METHOD OF PROCESSING ARTICLE AND ARTICLE

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a method of processing an article.

The invention further relates to an article.

Many materials have to be protected due to their for their degradability and aspect deterioration caused by e.g. humidity and air pollution. These kinds of materials are e.g. glass, plastics, metal etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Viewed from a first aspect, there can be provided a method of processing a non-porous article, said article comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the method comprises: hydrophobizing the first and the second surfaces, and arranging hydrophilic material or precursors thereof only on the first surface of the article. Thereby an article which does not take up water may be achieved.

Viewed from a further aspect, there can be provided a non-porous article comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the article comprises non-conformal coatings on said first and second surfaces so that the first surface comprises a hydrophilic material layer, and the second surface comprises a hydrophobized layer. Thereby an advantageous material may be achieved.

The method and the article are characterised by what is stated in the characterising parts of the independent claims. Some other embodiments are characterised by what is stated in the other claims. Inventive embodiments are also disclosed in the specification and drawings of this patent application. The inventive content of the patent application may also be defined in other ways than defined in the following claims. The inventive content may also be formed of several separate inventions, especially if the invention is examined in the light of expressed or implicit sub-tasks or in view of obtained benefits or benefit groups. Some of the definitions contained in the following claims may then be unnecessary in view of the separate inventive ideas. Features of the different embodiments of the invention may, within the scope of the basic inventive idea, be applied to other embodiments.

In a preferred structure the method comprises of processing an article, said article comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the method comprises: hydrophobizing the first and the second surfaces, and arranging hydrophilic material or precursors thereof only on the first surface of the article.

In one embodiment the hydrophobizing is executed by using hydrophobizing dispersion comprising silicone, silicone precursors and/or silicone monomers.

In one embodiment the hydrophobizing is executed by using dispersion comprising hydrophobized silica (S1O2), preferably as nanoparticles. Silica may be hydrophobized by coating a hydrophobic material layer on the surface of the silica particle.

In one embodiment the hydrophobizing is executed by using dispersion comprising organic material having one or more functional group(s) selected from phosphate, phosphonate, phosphinic acid, betadiketonate, thiol, silane, siloxane, and carboxylic acid or any salts of the corresponding acids.

In one embodiment the hydrophilic material comprises photoactive material, such as ΤΊΟ2, Ag-, S-, N- or P-doped ΤΊΟ2, MgTa2O6, ZnS, ZnO, SnO ₂ or precursors thereof.

In one embodiment the hydrophilic material or precursors thereof is arranged on the first surface of the article in a process step prior to the hydrophobizing of the article.

In one embodiment the hydrophilic material or precursors thereof is arranged on the first surface of the article in a process step after the hydrophobizing of the article.

In one embodiment the hydrophilic material or precursors thereof is arranged on the first surface after installation of the article.

In one embodiment the article consists of a three dimensional body, wherein the first surface forms the frontal face of the article, the second surface comprises a back surface and an edge surface, the back surface being situated opposite to the front face and the edge surface being situated between the front face and the back surface.

In one embodiment the method comprises processing an article, said article comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the method comprises: hydrophobizing the first and the second surfaces by dispersion comprising S1O2, and arranging hydrophilic material comprising ΤΊΟ2 or precursors thereof only on the first surface of the article.

In one embodiment the method comprises processing an article, said article comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the method comprises: hydrophobizing the first surface by dispersion comprising silicone, silicone precursors and/or silicone monomers, hydrophobizing the second surface by dispersion comprising S1O2, and arranging hydrophilic material comprising ΤΊΟ2 or precursors thereof only on the first surface of the article.

In one embodiment the method comprises processing an article, said article comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the method comprises: hydrophobizing the first and the second surfaces by dispersion comprising silicone, silicone precursors and/or silicone monomers, and arranging hydrophilic material comprising ΤΊΟ2 or precursors thereof only on the first surface of the article.

In one embodiment the method comprises processing an article, said article comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the method comprises: hydrophobizing the first and the second surfaces by dispersion comprising organic material having one or more functional group(s) selected from phosphate, phosphonate, phosphinic acid, betadiketonate, thiol, silane, siloxane, and carboxylic acid or any salts of the corresponding acids, and arranging hydrophilic material comprising ΤΊΟ2 or precursors thereof only on the first surface of the article.

In another preferred structure, an article comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the article comprises non-conformal coatings on said first and second surfaces so that the first surface comprises a hydrophilic material layer, and the second surface comprises a hydrophobized layer.

In one embodiment the article is a window, goggles or some another optical element, construction element, etc.

In one embodiment the article has a shape of a slab, sheet or plate, the frontal face of which being said first surface, and the second surface comprising a back surface and optionally also an edge surface, the back surface being situated opposite to the front face and the edge surface being situated between the front face and the back surface.

