Process for graft polymerization on surfaces of preformed substates to modify surface properties
AssigneeCIBA Vision Corporation
InventorsRobert A. Janssen, Ellen M. Ajello, Richard D. Auten, Glenn S. Nomura, Thomas E. Shank
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for modifying the surface characteristics of a preformed polymer substrate to impart altered properties thereto by graft polymerization on the substrate which includes: placing the polymer substrate in a plasma to form free radicals on the substrate; contacting the substrate having free radicals with oxygen to form hydroperoxy groups on the surface of the substrate; and graft polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated monomer onto the surface of the polymer substrate.
Claims26
A process for modifying the surface characteristics of a preformed ophthalmic lens to impart altered properties thereto by graft polymerization on said lens which comprises:
- placing the lens in a plasma to form free radicals on the lens contacting the lens having free radicals with oxygen to form hydroperoxy groups on the surface of the lens;
- and
- graft polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated oligomer or polymer onto the surface of the lens in the presence of a cross-linking agent.
A process as recited in claim, wherein said oligomer or polymer has a molecular weight of about 500 to 5000.
A contact lens which has been surface treated by a process comprising:
- (a) placing the contact lens in a plasma to form free radicals on the contact lens;
- (b) contacting the contact lens having free radicals with oxygen to form hydroperoxy groups on the surface of the contact lens;
- and
- (c) graft polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated oligomer or polymer onto the surface of the contact lens in the presence of a cross-linking agent.
A process for modifying the surface characteristics of an ophthalmic lens to impart altered properties thereto by graft polymerization on said lens, which process comprises the steps of:
- (a) placing the lens in a plasma to form free radicals on the lens;
- (b) contacting the lens having free radicals with oxygen to form hydroperoxy groups on the surface of the lens;
- and
- (c) graft polymerizing an ethylenically unsaturated oligomer or polymer, in the presence of a cross-linking agent, onto the surface of the lens, said oligomer or polymer having a molecular weight between about 200 and 100,000.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.