Microcapsules having dual reagents separated by the capsule wall and methods for making same
AssigneeMicrotek Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsCarl M. Lentz, Kayla L. M. Ryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ruptureable, dual reagent mono-capsules are disclosed that have a pre-formed capsule having a core composition, which includes a first reagent, encapsulated within a polymer wall, and a shell connected to an exterior surface of the polymer wall by a surfactant. The shell is made from a second reagent that is chemically bonded to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction. Upon rupture of the polymer wall of the mono-capsule, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product.
Claims21
A ruptureable capsule comprising:
- a pre-formed capsule having a core composition encapsulated within a polymer wall, the core composition comprising a first reagent;
- a surfactant bound to the exterior surface of the polymer wall;
- and
- a second reagent connected to the surfactant, the second reagent being a solid formed from a metal cation and an anion or anion equivalent, wherein the metal cation is chemically attracted to the surfactant;
- wherein, upon rupture of the polymer wall, the first reagent and the second reagent chemically react with one another to form a reaction product;
- wherein the anion equivalent is selected from the group consisting of graphene oxide, amines, and carboxylates.
A rupturable capsule comprising:
- a capsule having a core composition encapsulated within a polymer wall, wherein the core composition comprising an epoxide;
- a surfactant bound to the exterior surface of the polymer wall;
- and
- an amine connected to the surfactant by a chemical electrostatic interaction;
- wherein, upon rupture of the polymer wall, the epoxide and the amine chemically react with one another to form a polymerized reaction product.
A method for surface treating capsules, the method comprising:
- providing pre-formed capsules having a core composition encapsulated within a polymer wall;
- mixing an aqueous surfactant and the pre-formed capsules together, wherein the surfactant attaches to an exterior surface of the polymer wall to form a surfactant-capsule intermediate;
- adding an aqueous solution of metal cations to the surfactant-capsule intermediate;
- mixing until the metal cations are attracted to the surfactant to form a cation-surfactant-capsule intermediate;
- adding an aqueous solution of an anion or an anion equivalent to the cation-surfactant-capsule intermediate, wherein the anion or anion equivalent forms a precipitated solid with the metal cation, thereby forming an outer shell on the polymer wall of the capsules;
- wherein the anion equivalent is selected from the group consisting of graphene oxide, amines, and carboxylates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.