Supramolecular composite film material and method for fabricating

Abstract

The present invention provides an optically anisotropic composite film material possessing improved working characteristics, including hydrolytic stability and mechanical strength with respect to environmental factors. These and other advantages of the present invention may be achieved by creating a supramolecular composite film material. This supramolecular composite film material comprises a matrix of thin crystal film composed of organic supramolecules containing polar groups, and a binding agent representing a water-soluble aliphatic compound containing at least two functional groups. The present invention further provides a method for manufacturing supramolecular composite film materials possessing these advantageous properties. In one embodiment, the method comprises the following steps: (i) formation of a layer of lyotropic liquid crystal composed of supramolecules of a cyclic organic compound with conjugated π-systems and substituted polar groups; (ii) application of an external orienting force to said layer and further removal of a solvent with the resulting formation of a thin crystal film; (iii) treatment of the thin crystal film with a solution of inorganic salts leading to the formation of an insoluble crystalline film of supramolecules composed of said organic molecules; (iv) impregnation of said insoluble film with a binding agent capable of interacting with the polar groups with the subsequent formation of a filled film; and (v) drying of said filled film leading to the formation of a supramolecular composite film material.

1 . A supramolecular composite film material comprising
 a matrix of supramolecules containing polar groups and crystallized in thin crystal film, and   an aliphatic binding agent containing at least two functional groups.   
     
     
         2 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said suprarnolecules is a chain of cyclic organic molecules with conjugated π-systems, and linked by π-π bonds, having the general formula
   {M}n(F)d,   where M is an organic molecule; n is the number of molecules in the chain, having magnitude up to 10000, F is La polar group exposed to intersupramolecular space; and d is the number of polar groups per molecule, varying from 1 to 4.   
     
     
         3 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 1 , wherein said polar group is ionogenic. 
     
     
         4 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 3 , wherein said polar ionogenic group is associated with one or more counterions. 
     
     
         5 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 4 , wherein said counterions represent alkaline earth metal ions. 
     
     
         6 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 1 , in wherein the matrix of supramolecules accounts for up to about 95 mass % of the composite film material. 
     
     
         7 . The supramolecular composite film materials according to  claim 1 , wherein said binding agent is water-soluble. 
     
     
         8 . The supramolecular composite film materials according to  claim 1 , wherein said functional groups of the binding agent molecules interact with formation of hydrogen bonds and/or chemical bonds. 
     
     
         9 . The supramolecular composite film materials according to  claim 2 , wherein said functional groups of the binding agent molecules interact with the cyclic organic molecules of supramolecules with the formation of hydrogen bonds and/or ionic bonds. 
     
     
         10 . The supramolecular composite film materials according to  claims 9 , wherein the interaction of the binding agent with said cyclic organic molecules does not disturb the matrix of supramolecules. 
     
     
         11 . The supramolecular composite film materials according to  claim 9 , wherein said functional groups of the binding agent molecules interact with the polar groups of the cyclic organic molecules that belong to the different supramolecules or different fragments of the supramolecule. 
     
     
         12 . The supramolecular composite film materials according to  claim 1 , wherein said binding agent contains amino and/or hydroxy groups. 
     
     
         13 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 12 , wherein said binding agent is selected from the class of methylol carbamides and their derivatives. 
     
     
         14 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 1 , wherein said binding agent further comprises additives of diatomic or polyatomic alcohols. 
     
     
         15 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 14 , wherein the amount of said alcohol additives to the binding agent falls within the ratio interval of (0.1-1.0) to 2. 
     
     
         16 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 1 , wherein said material is anisotropic and possesses a crystalline structure with an interplanar spacing of 3.4±0.3 Å along one of the optical axes. 
     
     
         17 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 1 , wherein said material is polarizing. 
     
     
         18 . The supramolecular composite film material according to  claim 1 , wherein said material is a retarder or light filter. 
     
     
         19 .- 34 . (canceled)