skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Slippery self-lubricating polymer surfaces

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1860114

The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery self-lubricating polymers. Lubricating liquids with affinities to polymers can be utilized to get absorbed within the polymer and form a lubricant layer (of the lubricating liquid) on the polymer. The lubricant layer can repel a wide range of materials, including simple and complex fluids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and bodily fluids), restore liquid-repellency after physical damage, and resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion. Some exemplary applications where self-lubricating polymers will be useful include energy-efficient, friction-reduction fluid handling and transportation, medical devices, anti-icing, optical sensing, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments.

Research Organization:
Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); US Office of Naval Research (ONR)
DOE Contract Number:
AR0000326; N00014-11-1-0641; N66001-11-1-4180
Assignee:
President and Fellows of Harvard College (Cambridge, MA)
Patent Number(s):
11,186,731
Application Number:
15/973,193
OSTI ID:
1860114
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 05/07/2018
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (167)

Endovascular stent infection with delayed bacterial challenge journal August 1997
Organogel-based Thin Films for Self-Cleaning on Various Surfaces journal June 2013
Clay type liquid-resistant protective layer patent April 1997
Wiring substrate patent-application July 2007
Porous sintered metal-containing materials patent-application September 2006
Self-assembled organic monolayers: model systems for studying adsorption of proteins at surfaces journal May 1991
Bacterial biofilms: from the Natural environment to infectious diseases journal February 2004
Wafer-Scale Fabrication of Ordered Binary Colloidal Monolayers with Adjustable Stoichiometries journal May 2011
Controlled growth of monodisperse silica spheres in the micron size range journal January 1968
Designing Superoleophobic Surfaces journal December 2007
Methods of controlling flow patent-application February 2006
Direct measurement of interfacial interactions between semispherical lenses and flat sheets of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and their chemical derivatives journal May 1991
Staphylococcus epidermidis Causing Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: Microbiologic and Clinical Observations as Guides to Therapy journal April 1983
Aqueous Formulation for an Antifouling Coating System for Submerged Substrates, Method for Treating Same, and Use Thereof patent-application January 2012
Acute Coronary Syndrome Caused by Coronary Artery Mycotic Aneurysm Due to Late Stent Infection Localized With Radiolabeled Autologous Leukocyte Imaging journal January 2009
The Promise of Novel Technology for the Prevention of Intravascular Device–Related Bloodstream Infection. I. Pathogenesis and Short‐Term Devices journal May 2002
Fabrication of Bioinspired Actuated Nanostructures with Arbitrary Geometry and Stiffness journal January 2009
Self-Lubricating Elastomeric Components for Use in Medical Devices patent-application
Liquid-Impregnated Surfaces, Methods of Making, and Devices Incorporating the Same patent-application February 2013
Silicone Water Repellents journal January 1966
Ice-phobic Coatings Based on Silicon-Oil-Infused Polydimethylsiloxane journal May 2013
Multiscale Roughness and Stability of Superhydrophobic Biomimetic Interfaces journal March 2007
Closed-loop control of cellular functions using combinatory drugs guided by a stochastic search algorithm journal March 2008
Surface Modification of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) To Prepare Surfaces with Silica-Like Reactivity journal September 1998
Flame Retardant, Stain and Soil Resistant Textile Article patent-application January 2010
Ink printer head patent June 1990
Microfluidic Bubble Logic journal February 2007
A smooth future? journal May 2011
Shunt fluid examination: risks and benefits in the evaluation of shunt malfunction and infection journal August 1984
