Surface modification of hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coatings
View Patent ↗A hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating system having a reversibly reduced hydrophobicity. A hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating is applied to and is bonded or otherwise strongly adhered to a substrate, such as an optical lens. The coating has sufficient thickness to provide a weakly adhered, excess portion that is mechanically removable. The excess portion of the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating has a surface that is modified to reduce hydrophobicity, such as by ion bombardment. The hydrophobicity of the coating is restored by mechanical removal of the excess portion of the coating.
1. A method for making an ophthalmic lens having a hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating with reversibly reduced hydrophobicity, comprising the steps of:
providing an optical lens;
applying a hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating to the optical lens, the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating adhered to the optical lens and having a thickness greater than about 10 nm and having an excess portion of the coating that is mechanically removable from the optical lens, the excess portion of the coating having a surface; and
modifying the surface by ion bombardment to reduce hydrophobicity.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating is applied in a thickness of at least about 20 nm.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating is applied in a thickness of about 30 nm.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is modified to reduce hydrophobicity to a water contact angle of about 110 degrees or less.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is modified to reduce hydrophobicity to a water contact angle of about 105 degrees or less.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is modified to reduce hydrophobicity to a water contact angle of about 100 degrees or less.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical lens has an anti-reflective coating and the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating is adhered to the anti-reflective coating.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
ink marking the modified surface; and
mechanically removing the modified surface.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the modified surface is mechanically removed using a solvent.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: isopropyl alcohol, methanol, ethanol, acetone and combinations thereof.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
edging the optical lens; and
mechanically removing the modified surface.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the modified surface is mechanically removed using a solvent.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: isopropyl alcohol, methanol, ethanol, acetone and combinations thereof.
14. A method for making an article having a hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating with reversibly reduced hydrophobicity, comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate;
applying a hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating to the substrate, the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating adhered to the substrate and having a thickness greater than about 10 nm and having an excess portion of the coating that is mechanically removable from the substrate, the excess portion of the coating having a surface; and
modifying the surface to reduce hydrophobicity by treatment with high energy charged particles.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the treatment with high energy charged particles is selected from the group consisting of: ion bombardment, atmospheric plasma and electron beam.