Thermoset omniphobic compositions with improved barrier properties, related articles, and related methods

#None.

#The disclosure relates to a thermoset omniphobic composition (such as an omniphobic polyurethane or epoxy composition) which includes a thermoset polymer with first, second, and third backbone segments. The first, second, and third backbone segments can correspond to urethane or urea reaction products of polyisocyanate(s), amine-functional omniphobic polymer(s), and polyol(s), respectively, for omniphobic polyurethanes. Similarly, the first, second, and third backbone segments can correspond to urea or beta-hydroxy amine reaction products of polyamine(s), isocyanate-functional omniphobic polymer(s), and polyepoxide(s), respectively, for omniphobic epoxies.

#When water accumulates on a surface, the surface energy of the material is directly related to how the water will react. Some surfaces may allow the water to spread out into a pool with a large surface area, whereas others may make water bead up into droplets. The contact angle between the water droplet and the surface is used to characterize the surface into three categories: hydrophilic (<90°), hydrophobic (90°-150°), and superhydrophobic (>150°). FIG. 1 is a visual representation of a contact angle measurement.

#For a more complete understanding of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating measurement of a contact angle for a liquid droplet on a surface.

#FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating how contact angles for a given liquid droplet on a surface can vary as a function of surface topology (e.g., flat or smooth surface vs. textured surfaces).

#The disclosure relates to a thermoset omniphobic composition (such as an omniphobic polyurethane or epoxy composition) which includes a thermoset polymer with first, second, and third backbone segments. The first, second, and third backbone segments can correspond to urethane or urea reaction products of polyisocyanate(s), amine-functional omniphobic polymer(s), and polyol(s), respectively, for omniphobic polyurethanes. Similarly, the first, second, and third backbone segments can correspond to urea or beta-hydroxy amine reaction products of polyamine(s), isocyanate-functional omniphobic polymer(s), and polyepoxide(s), respectively, for omniphobic epoxies. The thermoset omniphobic composition has favorable omniphobic properties, for example as characterized by water and/or oil contact and/or sliding angles. The thermoset omniphobic composition further has favorable barrier properties, for example with respect to water vapor and oxygen transmission as well as water absorption. The thermoset omniphobic composition can be used as a coating on any of a variety of substrates to provide omniphobic properties to a surface of the substrate. Such omniphobic coatings can be scratch resistant, ink/paint resistant, and optically clear. The thermoset omniphobic composition can be applied by different coating methods including cast, spin, roll, spray and dip coating methods.

#The disclosed composition includes a polymer which can be used as a coating with the ability to bind to metal, glass, wood, fabrics, and ceramics with relative ease, in particular due to the strong adhesive properties of its thermoset constituents (e.g., such as for polyurethane or epoxy thermoset constituents). The polymer coating has an omniphobic quality, repelling water, oils, inks, and spray paints, thus allowing for a coating that not only has typical hydrophobic and oleophobic properties, but also protects a surface from pen inks and various paints. The final polymer product is optically clear (even for relatively thick coatings), making it an ideal choice for coating computer and phone screens as well as windows. The polymer can be manufactured without fluorine as a component and/or as a one-pot reaction process, thus reducing the overall cost when compared to products currently manufactured. Coatings formed from the polymer composition are durable due to the final crosslinked thermoset matrix. The composition can be used in water-repellent, oil-repellent, anti-fingerprint, anti-smudge, and/or anti-graffiti coatings or paints.

#FIG. 3 illustrates a thermoset omniphobic composition according to the disclosure. FIG. 3 qualitatively illustrates various backbone segments (B) and linking groups (L) in a crosslinked thermoset polymer 100. The thermoset polymer 100 includes a crosslinked backbone B, which in turn includes (i) first backbone segments B1, (ii) second backbone segments B2, (iii) third backbone segments B3, (iv) first linking groups L1 (e.g., urethane (or carbamate), beta-hydroxy amino) linking first backbone segments and third backbone segments, and (v) second linking groups L2 (e.g., urea) linking first backbone segments and second backbone segments.