In one embodiment all surfaces of the article comprise the hydrophobized layer, and the hydrophilic material arranged on the hydrophobized layer.

In one embodiment the thickness of the hydrophobized layer is about 0.5%, 1 %, 5%, 10%, or 25% of the total thickness of the article. In one embodiment the thickness of the hydrophilic material layer is in range of 80 to 150 nm .

In one embodiment the article consists of a three dimensional body comprising a first surface a second surface being situated opposite to the first surface, and an edge surface being situated between the first surface and the second surface, wherein a contact layer is arranged on the edge surface for promoting adhesion of a sealant member to the article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments illustrating the present disclosure are described in more detail in the attached drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a part of an article,

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a part of another article,

Figures 3a - 3c are schematic views of further articles,

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a first method of processing an article,

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a second method of processing an article, and

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a third article.

For the sake of clarity, the figures show the embodiments in a simplified manner. Like reference numbers identify like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a part of an article. The article 1 comprises a first surface 3 and a second surface 4, 4'.

The article has a three dimensional body having shape of a slab manufactured from a material 2. The first surface 3 may form the frontal or outer face 5 of the article 1 , whereas the second surface 4, 4' comprises a back or inner surface 4 and an edge surface 4'. The back surface 4 may be situated opposite to the frontal face 5. The edge surface 4' is situated between the frontal face 5 and the back surface 6.

The material 2 is non-porous material, e.g. glass, plastic, metal etc.

The frontal face 5 may, for instance, be arranged to form an outer surface of a window.

The thickness of the article may be, for instance, in range of 1 to

120 mm.

The article 1 comprises non-conformal layers on its surfaces so that the first surface 3 comprises a hydrophilic material layer and the second surface 4, 4' comprises a hydrophobic layer. The term "non-conformal layers" means here that the article 1 comprises differently processed surfaces. The term "layer" means here material layer on the surface of the article 1 .

It is to be noted here that material layers on the surface of the material are shown separated from the material 1 and adjacent layer(s) for clarity reasons.

The article 1 comprises hydrophobic material layers 10, 10'. The hydrophobic material layers 10, 10' has been arranged on the second surface 4, 4' only and they may comprise nanoscale and/or microscale particles comprising e.g. S1O2.

The thickness of the hydrophobic material layer 10, 10' may be in range in range of 80 to 150 nm.

A hydrophilic material layer 8 has been arranged only on the first surface 3 of the article 1 .

This comprises hydrophilic material, e.g. titanium dioxide (T1O2) or precursors thereof. The second surface 4, 4' does not comprise said hydrophilic material layer 8.

Instead of T1O2 or mixed therewith some other oxides, such as N or P-doped T1O2, MgTa2O6, or SnO2, may be used as hydrophilic material . Said oxides are photoactive or photocatalytic material. They have an ability to be excited by light radiations to create very reactive radical species at their surface upon recombination of excitons with atmospheric water and oxygen. In the case where an organic contamination deposits and lays at the vicinity of the photoactive material, a progressive decomposition of the contaminant into inertial CO2 and H ₂ O will take place.

The term "precursor" covers here any starting compound in solid, liquid or gas form that can be converted to the desired oxide, carbonate, or phosphate directly or by post-treatments. The term "precursor" covers also materials that originally are not in the form of oxides, carbonates or phosphates, but which can be converted to such compounds by thermal or chemical treatments. Also preformed particles of the desired oxide, carbonate, or phosphate are count as precursors.

According to another embodiment the hydrophobized layer 9 comprises organic material having one or more functional group(s) selected from phosphate, phosphonate, phosphinic acid, betadiketonate, thiol, silane, siloxane, and carboxylic acid or any salts of the corresponding acids.

Examples of organic phosphates and phosphonates include, but are not limited to, fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, mixtures of fluorocarbons and hydrocarbons, phospholipids, polymers containing phosphate or phosphonate groups, polymerizable smaller molecules including a phosphate and/or phosphonate group in at least one of the starting materials, chemical post- modifications of organic molecules introduced into or onto the article 1 where at least one of the molecules contains at least one phosphorous in its structure to form phosphate and/or phosphonate groups.

However, depending on the chemical nature of the material 2, other hydrophobization agents may be used as well.

The hydrophilic material layer 8 arranged only on the first surface 3 of the article 1 may then comprise T1O2 or precursors thereof.

The thickness of the hydrophobic material layer 10, 10' may be, for instance, about 0.5%, 1 %, 5%, 10%, or 25% of the total thickness of the article 1 .

Nanoscale and/or microscale particles may be used in the hydrophilic material layer 8. The thickness of the hydrophilic material layer 8 may be in range of 80 to 150 nm, for example.

