Slippery self-lubricating polymer surfaces

摘要

The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery self- lubricating polymers. Lubricating liquids with affinities to polymers can be utilized to get absorbed within the polymer and form a lubricant layer (of the lubricating liquid) on the polymer. The lubricant layer can repel a wide range of materials, including simple and complex fluids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and bodily fluids), restore liquid-repellency after physical damage, and resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion. Some exemplary applications where self-lubricating polymers will be useful include energy-efficient, friction- reduction fluid handling and transportation, medical devices, anti-icing, optical sensing,and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments.