US 10,240,065 B2Granted

Reversible, chemically or environmentally responsive polymers, and coatings containing such polymers

AssigneeHRL Laboratories, LLC

InventorsAndrew P. Nowak, Adam F. Gross, April R. Rodriguez, Shanying Cui

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Abstract

We have demonstrated reversibly reducing metal-ion crosslinkages in polymer systems, by harnessing light, creating a dynamic and reversible bond. The reduction induces chemical and physical changes in the polymer materials. Some variations provide a polymer composition comprising: a polymer matrix containing one or more ionic species; one or more photosensitizers; and one or more metal ions capable of reversibly changing from a first oxidation state to a second oxidation state when in the presence of the photosensitizers and light. Some embodiments employ urethane-based ionomers capable of changing their crosslinked state under the influence of a change in counterion valance, using light or chemical reducing agents. This invention provides films, coatings, or objects that are reversible, re-mendable, self-healing, mechanically adjustable, and/or thermoplastic/thermoset-switchable.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A polymer composition comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix containing one or more ionic species, wherein said polymer matrix contains a substantially continuous matrix containing a first component;
and, dispersed within said matrix, a plurality of inclusions containing a second component that is chemically different than said first component, wherein one of said first component or said second component is a first polymer having a surface energy between about 5 mJ/m2 to about 50 mJ/m2, and the other of said first component or said second component is a second polymer containing said one or more ionic species, wherein said first polymer and said second polymer are chemically connected ionically or covalently, and wherein said first polymer is a fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of polyfluoroethers, perfluoropolyethers, polyfluoroacrylates, polyfluorosiloxanes, and combinations thereof;
(b) one or more photosensitizers selected from the group consisting of organic photosensitizers, inorganic photosensitizers, and combinations thereof;
and
(c) one or more metal ions having a first oxidation state and a second oxidation state, wherein said first oxidation state reversibly changes to said second oxidation state when in the presence of said photosensitizers and light,
wherein said metal ions, in said first oxidation state, have a first coordination number with said ionic species,
wherein said metal ions, in said second oxidation state, have a second coordination number with said ionic species, and
wherein said first coordination number is greater than said second coordination number.

5 more elements

A polymer composition comprising:

(a) a polymer matrix containing one or more ionic species;
(b) one or more photosensitizers;
and
(c) one or more metal ions capable of reversibly changing from a first oxidation state to a second oxidation state when in the presence of said photosensitizers and light,
wherein said metal ions, in said first oxidation state, have a first coordination number with said ionic species,
wherein said metal ions, in said second oxidation state, have a second coordination number with said ionic species,
wherein said first coordination number is greater than said second coordination number,
and wherein said polymer matrix contains a segmented copolymer comprising:
one or more soft segments selected from fluoropolymers having an average molecular weight from about 500 g/mol to about 20,000 g/mol, wherein said fluoropolymers are (α,ω)-hydroxyl-terminated and/or (α,ω)-amine-terminated, and either:
(i) wherein said soft segments contain said one or more ionic species;
or (ii) one or more copolymer chains that are distinct from said soft segments, wherein said copolymer chains contain said one or more ionic species;
one or more isocyanate species, or a reacted form thereof, possessing an isocyanate functionality of 2 or greater;
and
one or more polyol or polyamine chain extenders or crosslinkers, or a reacted form thereof.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/391,749Filed 27 Dec 2016 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Dec 2015
Published: US 2017/0174910 A122 Jun 2017
Granted: 26 Mar 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

C09D 7/41
Additives: organic pigments; Organic dyes
C08G 18/0823
Containing anionic or anionogenic groups: containing carboxylate salt groups or groups forming them
C08G 18/10
Processes: prepolymer processes involving reaction of isocyanates or isothiocyanates with compounds having active hydrogen in a first reaction step
C08G 18/242
Of tin: organometallic compounds containing tin-carbon bonds

Family

Application62/269,366Us provisional application · filed 18 Dec 2015
Application62/269,984Us provisional application · filed 19 Dec 2015
Application62/271,942Us provisional application · filed 28 Dec 2015
Application15/073,610Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Mar 2016
US 2017/0174910 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Jun 2017
US 10,259,971 B2Related patent
US 2017/0174911 A1Published application
US 10,240,065 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.