Hydrogel Photonic Crystals That Can Be Dehydrated And Re-Hydrated
AssigneeColloidal Materials, LLC
InventorsVladimir L. Alexeev (Deceased), Irina Alexeeva
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photonic crystal material comprises an ordered array of nanoscopic particles locked into position by a dehydrated hydrogel matrix. The material can be powdered and used as a colorant. The photonic crystal material has the advantage that its array of nanoscopic particles self assembles for ease in producing a diffractive material that retains these properties when added to other polymers and binders. This material may be added to polymers with ionic content without destroying the array that produces diffraction. The material is easily stored compared to hydrated hydrogels that must be stored in water.
Claims14
A dehydrated hydrogel comprising an ordered array of charged spherical particles, the dehydrated hydrogel having diffractive properties.
The dehydrated hydrogel of claim 6, wherein said polymer is a co-polymer of HEMA and siloxane.
Colorant particles comprised of powdered dehydrated hydrogel, the dehydrated hydrogel comprised of an ordered array of charged spherical particles, the dehydrated hydrogel having diffractive properties.
A method of making an article having an ordered array of charged spherical particles, the method comprising:
- (a) providing one or more monomers capable of producing a hydrogel of high polymer content;
- (b) providing a colloidal mixture comprised of like charged particles suspended in a liquid medium;
- (c) mixing the monomer(s) with the colloidal mixture;
- (d) polymerizing the mixture of step (c);
- and
- (e) dehydrating the polymerized mixture of step (d).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.