The layer 8, 10, 10' may cover continuously and complete the whole surface it has been arranged to, or it may comprise holes, gaps or openings here and there so that the underlying surface penetrates through said layer 8, 10, 10'.

The second surface 4, 4' of the article 1 may have higher degree of roughness than the first surface 3. The roughness of the second surface 4, 4' may be a result of diamond cutting or frame saw. This kind of surface may be advantageous when pursuing a highly hydrophobic surface in the article 1 . The first surface may be e.g. grinded or polished.

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a part of a second article. The article 1 comprises a hydrophilic material layer 8, and hydrophobic material layer 10, 10' according to the description above.

The article 1 comprises, in addition, a hydrophobic material layer 10" on the first surface 3. The hydrophobic material layer 10, 10', 10" may thus be extended to all surfaces of the article 1 . The hydrophobic material layer 10, 10', 10" may comprise e.g. SiO ₂ .

The hydrophobic material layer 10, 10', 10" may have equal thickness and physical structure on all the surfaces it has been arranged to. The physical structure means here e.g. porosity or presence of holes, gaps or openings in the layer. Alternatively, he hydrophobic material layer 10, 10', 10" may have first thickness and/or structure on the back surface 6 and second, different thickness and/or structure on the edge surface 7.

Figures 3a - 3c are schematic views of further articles. The shape and profile of the article 1 may vary. The article 1 may have profiled edge surface 7 as shown in Figure 5a. This may facilitate e.g. fixing the articles to each other.

The article 1 may have projections and/or recesses that modify its architectural image as shown in Figure 5b.

The article 1 may include a corner as shown in Figure 5c. It is also clear that the article 1 may be e.g. curvilinear, convex, or concave.

It is to be noted here that according to an embodiment the first surface 3 consists of frontal face 5 of the article 1 only. According to another embodiment the first surface 3 comprises frontal face 5 and at least part of the edge surface 7.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a first method of processing an article. The method may comprise four main steps A to D.

In step A the article 1 may be pretreated for removing impurities, dust, moisture, oxidized surface etc. Thereby the chemical attachment of the layer materials to the material 2 can potentially be increased.

The pre-treatment may be based on a mechanical treatment, heat treatment, vacuum treatment, chemical treatment, physical treatment or combination thereof.

At least some surfaces of the article may also be activated in the pre-treatment. Down to the activation the surfaces are more attractive to the hydrophobic material or precursors thereof and/or the hydrophobizing dispersion.

The pre-treatment may comprise e.g. treatment by hydrogen peroxide, gas flame, laser, infra-red radiation, ultraviolet radiation, plasma etc.

It is to be noted that the step A is optional, not essential step of the method.

In step B the first and the second surfaces are hydrophobized arranging hydrophobic material or precursors thereof.

The hydrophobizing step may be executed by using suitable hydrophobizing dispersion. This dispersion may comprise e.g. silicone, silicone precursors and/or silicone monomers, hydrophobized silica (S1O2), preferably as nanoparticles, or organic material having one or more functional group(s) selected from phosphate, phosphonate, phosphinic acid, betadiketonate, thiol, silane, siloxane, and carboxylic acid or any salts of the corresponding acids, or combination thereof.

The hydrophobizing dispersion may comprise continuous medium that is solvent, such as water, ethanol, propanol, methanol, acetone, butanol, water, 1 -methoxy-2-propanol, ethylene glycol, THF (tetrahydrofuran), DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), cyclohexane etc. or mixtures thereof.

According to an embodiment the hydrophobizing dispersion is sprayed onto the article 1 which may have been heated to elevated temperature. The continuous medium will, at least partially, evaporate. The surface of the article 1 will, if being heated, cool down as the continuous medium evaporates.

According to still another embodiment the hydrophobizing dispersion is applied to the article 1 by condensation from a gas phase. The gas phase may be overpressurized.

According to still another embodiment the hydrophobizing dispersion is brushed on the article 1 .

According to still another embodiment the hydrophobizing dispersion is printed using e.g. an inkjet printer or piezoelectric printer.

It is also possible to combine two or more above-mentioned methods in the hydrophobizing step.

In step C hydrophilic material or precursors thereof are arranged on the first surface 3 of the article. The hydrophilic material may be e.g . photoactive material that comprises T1O2, Ag-, S-, N- or P-doped T1O2, MgTa2O6, ZnS, ZnO, SnO2 or precursors thereof.

The particles of the hydrophilic material may comprise nanosize or microsize particles or mixture thereof.

