Easy-clean coating

1. An optical coating composition that imparts an easy-cleaning, an anti-fogging and an anti-reflecting properties on a surface of an article comprising:

at least one silane of a formula (1);

R 1 Si(OR 2 ) 3   (1)

wherein R 1 comprises a reactive organic epoxide group and R 2 is a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group or an isopropyl group;

an alcohol component, water, and

further comprising a silane compound having a formula (2),

Si(OR 2 ) 4   (2)

wherein R 2 is a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group or an isopropyl group;

wherein said coating composition further comprises at least one high surface tension reducing surfactant.

2. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein a molar ratio of said silane of formula (2) and said silane of formula (1) ranges from approximately 1:1 to 19:1.

3. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein a molar ratio of said silane of a formula (2) and said silane of formula (1) ranges from approximately 4:1 to 3:2.

4. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein said reactive organic epoxide group comprises a 3-glycidoxylpropyl group.

5. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein water is added at a molar ratio to a total mole of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2).

6. The optical coating composition of claim 5 , wherein said molar ratio of water and said total moles of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2) is in a range of about 1:1 to 11:1.

7. The optical coating composition of claim 5 , wherein said molar ratio of water and said total moles of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2) is in a range of about 2:1 to 4:1.

8. The optical coating composition of claim 5 , wherein said molar ratio of water and said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2) are adjusted to optimize a hydrolysis of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2) and to prevent a ring opening of said epoxide group of said silane of formula (1).

9. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein said alcohol component is added at a molar ratio to a total mole of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2).

10. The optical coating composition of claim 9 , wherein said molar ratio of said alcohol component and said total moles of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2) is in a range of about 2:1 to 6:1.

11. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein said alcohol component is selected based on R 2 of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2).

12. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein said alcohol component comprises methanol, ethanol, propanol, or isopropanol.

13. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein said surfactant is a silicone-containing surface additive.

14. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein said silicone-containing surface additive comprises a polyether modified polydimethylsiloxane.

15. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an acid.

16. The optical coating composition of claim 15 , wherein said acid is hydrochloric acid at a concentration ranging from about 0.00001 to 0.1 moles per liter of coating solution.

17. The optical coating composition of claim 15 , wherein said acid is hydrochloric acid at a concentration ranging from about 0.001 and 0.05 moles per liter of coating solution.

18. The optical coating composition of claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises pores having diameters in a range of approximately 5 to 20 nanometers.

19. A method of preparing an optical coating composition that imparts an easy-cleaning, an anti-fogging and an anti-reflecting properties on a surface of an article comprising:

a) forming a first mixture in a first step by combining:

i) at least one silane of a formula (1);

R 1 Si(OR 2 ) 3   (1)

wherein R 1 comprises a reactive organic epoxide group and R 2 is a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group or an isopropyl group;

ii) an alcohol component,

iii) water, and

iv) a silane compound having a formula (2),

Si(OR 2 ) 4   (2)

wherein R 2 is a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group or an isopropyl group;

wherein said coating composition further comprises at least on high surface tension reducing surfactant

b) heating said first mixture for a period of time to promote hydrolysis;

c) forming a second mixture in a second step by diluting a portion of said first mixture and adding at least one additional alcohol component from said first mixture;

d) heating said second mixture formed at said second step at a range of temperature and for a period of time; and

e) stabilizing said second mixture by adding an acid.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein step b) includes heating said first mixture for 4 hours to promote hydrolysis.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein step c) includes diluting said first mixture to a concentration of about 5 to 80 percent by volume.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein step c) includes diluting said first mixture to a concentration of about 10 to 45 percent by volume.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein step c) includes diluting said first mixture to a concentration of about 10 to 30 percent by volume.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein step d) includes heating said second mixture in a range of approximately 40 to 80 degrees Celsius for 12 to 72 hours.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein step d) includes heating said second mixture in a range of approximately 50 to 60 degrees Celsius for 12 to 72 hours.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein step e) includes stabilizing said second mixture by adding said acid comprising hydrochloric acid at a concentration ranging from about 0.00001 to 0.1 moles per liter of said second mixture.

27. The method of claim 19 , wherein step e) includes stabilizing said second mixture by adding said acid comprising hydrochloric acid at a concentration ranging from about 0.001 and 0.05 moles per liter of said second mixture.

28. The method of claim 19 , wherein step a) includes combining a molar ratio of said silane of formula (2) and said silane of formula (1) ranging from approximately 1:1 to 19:1.

29. The method of claim 19 , wherein step a) includes combining a molar ratio of said silane of a formula (2) and said silane of formula (1) ranging from approximately 4:1 to 3:2.

30. The method of claim 19 , wherein step a) includes adding water to a total mole of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2) to obtain a molar ratio of water:silanes of about 1:1 to 11:1.

31. The method of claim 19 , wherein step a) includes adding water to a total mole of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2) to obtain a molar ratio of water:silanes of about 2:1 to 4:1.

32. The method of claim 19 , wherein step a) includes adding said alcohol component to a total mole of said silane of formula (1) and said silane of formula (2) to obtain a molar ratio of said alcohol component:silanes of about 2:1 to 6:1.