Encapsulation of Functional Additives in Partially-Open Microcapsules
AssigneeNanotechnologies, Inc.
InventorsSumedh P. Surwade, Tracy Hunter, Robert A. Hillman
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Abstract
In one embodiment this, invention relates to preparing non-conducting polymer-based partially-open, hollow reservoirs (POHR) in the nano-size to micro-size range that encapsulate an additive, which can be released from the reservoirs. This invention also relates to methods of preparing such POHR, and for releasing the additive. This invention further relates to matrix that comprises such reservoirs and the method of preparing such matrix. This invention also relates to applications, for example in bio-active mitigation or enhancement, corrosion inhibition, lubrication, and adhesion, that benefit from using such release of a functional additive (FA).
Claims28
A plurality of partially-open, hollow reservoirs (POHR), comprising at least one polymeric material and optionally at least one functional additive;
- wherein said at least one polymeric material comprises only non-conducting at least one polymer;
- wherein said plurality of POHR have at least one opening on their surface, such that the average opening area, in the aggregate, of said plurality of POHR is from about 0.25% to about 50% of the surface area in the aggregate of said plurality of POHR;
- wherein the average size of said plurality of POHR is in the range of from about 200 nm to about 30,000 nm;
- wherein said at least one functional additive releasably resides in said plurality of POHR.
A method for preparing POHR comprising a first polymer, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) contacting a first aqueous solution (W1) comprising a first surfactant, or a first emulsion stabilizer, and/or a second polymer with a solution of said first polymer in a solvent (O);
- (ii) emulsifying the resultant mixture of step (i) into a W1/O emulsion;
- (iii) contacting said emulsion of step (ii) with a second aqueous solution (W2) comprising a second surfactant, a second emulsion stabilize, and/or a third polymer;
- (iv) emulsifying the resultant mixture of step (iii) to form a W1/O/W2 emulsion;
- and
- (v) evaporating said solvent from said W1/O/W2 emulsion;
- wherein said first surfactant is the same as or different from the second surfactant, the first emulsion stabilizer is the same as or different from the second emulsion stabilizer, and the second polymer is the same as or different from the third polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.