The hydrophilic material or precursors thereof may be deposited onto the article 1 by e.g. wet-methods, like spraying, dip-coating, or by other wet-chemical methods, or by a sol-gel process or deposited in pre-formed particulate form. In step D the article 1 is post processed. For example, a thermal treatment may be applied in order to increase the stability of the layer structure arranged in the article 1 .

Post processing equipment may execute e.g. plasma treatment, thermal treatment, UV-treatment, IR-treatment, VIS-treatment, ozone treatment, laser treatment, or any combination of these. The post processing may be applied to transform the precursors, if any, of the layer materials into the desired form and to further reinforce cohesion of the impregnated and/or deposited materials by increasing the density of strong chemical bonds to the material 2 and/or within the impregnated and deposited substances etc.

It is to be noted that the step D is optional, not essential step of the method.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a second method of processing an article. This method differs from the method shown in Figure 4 in that the hydrophilic material or precursors thereof is arranged on the first surface 3 of the article prior to the hydrophobizing of the article 1 .

The hydrophilic material or precursors thereof may be e.g. T1O2. The hydrophobizing dispersion is applied on the T1O2 layer. The hydrophobizing dispersion penetrates through the T1O2 layer and absorbs in the material 2. A portion of the hydrophobizing dispersion may remain in and/or on the T1O2 layer.

The hydrophilic material or precursors thereof may be applied in a process line prior to the attachment of the article 1 in its final place in e.g. building. The hydrophobizing dispersion may also be applied to the article in the process line prior to said attachment or, alternatively, to the article that has already attached in its place.

There may be a period of time, e.g. 24 hours, between step C and step B. During said period of time the hydrophobic material or precursors thereof may make bonds to the material 2 of the article. During the period of time the article 1 may be kept in relatively low temperature between 5 to 30° C, or in elevated temperature between 30 to 200° C, e.g. in 90° C.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a third article. The article 1 consists of a three dimensional body. A surface 3 of the article forms the frontal face 5 of the article 1 . A second surface 4 forms the back surface 6 of the article 1 . The back surface 6 is situated opposite to the frontal face 5. The article 1 further comprises an edge surface 7 between the frontal face 5 and the back surface 6. The edge surface 7 comprises a contact layer 12 that promotes adhesion of a sealant member 1 1 to the article 1 .

The sealant member 1 1 may be selected from any known sealants that are used for sealing gaps or joints of two or more building or construction elements. The material of the sealant member 1 1 may comprise silicone, polyurethane, acrylics etc.

It is shown in Figure 6 an embodiment where the sealant member 1 1 is arranged between two articles 1 made of identical materials and layers. According to another embodiment, the sealant member 1 1 is arranged between construction elements which are not identical, e.g. they may be manufactured form different materials. One of said construction elements may be manufactured of metal and another of glass, for instance.

According to an embodiment, the contact layer 12 may comprise epoxy resin.

According to a further embodiment, the contact layer comprises a silicon surfactant, such as Byk 375 by BYK Additives & Instruments.

According to a still further embodiment the contact layer comprises isocyanate. This is especially favourable embodiment when the sealant member 1 1 comprises polyurethane.

Materials and compounds of the contact layer 12 may be applied to the edge surface 7 by spraying, dipping, brushing or any other known method.

The contact layer 12 may be applied to the edge surface 7 prior to the steps of hydrophobizing the first and the second surfaces 3, 4, and arranging hydrophilic material or precursors thereof on the first surface 3. Alternatively, the contact layer 12 may be applied to the edge surface 7 after the step of hydrophobizing the first and the second surfaces 3, 4, but prior to the step where hydrophilic material or precursors thereof are arranged on the first surface 3. According to a third alternative method, the contact layer 12 is applied to the edge surface 7 in a method step following the steps of hydrophobizing the first and the second surfaces 3, 4, and arranging hydrophilic material or precursors thereof on the first surface 3.

The contact layer 12 may be included in all articles 1 described in this description, especially in those articles 1 shown in Figures 1 to 5. To summarize, the article 1 is a product which does not degrade, contaminate or deteriorate by humidity and/or air pollution due to the hydrophobized material layer 10, 10', 10". Said hydrophobized layer(s) 10, 10', 10" arranged on the first surface 3 of the article 1 is/are protected against ultraviolet radiation by hydrophilic material layer 8. The hydrophilic material layer 8 may also introduce a self-cleaning function to the article 1 .

The drawings and the related description is for the purpose of illustrating the idea of the invention only. The invention may vary in detail within the scope of the claims.

Reference symbols

1 article

2 material

3 first surface

4, 4' second surface

5 frontal face

6 back surface

7 edge surface

8 hydrophilic material layer

10, 10', 10" hydrophobic material layer

1 1 sealant member

12 contact layer

A pretreatment step

B, B1 , B2 hydrophobizing step

C hydrophilizing step

D post processing step