Curable mixtures for forming a lubricious surface of fluorinated lubricants and articles made therefrom

Abstract

Curable compositions are provided for forming highly lubricious and long-lasting surfaces with optical clarity useful, for example, in optical applications in harsh environmental conditions. In some aspects, the curable formulations include an end-group modified perfluoropolyether (PFPE), a fluorinated lubricant, and a compatibilizer. The mixtures are curable to form a solid having an exposed surface. In some aspects, the fluorinated lubricant is chemically and physically matched to the resin such that, when cured, at least a portion of the fluorinated lubricant spontaneously forms a lubricious surface on the exposed surface. In some aspects, the compatibilizer is present in an amount sufficient to make the curable mixture miscible and to make the solid optically transparent while still spontaneously forming the lubricious surface. The lubricious surface can also be self-replenishing such that, when the lubricant is removed from the exposed surface, additional lubricant migrates to the surface to replenish the lubricious overlayer.