Molecular Healing of Polymeric Materials, Coatings, Plastics, Elastomers, Composites, Laminates, Adhesives, and Sealants by Active Enzymes patent-application August 2010
Silver resistance and accumulation in bacteria journal June 1987
Surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene with ArF excimer laser irradiation journal January 1994
Self-assembling polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer surface coatings Resistance to protein and cell adhesion journal May 2009
Medical Devices Including Superhydrophobic or Superoleophobic Surfaces patent-application May 2013
Reactive two-part polyurethane compositions and optionally self-healable and scratch-resistant coatings prepared therefrom patent August 1998
Methods for Making Polymeric Substrates Comprising a Haze-Free, Self-Healing Coating and Coated Substrates Made Thereby patent-application April 2009
Oil-bleeding silicone rubber compositions patent May 2001
Flexible Microstructured Superhydrophobic Materials patent-application March 2012
A Convenient Method to Produce Close- and Non-close-Packed Monolayers using Direct Assembly at the Air-Water Interface and Subsequent Plasma-Induced Size Reduction journal June 2011
Method of increasing lubricity of snow ski bases patent April 1997
Self-healing coating and microcapsules to make same patent March 2007
Risk factors for repeated cerebrospinal shunt failures in pediatric patients with hydrocephalus journal January 2000
Surface treatment. Silicone coating. [表面処理  シリコーン表面処理] journal January 1986
Attractive Forces At Interfaces journal December 1964
Etch rates for micromachining processing-part II journal December 2003
Lubricant compositions and methods patent-application August 2001
Superhydrophobic Surfaces by Anomalous Fluoroalkylsilane Self-Assembly on Silica Nanosphere Arrays journal August 2010
Biomaterial-centered sepsis and the total artificial heart. Microbial adhesion vs tissue integration journal February 1988
Wetting Transitions in Two-, Three-, and Four-Phase Systems journal November 2011
Biocompatible self-lubricating polymer compositions and their use in medical and surgical devices patent-application November 2007
Corrosion Inhibiting Pigment Comprising Nanoreservoirs of Corrosion Inhibitors patent-application March 2009
Bacterial Biofilms in Nature and Disease journal October 1987
Liquid ventilation journal October 1992
Method for forming a container with improved release properties patent February 2011
Hydrophobic coating compositions, articles coated with said compositions, and processes for manufacturing same patent September 2002
Thermally stable perfluoropolyethers and processes therefor and therewith patent-application September 2004
The insect-trapping rim of Nepenthes pitchers: surface structure and function journal November 2009
Compositions for protective films and optical recording media patent January 2001
Toilet bowl cleaner and stain-inhibiting composition patent August 1989
Preparation of Silicone Microemulsions patent-application July 2011
Drug Delivery Medical Device patent-application July 2012
Porous microspheres coated with a perfluorinated oil, a fluorinated silicone oil or a silicone gum and cosmetic compositions containing them patent October 1994
Agent for treating textile, method for treating textile and treated textile patent May 1997
Anti-immunoresponsive polymeric material and its use in biological applications patent June 2000
Bacterial Biofilms: A Common Cause of Persistent Infections journal May 1999
Biocompatibility and biofouling of MEMS drug delivery devices journal May 2003
Self-lubricating device patent June 1995
Self-healing materials: a review journal January 2008
Container coating for increasing product outage patent June 2001
Complement deficiency states and associated infections journal August 2011
A review of polymer dissolution journal August 2003
Liquid-repellent coating composition and coating having high alkali resistance patent-application July 2006
Monocyte Procoagulant Activity Induced by Adherence to an Artificial Surface Is Reduced by End-point Immobilized Heparin-coating of the Surface journal January 1998
Directed Assembly of PEGylated-Peptide Coatings for Infection-Resistant Titanium Metal
  • Khoo, Xiaojuan; Hamilton, Paul; O’Toole, George A.
  • Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 131, Issue 31, p. 10992-10997 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja9020827
journal August 2009
Deterioration of pH electrode response due to biofilm formation on the glass membrane journal December 1996
Resin composition having lubricating properties patent November 1988
Curable fluorinated silicone elastomer patent May 1983
Nanofiber Assembly by Rotary Jet-Spinning journal June 2010
Biofilm Formation as Microbial Development journal October 2000
Multiple function, self-repairing composites with special adhesives patent October 2010
Approaching Zero:  Using Fractured Crystals in Metrology for Replica Molding journal January 2005
Coronary artery stent infection journal November 2000
Water jet woven air bag fabric made from sized yarns patent-application August 2007
Coding/Decoding and Reversibility of Droplet Trains in Microfluidic Networks journal February 2007
Ionic Liquids in Synthesis book November 2002
Lubricious silicone surface modification patent April 1998
Antibacterial coatings on titanium implants
  • Zhao, Lingzhou; Chu, Paul K.; Zhang, Yumei
  • Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, Vol. 91B, Issue 1, p. 470-480 https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.31463
journal October 2009
Surface hydration: Principles and applications toward low-fouling/nonfouling biomaterials journal October 2010
Large Contact Angles of Plant and Animal Surfaces journal January 1945
Infection control during GI endoscopy journal May 2008
Wicking within forests of micropillars journal August 2007
Tribo-System and Method for Reducing Particle Conglomeration Therein patent-application November 2011
Nanonails:  A Simple Geometrical Approach to Electrically Tunable Superlyophobic Surfaces journal January 2008
Method for the Production of a Porous, Ceramic Surface Layer patent-application June 2011
Bioinspired Self-Healing Superhydrophobic Coatings journal July 2010
Antifouling condensation curing organopolysiloxane composition and underwater structure patent February 2010
Wetting of textured surfaces journal July 2002
Metastable Underwater Superhydrophobicity journal October 2010
Antimicrobial coatings for medical devices and methods for making and using them patent-application November 2010
Self-healing coating system patent May 2010
Surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene films by plasma pretreatment and graft copolymerization to improve their adhesion to bismaleimide journal January 2009
Antifouling Coatings: Recent Developments in the Design of Surfaces That Prevent Fouling by Proteins, Bacteria, and Marine Organisms journal September 2010
Folding DNA to create nanoscale shapes and patterns journal March 2006
Hydrophilic lubricious coatings patent February 1992
Purity of the sacred lotus, or escape from contamination in biological surfaces journal April 1997
Wettability of porous surfaces journal January 1944
Article with lubricated surface and method patent October 2008
In vitro and in vivo characterization of porous poly-L-lactic acid coatings for subcutaneously implanted glucose sensors journal December 2008
Robust omniphobic surfaces journal November 2008
Structural Transformation by Electrodeposition on Patterned Substrates (STEPS): A New Versatile Nanofabrication Method journal March 2011
Self Lubricated Bearing Compositions and Methods of Making the Same patent-application June 2012
Constitutive Relations In The Wetting Of Low Energy Surfaces And The Theory Of The Retraction Method Of Preparing Monolayers journal May 1960
Medical Device with Extended of Multiple Reservoirs patent-application August 2008
Polysulfone block copolymers as drug-eluting coating material patent July 2009
Biosensors for real-time in vivo measurements journal June 2005
Assembly of large-area, highly ordered, crack-free inverse opal films journal May 2010
Silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions patent February 1997
Association Between a Silver-Coated Endotracheal Tube and Reduced Mortality in Patients With Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia journal May 2010
Microstructure and friction properties of PVA/PVP hydrogels for articular cartilage repair as function of polymerization degree and polymer concentration journal July 2013
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: Analysis of 38 Cases journal August 1973
Organic fibers and textile products patent-application February 2004
Process for preparing a superhydrophobic coating patent-application June 2007
Survival of Mammals Breathing Organic Liquids Equilibrated with Oxygen at Atmospheric Pressure journal June 1966
