Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of coating a substrate with a thin film of a polymer of predetermined porosity, comprising: depositing the thin film on the substrate from a dilute non-gelled solution comprising at least one hydrolyzable metal alkoxide of a polyermic network-forming cation, water, an alochol or other solvent compatible with the hydrolysis and the polymerization of the metal alkoxide, and an acid or a base, wherein the concentration of the alkoxide in said solution is about 1 to 12 equivalent weight %, and prior to the depositing said film, controlling the structure of said polymer for a given composition of said solution exclusive of the acid or base component and the water component, (a) by adjusting each of the water content, the pH, and the temperature to obtain the desired concetration of alkoxide, and then adjusting the time of standing of said solution prior to lowering the temperature of said solution, and (b) lowering the temperature of the solution after said time of standing to about 15 degrees C or lower to trap said solution in a state in which, after said depositing step, a coating of the desired porosity will be obtained, and curing said deposited film by removing a sufficient quantity of solvent to cause gelation, and heating said film at a temperature compatible with the substrate and effective for crosslinking and densifying said film, whereby there is obtained on the substrate a thin film of a polymer of predetermined porosity and corresponding pore size.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of coating a substrate with a thin film of a polymer of predetermined porosity, comprising: depositing the thin film on the substrate from a dilute non-gelled solution comprising at least one hydrolyzable metal alkoxide of a polyermic network-forming cation, water, an alochol or other solvent compatible with the hydrolysis and the polymerization of the metal alkoxide, and an acid or a base, wherein the concentration of the alkoxide in said solution is about 1 to 12 equivalent weight %, and prior to the depositing said film, controlling the structure of said polymer for a given composition of said solution exclusive of the acid or base component and the water component, (a) by adjusting each of the water content, the pH, and the temperature to obtain the desired concetration of alkoxide, and then adjusting the time of standing of said solution prior to lowering the temperature of said solution, and (b) lowering the temperature of the solution after said time of standing to about 15 degrees C or lower to trap said solution in a state in which, after said depositing step, a coating of the desired porosity will be obtained, and curing said deposited film by removing a sufficient quantity of solvent to cause gelation, and heating said film at a temperature compatible with the substrate and effective for crosslinking and densifying said film, whereby there is obtained on the substrate a thin film of a polymer of predetermined porosity and corresponding pore size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of claim 1, for forming a film of intermediate and large pores, wherein the amount of water in said solution is greater than about 10 moles per mole of total alkoxides, and said pH is greater than about 2.5.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of claim 2, wherein said pH is greater than about 7 and said time of standing is up to about one week.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 3, wherein said pores are about 100 to about 500 Å in diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the amount of water in said solution is 4 to 10 moles per mole of total alkoxides, and said pH is greater than about 4.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of claim 5, wherein the pH is 4 to about 7 and said time of standing is about 2 to about 3 weeks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of claim 1, for coating a film of small pores wherein the amount of water in said solution is less than about 4 moles per mole of total alkoxides, and said pH is greater than about 5.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method of claim 7, wherein said pH is about 8 to about 9.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 7, wherein said time of standing is up to about one month.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of claim 1, for coating a film of small pores wherein the amount of water in said solution is less than about 4 moles per mole of total alkoxides, said pH is less than about 4 and said time of standing is up to about one month.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the solution during said time of standing is about 40°-80° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the solution during said time of standing is about 40°-80° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 12, wherein the solution is maintained at said lowered temperature for storage purposes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 1, wherein said film is of a thickness of about 100-10,000 Å.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of claim 1, wherein the metal in the alkoxide is silicon and the alcohol is a C 2-3 -alkanol and the acid is HCl or the base is NH 4 OH.