Superhydrophobic plastic conveyor components and methods for their molding
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsKejia Jin, Noshir Sheriar Pesika, Shuchi P. Khurana, Jeremiah E. Oertling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Superhydrophobic conveyor belt components and methods for molding those components out of thermoplastic polymers. The plastic components have superhydrophobic regions on outer surfaces that shed aqueous solutions and remain dry. The water-shedding regions are textured with a nano- or micro-structure that is rough enough to endow the region with superhydrophobic properties.
Claims23
A conveyor component made of plastic and comprising an outer surface having a superhydrophobic region with a superhydrophobic texture.
A conveyor belt made of plastic and comprising an outer surface having a superhydrophobic region with a superhydrophobic texture.
A method for making a conveyor component with a superhydrophobic surface region, the method comprising:
- forming a first cavity bounded by an inner face in a first steel mold half;
- engraving a pattern of blind-ended microholes in the inner face of the first steel mold half with a laser;
- forming a second cavity in a second steel mold half;
- closing the mold halves so that the first and second cavities together define the shape of a conveyor component;
- injecting a molten thermoplastic polymer into the first and second cavities to fill the cavities and the microholes;
- applying heat and pressure to the first and second closed mold halves to form a conveyor component;
- opening the first and second mold halves to release the conveyor component from the first and second cavities;
- wherein the thermoplastic polymer in the microholes produces micropillars that form a superhydrophobic surface region on the conveyor component.
The method of claim 21 further comprising depositing a hydrophobic chemical on the superhydrophobic region of the conveyor component to protect the micropillars.
A method for forming microholes in a steel mold comprising:
- forming a first cavity in a steel mold bounded by an inner face;
- engraving a pattern of blind-ended microholes in the inner face of the steel mold with a laser.
The method of claim 23 wherein the pattern of blind-ended microholes is a square- or hexagonal-lattice pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.