Waterproof Apertured Surfaces or Materials Using Nanoparticle Hydrophobic Treatments

Abstract

A method of manufacturing waterproof apertured materials or surfaces, and such materials or surfaces, using nanoparticle hydrophobic compositions and treatments, and preferably superhydrophobic compositions and treatments, which possess apertures retaining breeching members possessing liquid wicking properties which would normally render the surface or material water-permeable. By treating the breeching members with the nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic compositions, a hydrophobic field extending from the breeching member is created, such that the extended hydrophobic field precludes passage of liquid through the apertures by wicking or capillary action.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of preventing water passage through an aperture in a waterproof material when a breeching member is present in the aperture, the method comprising the steps of:
 treating said breeching member with a nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic composition to create a hydrophobic field extending beyond said breeching member; and   inserting said breeching member through said aperture;   whereby said hydrophobic field precludes passage of liquid through said aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of creating said aperture prior to said step of inserting said breeching member. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of choosing said breeching member from the group of breeching members consisting of wicking members which prior to said treating step absorb liquids. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said step of choosing said breeching member comprises choosing said breeching member from the group of breeching members consisting of strings, shoelaces and threads. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of creating said aperture is performed by stitching. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of creating said aperture is performed by forming a hole. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said step of creating said aperture is performed by forming a grommet. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of creating said waterproof material by treating a non-waterproof material with a nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic composition. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing an apertured waterproof material having a breeching member passing through an aperture, the method comprising the steps of:
 treating said breeching member with a nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic composition to create a hydrophobic field extending beyond said breeching member; and   inserting said breeching member through said aperture;   whereby said hydrophobic field precludes passage of liquid through said aperture.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of creating said aperture prior to said step of inserting said breeching member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of choosing said breeching member from the group of breeching members consisting of wicking members which prior to said treating step absorb liquids. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said step of choosing said breeching member comprises choosing said breeching member from the group of breeching members consisting of strings, shoelaces and threads. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of creating said aperture is performed by stitching. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of creating said aperture is performed by forming a hole. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of creating said aperture is performed by forming a grommet. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of creating said waterproof material by treating a non-waterproof material with a nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic composition. 
     
     
         17 . An apertured waterproof material having a breeching member passing through an aperture comprising:
 a waterproof material, said waterproof material comprising one or more apertures;   a breeching member passing through each said one or more apertures, each said breeching member having been treated with a nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic composition to create a hydrophobic field extending beyond said breeching member;   whereby said hydrophobic field precludes passage of liquid through said one or more apertures.   
     
     
         18 . The waterproof material of  claim 17 , wherein each said breeching member is a wicking member which prior to having been treated absorbs liquids. 
     
     
         19 . The waterproof material of  claim 18 , wherein each said breeching member is chosen from the group of breeching members consisting of strings, shoelaces and threads. 
     
     
         20 . The waterproof material of  claim 17 , wherein said waterproof material has been treated with a nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic composition.