Methods, processes, and apparatus for depositing nanosensors on low surface energy substrates

1. A method for depositing nanosensors comprising:

(a) directing a plasma stream onto a low energy substrate having a surface energy of from 10 mN/m to 43 mN/m to increase the surface energy of the substrate to from 44 mN/m to 80 mN/m;

(b) applying an adhesive layer to the plasma discharge treated substrate of step (a); and

(c) depositing nanosensors on the adhesive coated substrate of step (b) via electrostatic force assisted deposition using a high strength electrostatic field of from 2 kV/cm to 10 kV/cm to form vertically standing nanosensors,

wherein, in step (a), the plasma stream is created by applying voltage between a working electrode and a counter electrode, and wherein step (a) further comprises heating a platform containing the low surface energy substrate, and measuring a surface energy of the low energy substrate.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises one or more polyolefins.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polyolefins are selected from the group consisting of LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, and PB.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises one or more polyamide.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the polyamides are selected from the group consisting of Nylon6, Nylon6,6, Nylon6,10, Nylon6,11, and Kevlar, the horizontal band wraps proximate to a body portion around the thoracic cage region.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises one or more Acrylics acrylics.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the acrylics are selected from the group consisting of PMA, PMMA, and PEMA.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises

polyurethanes based on polyester polyols combined with aromatic or aliphatic isocyanates, and/or

polyurethane based polyester polyols combined with aromatic or aliphatic isocyanates.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises one or more vinyl polymers.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the vinyl polymers are selected from the group consisting of PVC, EVA, PVA, and polyvinyledene chloride.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises one or more styrene or styrene copolymers.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the styrene or styrene copolymers are selected from the group consisting of PS, ABS, and SAN.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate is comprises of one or more fluoropolymers.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fluoropolymers are selected from the group consisting of PTFE and PVDF.

15. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises one or more silicones.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the silicones are selected from the group consisting of polysiloxanes and RTV.

17. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises one or more engineering polymers selected from the group consisting of PEEK, PEK, polysulfones, and LCP.

18. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises one or more elastomers.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein the elastomers are selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, polyisoprene, butyl rubber, polybutadiene, SBR, and polychloroprene.

20. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate comprises interpenetrating polymeric networks.

21. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate is stainless steel.

22. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the low energy substrate is nickel titanium alloy.

23. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nanosensors are polymer nano structures.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 , wherein the polymer nanostructures are embedded into a matrix polymer to form a yarn.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 , wherein the yarn is a micro denier yarn.

26. The method as recited in claim 24 , wherein the matrix polymer is dissolved to expose the polymer nanostructures.

27. The method as recited in claim 26 , wherein the exposed polymer nanostructures are coated with a protective conformal coating film.

28. The method as recited in claim 25 , wherein the polymer nanostructures are made of a polymer material selected from the group of polyesters consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthanate and polybutylene terephthalate.

29. The method as recited in claim 25 , wherein the polymer nanostructures are made of a polyester and/or polyether based polyurethane.

30. The method as recited in claim 25 , wherein the polymer nanostructures are comprised of polyolefins.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the polyolefins include polypropylene.

32. The method as recited in claim 25 , wherein the matrix polymer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide or poly lactic acid.

33. The method as recited in claim 25 , wherein the matrix polymer is made of a polyethylene terephthalate modified with sulfonated isocyanate.

34. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is a UV ink.

35. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is a UV glue.

36. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is a water based ink.

37. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is a water based ink.

38. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is a coating.

39. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer is a solvent based ink.

40. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the adhesive comprises applying the adhesive via screen printing.