Patent · US Active

Wettability switch

US8257562B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by

4References

20Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Acreo AB · SE

Inventors

Joakim Isaksson · Söderhamn, SE
Nathaniel Robinson · Tranemo, SE
Magnus Berggren · Vreta kloster, SE

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 2, 2004
Grant date	Sep 4, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 6, 2028

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB01L2400/0688
WIPO fieldChemical engineering
WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wettability switch that comprises an electrochemically active element having a wetting surface with switchable wetting properties. The electrochemically active element comprises an electrochemically active polymer, and surface active molecules each having a lyophobic portion and a lyophilic portion. In the wettability switch, each of said surface active molecules exposes one of said lyophobic portion and said lyophilic portion towards said wetting surface, and the identity of said portion depends on an electrochemical state of said polymer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.