A fluorine-containing polymer having repeating units derived from (a) a fluorine-containing monomer, (b) a fluorine-free non-crosslinkable monomer, and (c) a fluorine-free crosslinkable monomer. The fluorine-containing monomer (a) is a compound represented by formula: CH.sub.2═C(-X)—C(═O)—Y—Z—Rf . . . (a-I), wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic group or a halogen atom, Y is —O— or —NH—, Z is a direct bond or a divalent organic group, and Rf is a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. The fluorine-free non-crosslinkable monomer (b) includes (b1) a cyclic hydrocarbon group-containing monomer and (b2) a low Tg monomer, a homopolymer of which has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of lower than 0° C. Also disclosed is a coating composition including the fluorine-containing polymer and a liquid medium, a method for producing a coated article which includes coating an article with the coating composition and a coated article.

A fluoropolyether group-containing compound of formula (1) or (2) below:

R.sup.F1—X—R.sup.Si  (1)

R.sup.Si—X—R.sup.F2—X—R.sup.Si  (2)

wherein R.sup.F1, R.sup.Si and R.sup.F2 are as defined herein.

A fluoropolyether group-containing compound of formula (1) or (2):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.F1, R.sup.X1, R.sup.X2 and R.sup.Si are as defined herein.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fluorinated ether composition with which a surface layer capable of imparting excellent water/oil repellency to the surface of a substrate and being excellent in abrasion resistance and weather resistance of the water/oil repellency, can be formed, and a coating liquid containing the fluorinated ether composition. The present invention further provides an article having a surface layer formed of the fluorinated ether composition, and a method for producing it.

A fluorinated ether composition containing a specific fluorinated ether compound (1) having a poly(oxyfluoroalkylene) chain and having two silyl groups each having a hydrolyzable group bonded, at one terminal of the chain via an amide bond, and a specific fluorinated ether compound (2) having a poly(oxyfluoroalkylene) chain and having two silyl groups having a hydrolyzable group bonded, at both terminals of the chain via an amid bond.

The invention is directed to curable polyurethane coating compositions which may be used to form fouling release coatings, e.g., for use in protecting boat hulls. A curable coating composition of the invention comprises a) at least one amphiphilic additive; b) at least one polyisocyanate; c) at least one polyol; and d) optionally, at least one amphiphilic PEG-PDMS isocyanate prepolymer. Another curable coating composition of the invention comprises the at least one polyisocyanate, b), the at least one polyol, c), and the at least one amphiphilic PEG-PDMS isocyanate prepolymer, d). The invention further relates to methods for reducing or preventing biofouling of a surface exposed to an aqueous environment comprising the steps of coating the surface with the curable coating compositions of the invention to form a coated surface, and curing the coating composition on the coated surface.

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.

Disclosed herein are zwitterionic monomers, non-zwitterionic monomers, polyzwitterionic polymers formed therefrom; surface functionalization; surface modification; and articles containing any such compositions or surfaces formed therefrom.

This disclosure relates to modified polyurethanes, specifically polyurethanes modified with one or more lipophilic groups, and tough organogels comprising such modified polyurethanes.

An antimicrobial paint is disclosed. The antimicrobial paint comprises a carrier fluid, a binder, a sulfonated polymer and optionally at least an additive. The sulfonated polymer is selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones such as polyether sulfone, sulfonated polyketones such as polyether ketone, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof. The sulfonated polymer is sufficiently or selectively sulfonated to contain from 10-100 mol % sulfonic acid or sulfonate salt functional groups based on the number of monomer units, for killing at least 99% of microbes in less than 30 minutes, or in less than 5 minutes of coming into contact with a substrate coated in the antimicrobial paint composition.

The invention is related to a cost-effective method for making a silicone hydrogel contact lens having a crosslinked hydrophilic coating thereon. A method of the invention involves heating a silicone hydrogel contact lens in an aqueous solution in the presence of a water-soluble, highly branched, thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material having positively-charged azetidinium groups, to and at a temperature from about 40° C. to about 140° C. for a period of time sufficient to covalently attach the thermally-crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material onto the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens through covalent linkages each formed between one azetidinium group and one of the reactive functional groups on and/or near the surface of the silicone hydrogel contact lens, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrophilic coating on the silicone hydrogel contact lens. Such method can be advantageously implemented directly in a sealed lens package during autoclave.