Manufacture, characterisation and application of cellular metals and metal foams journal January 2001
High-Temperature Resistant Self-Healing Coating and Method of Application patent September 1966
ESGE–ESGENA guideline: Cleaning and disinfection in gastrointestinal endoscopy journal November 2008
Retention of bacteria on a substratum surface with micro-patterned hydrophobicity journal August 2000
Metallization Process for Making Fuser Members patent-application January 2010
Bacterial adhesion on PEG modified polyurethane surfaces journal April 1998
Wetting and Roughness journal August 2008
Risk Factor Analysis of Permanent Pacemaker Infection journal July 2007
The Effects of Heparin Coating of Oxygenator Fibers on Platelet Adhesion and Protein Adsorption journal January 1999
Lubricious hydrogel surface modification patent September 1998
From soft to hard: the generation of functional and complex colloidal monolayers for nanolithography journal January 2012
Process for Preparing Block and Graft Copolymers of Perfluoroalkyl Monomer and Resulting Product patent December 1962
Surface tension of poly[(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-nonafluorohexyl)methylsiloxane] journal November 1990
Home care compositions comprising a dicarboxy functionalized polyorganosiloxane patent-application November 2003
Teflon is Hydrophilic. Comments on Definitions of Hydrophobic, Shear versus Tensile Hydrophobicity, and Wettability Characterization journal September 2008
Resistance Of Solid Surfaces To Wetting By Water journal August 1936
Bioinspired self-repairing slippery surfaces with pressure-stable omniphobicity journal September 2011
Microbial Biofilms book January 2006
Chemically adsorbed film and method of manufacturing the same patent December 1994
Mass production of bio-inspired structured surfaces
  • Abbott, S. J.; Gaskell, P. H.
  • Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, Vol. 221, Issue 10, p. 1181-1191 https://doi.org/10.1243/09544062JMES540
journal September 2007
Insect aquaplaning: Nepenthes pitcher plants capture prey with the peristome, a fully wettable water-lubricated anisotropic surface journal September 2004
Controlling the Stability and Reversibility of Micropillar Assembly by Surface Chemistry
  • Matsunaga, Mariko; Aizenberg, Michael; Aizenberg, Joanna
  • Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 133, Issue 14, p. 5545-5553 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja200241j
journal April 2011
Frost formation and ice adhesion on superhydrophobic surfaces journal December 2010
Non-leaching surface-active film compositions for microbial adhesion prevention patent-application July 2007
Electrofluidic Textiles and Cleaning Implements Using Such Electrofluidic Textiles patent-application February 2007
Rough wetting journal July 2001
Articles Having Non-Fouling Surfaces and Processes for Preparing the Same Including Applying A Primer Coat patent-application December 2011
Urethane polyol precursors for coating compositions patent-application July 2005
Quantitative Testing of Robustness on Superomniphobic Surfaces by Drop Impact journal December 2010
Biomimetic Superhydrophobic Surfaces  Multiscale Approach journal September 2007
Deformation of DNA molecules by hydrodynamic focusing journal December 2003
Percutaneous Transcatheter Implantation of an Aortic Valve Prosthesis for Calcific Aortic Stenosis: First Human Case Description journal November 2002
A Review of the Development of a Vehicle for Localized and Controlled Drug Delivery for Implantable Biosensors journal November 2008
Preparation of partially fluorinated aryl/alkyl vinylene ether polymers Partially fluorinated aryl/alkyl vinylene ether polymers journal January 2013
Micro-Structured Surface Having Tailored Wetting Properties patent-application November 2011
A self-pumping lab-on-a-chip for rapid detection of botulinum toxin journal July 2010
Fast fabrication of long-range ordered porous alumina membranes by hard anodization journal August 2006
Core-Annular Flows journal January 1997
Method of providing lubricious surfaces patent-application July 2006
Process for producing article coated with water-repellent film article coated with water-repellent film and liquid composition for water-repellent film, article coated patent January 2003
Self-healing liquid contact switch patent March 2007
Relationships between Water Wettability and Ice Adhesion journal October 2010
Super-phobic surface structures patent-application September 2007
Fluorosilanes and process for their preparation patent December 1986