The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 13, 2010
Filed:
Jan. 06, 2005
Dennis R Strauss, Ventura, CA (US);
Dennis R Strauss, Ventura, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A method for providing a superhydrophobic surface on a structure, for example aircraft wings, propellers and/or rotors, is set forth. The method includes applying a coating of hydrofluoric acid over a titanium substrate. A voltage is then applied across the titanium substrate so that current flows through the titanium substrate. The current flowing through the titanium substrate causes the hydrofluoric acid to react with the titanium substrate to anodize the titanium substrate. The anodization causes a nanoporous titanium oxide layer to grow across the titanium substrate. The titanium oxide layer includes a plurality of nano-tube structures that, once the remaining hydrofluoric acid is washed away, provide a microscopically rough surface on the titanium substrate. A conformal coating of a hydrophobic compound is then desposited on the microscopically rough surface to create a superhydrophobic surface. Thus, a substantially self-cleaning superhydrophobic surface is created on the titanium substrate, whereby, when exposed to ultraviolet light, the titanium oxide layer has a photocatalytic reaction with oxygen to oxidize any organic contaminants that may gather on the superhydrophobic surface.