine, wherein the hydrophobic polymer includes a polyolefin, titanium dioxide nanoparticles as filler, wherein the titanium dioxide nanoparticles are rutile titanium dioxide, anatase titanium dioxide, or a mixture of rutile and anatase titanium dioxide, and water.

Non-fluorinated water-based superhydrophobic compositions

Provided herein are methods and materials for the manufacture and use of wettability tracks on various substrates for rapid fluid transport and drainage, even in a condensing environment. The degree of wettability of the materials' surfaces range from superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic. The method centers on the formation of a dispersion of titanium dioxide and a fluoroacrylic co-polymer in an alcohol and water solution. The dispersion may then be deposited onto a surface to form a coating, which is then dried to evaporate the alcohol. The dried coating is exposed to radiation to produce a wedge-shaped track. The coating is exposed to the radiation through a photomask to produce the track. The radiation may be high energy, such as UV radiation. The radiation may be selectively exposed to designated areas on the coating. The hydrophilic wedge-shaped track may have a wedge angle of from 0 degrees to 45 degrees.

Wettability patterned substrates for pumpless liquid transport and drainage

A superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition includes a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition alternatively includes a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine; an exfoliated graphite filler particle including acid functional groups; water; and a stabilizing compound, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic polymer is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic non-fluorinated composition alternatively includes a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle including an acid functional group; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion.

A superhydrophobic surface includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition, the composition including a hydrophobic component free of fluorine; a filler particle; and water, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic component is in an aqueous dispersion. The superhydrophobic surface alternatively includes a substrate treated with a non-fluorinated composition, the composition including a hydrophobic polymer free of fluorine; an exfoliated graphite filler particle including acid functional groups; water; and a stabilizing compound, wherein the composition is at a pH greater than 7, and wherein the hydrophobic polymer is in an aqueous dispersion.

Non-fluorinated water-based superhydrophobic surfaces

The present invention relates to a surface of a substrate, or the substrate itself, exhibiting superhydrophobic characteristics when treated with a formulation comprising a hydrophobic component, nano-structured particles and water. The superhydrophobicity can be applied either over the entire surface, patterned throughout or on the substrate material, and/or directly penetrated through the z-directional thickness of the substrate material.

Superhydrophobic surfaces

The present invention relates to a stable dispersion comprising at least, but not limited to, three key elements that, when combined accordingly, can achieve the desired superhydrophobic results; the at least three elements being a hydrophobic component, nano-structured particles and water.

Superhydrophobic compositions

Provided herein are methods and materials for the production of hydrophobic coatings, which may be thermally treated to produce binary hydrophobic-hydrophilic regions.

Method for preparing micro-patterned superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic coatings

The present invention generally relates to methods to provide electrospun polymer/nanoparticle composite-fiber structures for use as lightweight, compliant, porous strain sensors for non-cyclic strain sensing. In one embodiment, the fibers in the nanocomposites comprise, for example, poly(&#x2208;-caprolactone) (PCL) dielectric polymer matrix with embedded electrically conductive carbon black (CB) nanoparticles. In another embodiment, the composite-fiber structures of the present invention contain at least about 7 weight percent or more of CB and are electrically conducting in the as-spun, un-deformed state, and are thus called conductive polymer composites (CPC). In still another embodiment, the electrical resistance of a nanocomposite structure according to the invention increases with strain, and at sufficiently high strains the structure is rendered non-conductive.

Growing community of inventors

Oak Park, IL, United States of America

Constantine Michael Megaridis