Organic-incorganic hybrid polymer and method of making same
AssigneeNanoFilm Corporation
InventorsDan L. Jin, Brij P. Singh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optically clear protective thin film having covalent chemical bonds on a molecular level between organic polymer and in situ generated silica molecules is formed from a hydrolyzed coating solution of tetraalkyl orthosilicate, epoxyalkylalkoxy silanes, (math)acryloxyalkylalkoxy silanes and solvent.
Claims43
A thermally curable coating solution for applying optically clear protective thin films to substrate surfaces, said solution including oligomers from hydrolysis of tetraalkyl orthosilicate, epoxyalkylalkoxy silanes, (math)acryloxyalkylalkoxy silanes, and solvent, and having a pH of 4-6.
A curable coating solution for applying optically clear protective thin films to substrate surfaces, said coating solution having a polymerizable component that is 20-50 weight percent of the total solution and consists essentially of tetraalkyl orthosilicate, epoxyalkylalkoxy silanes and (math)acryloxyalkylalkoxy silanes.
An optically clear protective film having organic polymer and generated silica molecules chemically bonded together by covalent bonds, said film having pores smaller than five angstroms.
A plastic substrate having a thin film bonded thereto, said thin film having organic polymer and generated silica molecules chemically bonded together by covalent bonds, and said film having a thickness not greater than 7 μm.
A method of providing a protective thin film on ophthalmic lenses comprising the steps of:
- preparing a coating solution by mixing together tetraalkyl orthosilicate, epoxyalkylalkoxy silanes, (math)acryloxyalkylalkoxy silanes, solvent, HCl and acetic acid;
- stirring the solution to partially hydrolyze the silane groups;
- heating the solution while continuing to stir to completely hydrolyze the silane groups;
- cooling the solution followed by dissolving a wetting agent and a catalyst in the solution;
- applying a coating of the solution to a substrate surface;
- and
- heating the substrate to cure the coating and bond same to the substrate surface as a protective thin film in which polymer and silica molecules are chemically bonded together by covalent bonds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.