Method for coating an object with a graft polymer layer
View Patent ↗Described herein is a method for coating an object with a polymer layer. The method includes contacting the object with a first solution comprising a non-polymeric grafting initiator comprising at least one photoinitiator group capable of generating a free radical active species upon absorption of electromagnetic energy, wherein the photoinitiator group is selected from the group consisting of an initiator that is insoluble in polar solvent; and a negatively charged initiator; irradiating the first solution and the object, resulting in the grafting initiator binding to the object; removing the first solution; contacting the object with a second solution comprising a polymerizable monomer having at least one free-radical polymerizable group; and irradiating the second solution and the object, wherein the non-polymeric grafting initiator acts as a photoinitiator for a free-radical polymerization reaction.
1. A method for coating an object with a polymer layer comprising:
placing the object into a container;
filling the container with a first solution comprising a non-polymeric grafting initiator comprising at least one photoinitiator group capable of generating a free radical active species upon absorption of electromagnetic energy, wherein the photoinitiator group is selected from the group consisting of an initiator that is insoluble in polar solvent; and a negatively charged initiator;
irradiating the container having the first solution and the object, resulting in the grafting initiator binding to the object;
removing the first solution from the container;
filling the container with a second solution comprising a polymerizable monomer having at least one free-radical polymerizable group; and
irradiating the container having the second solution and the object, wherein the non-polymeric grafting initiator acts as a photoinitiator for a free-radical polymerization reaction, resulting in the polymerization of the polymerizable monomer and formation of a polymer layer on the object.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-polymeric grafting initiator is selected from 4,5-bis(4-benzoylphenylmethyleneoxy)benzene-1,3-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt; 2,5-bis(4-benzoylphenylmethyleneoxy)benzene-1,4-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt; 2,5-bis(4-benzoylphenylmethyleneoxy)benzene-1-sulfonic acid mono (or di-) sodium salt; and combinations thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising bubbling an inert gas through the first solution to remove non-inert gas from the first solution.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising bubbling an inert gas through the second solution to remove non-inert gas from the second solution.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising rinsing the object.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein filling the container with the first solution includes adding an amount of the first solution sufficient to surround the object.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein filling the container with the second solution includes adding an amount of the second solution sufficient to surround the object.
8. A method for coating an object with a polymer layer comprising the steps of:
establishing fluid communication between a container and a fluid maintenance station, the container having the object disposed therein;
dispensing a first solution into the container from the fluid maintenance station, the first solution comprising a non-polymeric grafting initiator comprising at least one photoinitiator group capable of generating a free radical active species upon absorption of electromagnetic energy, wherein the photoinitiator group is selected from the group consisting of an initiator that is insoluble in polar solvent; and a negatively charged initiator;
interrupting fluid communication between the container and the fluid maintenance station;
irradiating the container resulting in the grafting initiator binding to the object;
re-establishing fluid communication between the container and the fluid maintenance station;
removing the first solution from the container and dispensing a second solution into the container from the fluid maintenance station, the second solution comprising a polymerizable monomer having at least one free-radical polymerizable group; and
interrupting fluid communication between the container and the fluid maintenance station; and
irradiating the container, wherein the non-polymeric grafting initiator acts as a photoinitiator for a free-radical polymerization reaction resulting in the polymerization of the polymerizable monomer and formation of a polymer layer on the object.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the non-polymeric grafting initiator is selected from 4,5-bis(4-benzoylphenylmethyleneoxy)benzene-1,3-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt; 2,5-bis(4-benzoylphenylmethyleneoxy)benzene-1,4-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt; 2,5-bis(4-benzoylphenylmethyleneoxy)benzene-1-sulfonic acid mono (or di-) sodium salt; and combinations thereof.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising conveying the container to an irradiation station.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising bubbling inert gas through the first solution in the container to remove non-inert gas.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising bubbling inert gas through the second solution in the container to remove non-inert gas.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising conveying the container from the fluid maintenance station to an irradiation station.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising conveying the container from an irradiation station to a fluid maintenance station.
15. A method for coating an object comprising the steps of:
placing the object into a translucent container attached to a conveyor mechanism;
conveying the translucent container to a fluid maintenance station and filling the translucent container with a first solution comprising a non-polymeric grafting initiator comprising at least one photoinitiator group capable of generating a free radical active species upon absorption of electromagnetic energy, wherein the photoinitiator group is selected from the group consisting of an initiator that is insoluble in polar solvent; and a negatively charged initiator;
conveying the translucent container to an irradiation station and irradiating the container, resulting in the grafting initiator binding to the object;
conveying the translucent container to the fluid maintenance station and removing the first solution from the container and filling the container with a second solution comprising a polymerizable monomer having at least one free-radical polymerizable group, said filling sufficient to surround said object with second solution; and
conveying the translucent container to the irradiation station and irradiating the translucent container wherein the non-polymeric grafting initiator acts as a photoinitiator for a free-radical polymerization reaction, resulting in the polymerization of the polymerizable monomer and formation of a polymer layer on the object.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the non-polymeric grafting initiator is selected from 4,5-bis(4-benzoylphenylmethyleneoxy)benzene-1,3-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt; 2,5-bis(4-benzoylphenylmethyleneoxy)benzene-1,4-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt; 2,5-bis(4-benzoylphenylmethyleneoxy)benzene-1-sulfonic acid mono (or di-) sodium salt; and combinations thereof.
17. The method of claim 15 , the conveyor mechanism comprising a conveyor track.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising bubbling inert gas through the first solution in the container to remove non-inert gas.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising bubbling inert gas through the second solution in the container to remove non-inert gas.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising rinsing the object.