Methods for surface modification of materials

1. A method for modifying a surface of a material comprising anchoring a surface modifying additive to a polymer matrix using an anchor molecule, wherein the surface modifying additive and the anchor molecule are both added separately to a melt phase of the polymer matrix.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive has both hydrophobic blocks and hydrophilic blocks.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a ratio of the hydrophobic blocks and the hydrophilic blocks enables surface segregation of the surface modifying additive.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive comprises polytetrafluoroethylene and ethylene oxide blocks.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the ethylene oxide blocks comprise polyethylene glycol or polyethylene oxide.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive comprises a fluorinated polyetherdiol having ethylene oxide segments in a backbone and hydrophobic sidechains.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the anchor molecule comprises maleated polypropylene.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises polyolefins.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive comprises a fluorinated polyether molecule.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the material is rendered hydrophilic.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the material is rendered hydrophobic.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricity of the surface of the material is modified.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface modifying additive is uniformly distributed over a surface of the material.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

modifying metallic nanoparticles with the surface modifying additive; and

segregating the metallic nanoparticles to a surface of the material.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

modifying metallic nanoparticles with the surface modifying additive;

reacting the metallic nanoparticles with the anchor molecule; and

binding the metallic nanoparticles to the polymer matrix.

16. A surface modifying additive comprising

a polymer;

at least one hydrophilic block on the polymer, wherein the at least one hydrophilic block is hydroxypropylmethacrylate, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, or combinations thereof; and

at least one hydrophobic block on the polymer, wherein the at least one hydrophobic block is a fluorinated aliphatic group or moiety having a fluorine content of 15% to 46%, and wherein the at least one hydrophobic block comprises trifluoroacetic anhydride or dodecafluoroheptanoyl chloride; and

wherein the polymer is configured to render an article hydrophilic.

17. The surface modifying additive of claim 16 , wherein a ratio of the at least one hydrophilic block to the at least one hydrophobic block is configured to enable surface segregation of the at least one hydrophilic block.

18. The surface modifying additive of claim 16 , wherein a ratio of the at least one hydrophilic block to the at least one hydrophobic block is configured to render the article hydrophilic.