Tribofilm Research, Inc.

Other

North Carolina State University

Sakhrani, Vinay G.

Tomasino, Charles

Vinay G Sakhrani

Charles Tomasino

Paul M Vernon, Jr

Joel L Williams

Jackson Thornton

Robert A Mineo

Charles K Chiklis

Jerome J Cuomo

Robert Mineo

The present application is directed to methods and devices for altering material properties of lubricants and other cross-linkable compounds comprising organic or organometallic materials through exposure to energized gaseous species. The energized gaseous species may create reactive sites among lubricant molecules that may alter their material properties by cross-linking at least a portion of the lubricant molecules. The cross-linked lubricant may reduce the ability of the lubricant to migrate away when force is applied between lubricated sliding friction surfaces.

Activated gaseous species for improved lubrication

Articles having reduced sliding frictional force comprising a lubricant applied to one or more surfaces of the article, and the lubricant-coated surface treated by exposing the surface to an energy source, wherein the energy source is an ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure. The ionizing gas plasma may be a flame plasma. One or more of the surfaces may be exposed to the ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure prior to application of the lubricant.

Article with lubricated surface and method

One embodiment comprises a method for increasing the hydrophobic characteristics of a surface. A coupling agent is applied to the surface, and the surface is subsequently exposed to a first ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure for a predetermined period of time. The ionizing gas plasma may be formed from a mixture of a carrier gas and a reactive gas. The reactive gas may be comprised of one or more hydrocarbon compound such as an alkane, an alkene, and an alkyne. Alternatively, the reactive gas may be a fluorocarbon or organometallic compound. A lubricant may then be applied to the surface, followed by exposure to second ionizing gas plasma.

Method for treating a hydrophilic surface

A method for preparing one or more lubricated surfaces of an article to reduce the break-out force and sliding frictional force. A lubricant is applied to one or more surfaces, and the lubricant-coated surface is treated by exposing the surface to an energy source, wherein the energy source is an ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure, gamma radiation, or electron beam radiation. One or more of the surfaces may be exposed to the ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure prior to application of the lubricant. Another aspect of the invention is articles produced using one or more methods of the invention.

A gradient coating is comprised of a basecoat derived from a polysiloxane prepolymer obtained from a mixture of one to three alkoxysilane monomers and at least one diepoxide monomer, and a lubricious reactant. The basecoat is applied to a substrate and dried. The lubricious reactant is then applied and allowed to permeate into the basecoat. The basecoat and lubricious reactant are then co-cured, resulting in a gradient coating composition. In addition to providing enhanced scratch and mar resistance, the gradient coating composition is solvent resistant and provides a durable hydrophobic and oleophobic surface, which makes it useful as a corrosion protectant and as a release agent.

Scratch resistant gradient coating and coated articles

A substantially optically transparent article such as a lens having a wear-resistant surface comprises a substantially optically transparent polymeric substrate (e.g., a polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate substrate), and having a surface portion. A hard antiabrasive interconnecting layer is formed on the surface portion (typically by vacuum deposition and preferably by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition), and a lubricious hydrophobic coating layer is bonded to the interconnecting layer. The lubricious hydrophobic coating layer, together with the hard antiabrasive interconnecting layer, form a wear-resistant surface on the substrate. The lubricious coating layer is formed from a hydrophobic organic lubricant such as a perfluoropolyether, a fatty acid, or a fatty acid esters. Methods of making such articles are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Vinay G Sakhrani