Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich

The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd

Unversität Zürich

Eidgenossisch Technische Hochschule Zurich

Nicholas David Spencer

Seunghwan Lee

Jeffrey Alan Hubbell

Paul Smith

Peter J Uggowitzer

Claire Rannoux

Marcus Textor

Christophe Letondor

Rolf Hofer

Donald L Elbert

Laurence Ruiz-Taylor

Kirill Feldman

Robert M Bielecki

Edmondo M Benetti

Sara Maria Morgenthaler

Stephanie Finken

Peter Uggowitzer

An epilamization agent containing at least one compound including at least hydrophobic and oleophobic moieties arranged to impart epilame properties to the compound, and at least one hydrophilic moiety arranged to make the compound soluble in aqueous medium, the hydrophilic moiety being linked to the compound by at least one cleavable group. A method for coating a substrate with epilame, including: preparing an aqueous epilamization bath by solubilising such an epilamization agent, placing the substrate in contact with the epilamization agent in the epilamization bath, separating the hydrophilic moiety from the epilamization agent by cleavage, rinsing the substrate to eliminate the hydrophilic residues from the hydrophilic moiety and drying.

Epilamization agent comprising a cleavable linking group and epilamization method using such an epilamization agent

A polymer-brush-based, surface-modification strategy for friction and wear reduction in hard contact under boundary-lubrication conditions is proposed, specifically for a non-aqueous environment. Surface-initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (SI-ATRP) was employed for the synthesis of three different oil-compatible, hydrophobic polymer brushes based on alkyl methacrylates. This study presents polymerization kinetics, chemical characterization by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and surface morphologies observed in atomic force microscopy (AFM). The lubrication properties of the anchored polymers were evaluated macroscopically by means of ball-on-disk methods and on the nanonewton scale by lateral force microscopy (AFM/LFM) and showed significant reduction in friction up to contact pressures as high as 460 MPa. The frictional response of surface-grafted polymers is shown to depend strongly on the compatibility of the polymer with the chosen lubricating fluid. Their good tribological performances have also been proven with watchmaking lubricants. These results do make the prevent invention a suitable candidate for a watchmaking application (such as at the balance pivot or the escapement) in order to increase the efficiency and reliability of the movements.

Lubrication with oil-compatible polymer brushes

Unique labels for security or identification purposes, methods of making the labels and uses for the labels are described herein. The label is formed from one or more crystalline materials, optionally in combination with a non-crystalline material, or from a combination of polymers, and has a unique, detectable pattern. In one embodiment, the label is formed from a crystalline material, preferably a metallic material, which naturally contains a unique grain structure, with unique reflective properties. In a preferred embodiment, the label is formed of a metallic material that has been recrystallized to enlarge the size of the grains so that they are visible to the unaided human eye.

Unique label for indentification or security system

A simple and reproducible preparative method for the fabrication of surface-chemical gradients is described herein. Surface-chemical gradient films are prepared by using a liquid front in relative motion to the substrate (e.g. immersion by a linear-motion drive or the use of a spreading droplet) to gradually expose substrate samples to very dilute solutions of adsorbates. As demonstrated by XPS, the self-assembled monolayer gradients produced in this way display a high packing density. This method can be used in the preparation of other gradients of various chemical or biochemical functionalities in one or two dimensions. Such gradients can be used in a wide variety of applications in such diverse areas as cell motility studies, nanotribology research, and high-throughput screening.

Controlled surface chemical gradients

Lubricating compositions, containing non-modified and modified multifunctional, polyionic copolymers and an aqueous lubricating medium, and methods for making and using such compositions are described herein. The lubricating compositions are applied to metal oxide surfaces, which are in contact with each other. The copolymers can serve as a surface protective boundary layer for the sliding surfaces, or they can also be used for the immobilization of further molecules, which can modify the tribological properties of the surfaces.

Environmentally compatible additives for aqueous lubricants

Multifunctional, polyionic copolymers with molecular architectures and properties optimized for specific applications are synthesized on/or applied to substrate surfaces for analytical and sensing purposes. The coatings are particularly useful for suppression of non-specific interaction, adsorption or attachment of molecular or ionic components present in an analyte solution. Chemical, biochemical or biological groups that are able to recognize, interact with and bind specifically to target molecules in the material containing the analyte to be detected can be coupled to, integrated into, or absorbed to the multifunctional copolymers. These multifunctional copolymer coatings are compatible with a variety of different established methods to detect, sense and quantify the target molecule in an analyte. The multifunctional copolymer coatings typically include brush copolymers based on a polycationic or polyanionic (jointly referred to herein as 'polyionic') backbone with side chains that control interaction with the environment, such as poly(ethylene glycol) or poly(ethylene oxide)-based side chains that decrease cellular adhesion, and analyte-specific side chains. They can be used to pattern the surfaces into non-adhesive and specifically adhesive areas by applications of known techniques such as microfluidic or contact printing techniques.

Multifunctional polymeric surface coatings in analytic and sensor devices

Growing community of inventors

Zollikon, Switzerland

Nicholas David Spencer