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Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsTzu-Li J. Huang, John H. Ko, Dong-Wei Zhu, Bettie C. Fong
Estimating the term…
An article is disclosed that has a patterned surface containing alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic surface regions. The hydrophobic regions may be sufficiently narrow such that under dew conditions moisture accumulated on the hydrophobic region migrates to the hydrophilic region, thus preventing the accumulation of water droplets. In frost conditions, the hydrophobic region remains relatively frost-free, thus maintaining at least partial transparency of the surface. Inorganic oxide particles on the surfaces of the hydrophobic regions may provide abrasion resistance. A method for making the patterned surfaces is disclosed in which a treatment removes organic binder to expose inorganic oxide particles at the surface of the hydrophilic regions.
A retroreflective article having a patterned surface with a plurality of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the surface, wherein at least the hydrophilic regions comprise a polymeric matrix comprising inorganic oxide particles and have a greater concentration of exposed inorganic oxide particles than the hydrophobic regions.
A retroreflective article having a patterned surface with a plurality of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the surface in which the hydrophobic regions have widths of less than about 20 μm and the hydrophilic regions have a static water contact angle of less than 30°.
An article having a patterned surface with a plurality of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the surface, comprising a hydrophobic polymer having alternating elevated surfaces and recessed grooves, and a hydrophilic material disposed in the recessed grooves such that a major surface of the article has exposed alternating regions of the hydrophobic polymer and the hydrophilic material, wherein the hydrophilic regions have a static water contact angle of less than 30°.
A method of making a polymeric article having a patterned surface with a plurality of alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, comprising:
An article having a plurality of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the surface, wherein at least the hydrophilic regions comprise a polymeric matrix comprising an acrylate and inorganic oxide particles and have a greater concentration of exposed inorganic oxide particle than the hydrophobic regions.
An article having a patterned surface with a plurality of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the surface, comprising a hydrophobic polymer having alternating elevated surfaces and recessed grooves, and a hydrophilic material having exposed inorganic oxide particle disposed in the recessed grooves such that a major surface of the article has exposed alternating regions of the hydrophobic polymer and the hydrophilic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.