Film forming composition and method for modifying surfaces with ultra thin films

Claim 2

A substrate surface having chemically bonded thereto a substantially continuous thin film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 micron using a composition that includes a film forming substance dispersed in a carrier that has a gel state at a temperature of about 20° C., said film forming substance having amphiphilic molecules that are capable of self-assembly and that automatically separate from said composition and spontaneously self-assemble in-situ on said surface into a substantially continuous thin film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 micron while chemically bonding to said surface when said composition is applied to said surface, said film forming substance comprising RmSiXn where R is an apolar alkyl or fluorinated alkyl group of about 10-30 carbon atoms, where m plus n equal four, and were X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydroxy and alkoxy.

Claim 3

The substrate surface of claim 1 wherein said molecules are polymerizable and are polymerized on said surface.

Claim 4

The substrate surface of claim 1 wherein said substrate surface is glass.

Claim 5

The substrate surface of claim 3 wherein said substrate surface is on cookware.

Claim 6

The substrate surface of claim 3 wherein said surface is on laboratory ware.

Claim 7

The substrate surface of claim 3 wherein said surface is on eyewear lenses.

Claim 8

The substrate surface of claim 6 wherein said lenses have an anti-reflective coating thereon and said ultra thin film is on said coating.

Claim 9

The substrate surface of claim 6 wherein said lenses have a scratch resistant coating thereon and said ultra thin film is on said coating.

Claim 10

A substrate surface having a film with a thickness not greater than about 0.5 micron chemically bonded thereto using the method of: providing a substantially homogeneous mixture of a polymerizable film forming substance dispersed in a carrier having a consistency at 25° that is in the range of about 35-400 as measured by the ASTM cone penetration test, said film forming substance including amphiphilic molecules that are polymerizable and are capable of spontaneous self-assembly into a film in-situ on said substrate surface while chemically bonding to said surface when said composition is applied thereto; said film forming substance consisting essentially of RmSiXn where R is an apolar alkyl or fluorinated alkyl group of about 10-30 carbon atoms, where m plus n equal four, and where X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydroxy and alkoxy; applying said composition to said substrate surface; leaving said composition on said substrate surface for a sufficient period of time to allow said molecules in said film forming substance to automatically separate from said composition an self-assembly and polymerize on said surface into a substantially continuous polymerized thin film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 micron and to chemically bond to said surface; and washing the excess of said composition from said substrate surface.

Claim 11

A substrate surface having a film with a thickness not greater than about 0.5 micron chemically bonded thereto using the method of: providing a substantially homogeneous mixture of a polymerizable film forming substance dispersed in a carrier having a consistency at 25° that is in the range of about 35-400 as measured by the ASTM cone penetration test, said film forming substance including amphiphilic molecules that are polymerizable and are capable of spontaneous self-assembly into a film in-situ on said substrate surface while chemically bonding to said surface when said composition is applied thereto; said film forming substance consisting essentially of RmSiXn where R is an apolar alkyl or fluorinated alkyl group of about 10-30 carbon atoms, where m plus n equal four, and where X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydroxy and alkoxy; applying said composition to said substrate surface; leaving said composition on said substrate surface for a sufficient period of time to allow said molecules in said film forming substance to automatically separate from said composition an self-assembly and polymerize on said surface into a substantially continuous polymerized thin film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 micron and to chemically bond to said surface; and washing the excess of said composition from said substrate surface.

Claim 12

The substrate surface of claim 9 wherein said substrate surface is on cookware.

Claim 13

The substrate surface of claim 9 wherein said substrate surface is on laboratory ware.

Claim 14

The substrate surface of claim 9 wherein said substrate surface is on an eyewear lens.

Claim 15

The substrate surface of claim 12 wherein said eyewear lens has an anti-reflective coating thereon and said film is on said coating.

Claim 16

The substrate surface of claim 12 wherein said eyewear lens has a scratch resistant coating thereon and said film is on said coating.

