Chemical functionalization of material surfaces using optical energy and chemicals
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of Michigan State University
InventorsLawrence T. Drzal, Praveen Tummala
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Abstract
A method using irradiation with optical light in the presence of a chemical dissolved in a solvent which chemical reacts with the surface in the presence of the irradiation to modify the surface (12A, 104A, 202A, 304A, 402A, 502A) of a substrate (12, 104, 202, 304, 402, 502) is described. The light can be pulsed or continuous. The method is significantly enhanced by the presence of water (14, 124, 204, 306, 410, 508) as the solvent containing the dissolved chemical on the surface. The treated surfaces are more paintable and bondable.
Claims34
A method for modifying a surface, the improvement which comprises:
- (a) providing a solvent on the surface to be modified comprising at least one chemical dissolved in the solvent which reacts with the surface in the presence of optical energy;
- and
- (b) irradiating the surface with the optical energy at an intensity sufficient to modify the surface by reacting the chemical with the surface.
A method for modifying a surface, the improvement which comprises:
- (a) irradiating the surface with an optical energy at an intensity sufficient to render the surface reactive with at least one chemical;
- and
- (b) providing on the irradiated surface a solvent comprising the chemical dissolved in the solvent which reacts with the irradiated surface to modify the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.