Self-lubricating surfaces for food packaging and food processing equipment

Abstract

In certain embodiments, the invention relates to an article having a liquid-impregnated surface. The surface includes a matrix of solid features (e.g., non-toxic and/or edible features) spaced sufficiently close to stably contain a liquid therebetween or therewithin, wherein the liquid is non-toxic and/or edible. The article may contain, for example, a food or other consumer product, such as ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article comprising a liquid-impregnated surface, said surface comprising a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain a liquid therebetween and/or therewithin, wherein the features and liquid are non-toxic and/or edible. 
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , and wherein the article is a container of a consumer product. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the solid features comprise particles. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the particles have an average dimension in a range of 5 microns to 50 microns. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the particles comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of insoluble fibers, purified wood cellulose, micro-crystalline cellulose, oat bran fiber, kaolinite (clay mineral), Japan wax (obtained from berries), pulp (spongy part of plant stems), ferric oxide, iron oxide, sodium formate, sodium oleate, sodium palmitate, sodium sulfate, wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, candelilla wax, zein (from corn), dextrin, cellulose ether, Hydroxyethyl cellulose, Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), Hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), and Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the particles comprise a wax. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the particles are randomly spaced. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the particles are arranged with average spacing of about 10 microns to about 30 microns between adjacent particles or clusters of particles. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the particles are spray-deposited. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the consumer product comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ketchup, catsup, mustard, mayonnaise, syrup, honey, jelly, peanut butter, butter, chocolate syrup, shortening, butter, margarine, oleo, grease, dip, yogurt, sour cream, cosmetics, shampoo, lotion, hair gel, and toothpaste. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the container of the consumer product is shelf-stable when filled with the consumer product. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the consumer product has a viscosity of at least 100 cP at room temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the consumer product is a non-Newtonian material. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a food additive (e.g., ethyl oleate), fatty acids, proteins, and a vegetable oil (e.g., olive oil, light olive oil, corn oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, linseed oil, grapeseed oil, flaxseed oil, canola oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil). 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a component of consumer product processing equipment. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a component of food processing equipment that comes into contact with food. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid-impregnated surface has solid-to-liquid ratio less than about 50 percent. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a container of a consumer product, the method comprising:
 providing a substrate;   applying a texture to the substrate, the texture comprising a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain a liquid therebetween and/or therewithin; and   impregnating the matrix of solid features with the liquid, wherein the solid features and the liquid are non-toxic and/or edible.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the solid features are particles. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the applying step comprises spraying a mixture of a solid and a solvent onto the textured substrate. 
     
     
         21 - 30 . (canceled)