Claim 17

A substrate surface having chemically bonded thereto a substantially continuous polymerized film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 microns using a composition that includes a polymerizable film forming substance dispersed in a thick non-aqueous carrier, said film forming substance having polymerizable amphiphilic molecules that automatically separate from said composition and spontaneously self-assemble in-situ on said surface into a substantially continuous thin film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 microns while chemically bonding to said surface when said composition is applied to said surface, said film forming substance comprising RmSiXn where R is an apolar alkyl or fluorinated alkyl group of about 10-30 carbon atoms, where m plus n equal four, and where X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydroxy and alkoxy.

Claim 18

A substrate surface having chemically bonded thereto a substantially continuous polymerized film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 microns using a composition that includes a polymerizable film forming substance dispersed in a thick non-aqueous carrier, said film forming substance having polymerizable amphiphilic molecules that automatically separate from said composition and spontaneously self-assemble in-situ on said surface into a substantially continuous thin film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 microns while chemically bonding to said surface when said composition is applied to said surface, said film forming substance comprising RmSiXn where R is an apolar alkyl or fluorinated alkyl group of about 10-30 carbon atoms, where m plus n equal four, and where X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydroxy and alkoxy.

Claim 19

A substrate surface having chemically bonded thereto a substantially continuous polymerized film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 microns using a composition that includes a polymerizable film forming substance dispersed in a carrier having a consistency at 25° C. that is in the range of about 35-400 as measured by the ASTM cone penetration test, said film forming substance having polymerizable amphiphilic molecules that automatically separate from said composition and spontaneously self-assembly in-situ on said surface into a substantially continuous thin film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 microns while chemically bonding to said surface when said composition is applied to said surface, said film forming substance comprising RmSiXn where R is an apolar alkyl or fluorinated alkyl group of about 10-30 carbon atoms, where m plus n equal four, and where X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydroxy and alkoxy.

Claim 20

A substrate surface having chemically bonded thereto a substantially continuous polymerized film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 microns using a composition that includes a polymerizable film forming substance dispersed in a carrier having a consistency at 25° C. that is in the range of about 35-400 as measured by the ASTM cone penetration test, said film forming substance having polymerizable amphiphilic molecules that automatically separate from said composition and spontaneously self-assembly in-situ on said surface into a substantially continuous thin film of substantially uniform thickness not greater than about 0.5 microns while chemically bonding to said surface when said composition is applied to said surface, said film forming substance comprising RmSiXn where R is an apolar alkyl or fluorinated alkyl group of about 10-30 carbon atoms, where m plus n equal four, and where X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydroxy and alkoxy.

Claim 21

A substrate surface having thereon a thin film of self-assembled amphiphilic molecules, said film being applied using a composition consisting essentially of amphiphilic molecules capable of self-assembly dispersed in a non-aqueous carrier having a consistency sufficient to inhibit diffusion of moisture into said composition and to hold said molecules in suspension so that agglomeration of same is minimized, said film having a thickness not grater than about 0.5 micron and being chemically bonded to said surface, said amphiphilic molecules comprising RmSiXn where R is an apolar alkyl or fluorinated alkyl group of about 10-30 carbon atoms, where m plus n equal four, and were X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydroxy and alkoxy.

Claim 22

A substrate surface having thereon a thin film of self-assembled amphiphilic molecules, said film being applied using a composition consisting essentially of amphiphilic molecules capable of self-assembly dispersed in a non-aqueous carrier having a consistency sufficient to inhibit diffusion of moisture into said composition and to hold said molecules in suspension so that agglomeration of same is minimized, said film having a thickness not grater than about 0.5 micron and being chemically bonded to said surface, said amphiphilic molecules comprising RmSiXn where R is an apolar alkyl or fluorinated alkyl group of about 10-30 carbon atoms, where m plus n equal four, and were X is selected from the group consisting of halogens, hydroxy and alkoxy.

Claim 23

The substrate surface of claim 17 wherein said composition includes one or more of a dye for imparting color to said film, a catalyst for speeding up formation of said film and attachment of same to said surface, or a quencher for neutralizing acid fumes generated by formation of said film and attachment of same to said surface.