Modification of solid surfaces by application of polymer associations thereon

1. A method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate, said method comprising depositing onto the face surface(s) thereof, a composition comprising:

at least one polymer (PZ) containing zwitterionic structural units; and

at least one other polymer (P), different from said polymer (PZ), carrying charged substituents and capable of bonding with said at least one first polymer (PZ), wherein said charged substituents react with the zwitterionic structural units of the polymer (PZ).

2. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a solvent and the concentration by weight of the total of said at least one polymer (PZ) and at least one other polymer (P) is from 1 ppm to 100,000 ppm.

3. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein the treated surface(s) of the solid material substrate comprises a polymer, glass or metal.

4. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein the zwitterionic structural units present in the at least one polymer (PZ) comprise:

(i) at least one group (G − ) having a negative charge, at least under the surface treatment conditions; and

(ii) at least one group (G + ) having a positive charge, at least under the surface treatment conditions,

and wherein said groups (G − ) and (G + ) are carried by a pendant chain comprising said zwitterionic structural units.

5. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer (PZ) comprises zwitterionic structural units which comprise, as a pendant chain, at least one monovalent group selected from the group consisting of:

monovalent nitrogenous zwitterionic groups corresponding to the following general formulae (GZ N 1 ) to (GZ N 6 ):

—N (+) (R 1 )(R 2 )—R-A-O (−)   (GZ N 1 )

—(R 3 )C═N (+) (R 4 )—R-A-O (−)   (GZ N 2 )

—(R 3 )(R)C—N (+)(R 4 )(R 5 )—R-A-O (−)   (GZ N 3 )

—N (+) (═R 6 )—R-A-O (−)   (GZ N 4 )

—N (+) (R 1 )(R 2 )—R—W (−)   (GZ N 5 )

—R-A′(-O (−) )—R—N (+) (R 1 )(R 2 )(R 7 )  (GZ N 6 )

monovalent phosphoriferous zwitterionic groups corresponding to the following general formulae (GZ P 1 ) and (GZ P 2 ):

—P (+) (R 1 )(R 2 )—R-A-O (−)   (GZ P 1 )

—R-A′(-O (−) )—R —P (+) (R 1 )(R 2 )(R 7 )  (GZ P 2 )

and,

monovalent sulphurous zwitterionic groups corresponding to the following general formulae (GZ s 1 ) and (GZ s 2 ):

—S (+) (R 1 )—R-A-O (−)   (GZ S 1 )

—R-A′(-O (−) )—R—S (+) (R 1 )(R 2 )  (GZ S 2 )

wherein the groups in the formulae (GZ N 1 ) to (GZ N 6 ), (GZ P 1 ), (GZ P 2 ), (GZ S 1 ) and (GZ S 2 ) have the following definitions :

R is a linear or branched alkylene radical having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by one or more hydroxy groups or a benzylene radical;

R 1 , R 2 , R 5 and R 7 , which may be identical or different, are each an alkyl radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms;

R 3 and R 4 are hydrocarbon radicals forming, with the nitrogen atom, a nitrogenous heterocycle optionally comprising one or more other heteroatoms;

R 6 is a hydrocarbon radical forming, with the nitrogen atom, a saturated or unsaturated nitrogenous heterocycle optionally comprising one or more other heteroatoms;

A represents an S(═O)(═O), OP(═O)(O), OP(═O)(OR′), P(═O)OR′) or P(═O)(R′) divalent radical, in which R′ is an alkyl radical having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms or a phenyl radical;

A′ represents the divalent radical —O—P(═O)—O—; and

W (−) represents an ethenolate functional group corresponding to one of the following formulae:

—O—C(O (−) ) ═C(C≡N) 2

—O—C(O)—C (−) (C≡N) 2

—O—C(O)—C(—C≡N) (═C═N (−) ).

6. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 5 , wherein the at least one polymer (PZ) comprises a polyzwitterionic polymer selected from the group consisting of:

homopolymers or copolymers formed by a chain of betaine units comprising pendant groups corresponding to the formula (GZ N 1 ) in which A is an S(═O)(═O) group;

homopolymers of sulphobetaine derived from 2-vinylpyridine, of the following formula:

and

mixtures of said polymers.

7. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 5 , wherein the at least one polymer (PZ (+)− ) comprises zwitterionic groups corresponding to the formulae (GZ N 1 ), (GZ N 2 ), (GZ N 3 ), (GZ N 4 ), (GZ N 5 ), (GZ P 1 ) and/or (GZ S 1 ).

8. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein, in the at least one polymer (PZ), the molar ratio (zwitterionic structural units/total polymer units) is at least equal to 50%.

9. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer (PZ) comprises a polyzwitterionic polymer selected from the group consisting of homopolymers or copolymers formed by a chain of betaine structural units corresponding to the following formulae (-SPE-) and (-SPP-):

10. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one polymer (PZ) comprises a polymer (PZ (+)− ) in which the zwitterionic structural units carry anionic groups which are more available than the cationic groups; and

the at least one polymer (P) comprises a cationic polymer (P + ) carrying optionally-terminal cationic groups.

11. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one polymer (PZ) comprises a polymer (PZ (−)+ ) in which the zwitterionic structural units carry cationic groups which are more available than the anionic groups; and

the at least one polymer (P) comprises an anionic polymer (P) carrying optionally-terminal anionic groups.

12. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 5 , wherein the at least one polymer (PZ (+)− ) comprises zwitterionic groups corresponding to the formulae (GZ N 6 ), (GZ P 2 ) and/or (GZ S 2 ).

13. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the quantity of charged units carried by the at least one polymer (P) in relation to the amount of zwitterionic units carried by the at least one polymer (PZ) ranges from 0.1 to 10.

14. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 , wherein the combination of polymers (PZ) and (P) comprises an active ingredient that is finally fixed on the treated surface(s).

15. The method as defined by claim 1 further comprising:

at least one sulphobetaine or carboxybetaine zwitterionic polymer (PZ), the total charge of this polymer being zero or other than zero; and

at least one cationic polymer (P + ).

16. The method as defined by claim 1 further comprising:

at least one phosphobetaine zwitterionic polymer (PZ), the total charge of this polymer being zero; and

at least one anionic polymer (P − ).

17. The method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate as defined by claim 1 further comprising:

at least one phosphobetaine zwitterionic polymer (PZ), the total charge of this polymer being zero;

at least one cationic polymer (P + ), and

at least one anionic polymer (P − ).

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymers (PZ) and (P) form are combined together in the form of a coacervate.

19. A method for modifying the surface properties of a solid material substrate, said method comprising depositing onto the face surface(s) thereof, a composition comprising:

at least one polymer (PZ) containing zwitterionic structural units; and

at least one other polymer (P), different from said polymer (PZ), carrying charged substituents and capable of bonding with said at least one first polymer (PZ), wherein said polymer (P) is a cationic polymer or an anionic polymer.