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. 08, 2014
Filed:
Jul. 06, 2012
Kevin C. Krogman, Cambridge, MA (US);
Paula T. Hammond, Newton, MA (US);
Nicole S. Zacharia, Cambridge, MA (US);
Kevin C. Krogman, Cambridge, MA (US);
Paula T. Hammond, Newton, MA (US);
Nicole S. Zacharia, Cambridge, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
The present invention comprises an automated apparatus capable of spray depositing polyelectrolytes via the LbL mechanism with minimal or no human interaction. In certain embodiments, the apparatus sprays atomized polyelectrolytes onto a vertically oriented substrate. To counteract the effects of irregular spray patterns, the substrate is preferably slowly rotated about a central axis. In certain embodiments, the apparatus also includes a forced pathway for the droplets, such as a pathway created by using a vacuum. In this way, a thicker or three-dimensional substrate can be coated. In certain embodiments, the apparatus is designed so as to be scalable. Thus, through the use of multiple instantiations of the apparatus, a large or irregularly shaped substrate can be coated. Rolls of textile can therefore be coated using the apparatus. Additionally, the present invention includes a method to uniformly coat a substrate, such as a hydrophobic textile material, using aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes.