Retrofittable flexible fabric liners with surface-functionalized electroless nickel coatings for midstream transportation of bitumen

Abstract

Omniphobic compositions and methods of fabricating the same are provided. An omniphobic (or superomniphobic) coating can be fabricated on a fabric (e.g., cotton fabric) substrate. The multiscale textured surface can be achieved using a polymer (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) electroless nickel coating, and the surface energy can be further reduced with the binding of a fluorinated monolayer. Once rendered repellant to both water and oil, the fabric substrates retain their repellency even after being contorted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fabricating an omniphobic composition, the method comprising:
 performing a first surface functionalization on a substrate using a first moiety; and   after performing the first surface functionalization, performing electroless nickel deposition together with a texturization component on the substrate,   wherein the omniphobic composition is hydrophobic and oleophobic.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, after performing the first surface functionalization and before performing the electroless nickel deposition, performing a second surface functionalization on the substrate using a second moiety different from the first moiety. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the second moiety is PdCl 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, after performing the electroless nickel deposition, performing a third surface functionalization using a third moiety different from the first moiety and the second moiety,
 wherein the third moiety is a fluorinated monolayer.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the third moiety is 1H, 1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctanephosphonic acid (PFOPA). 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the third surface functionalization is performed for at least 10 hours. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the texturization component is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the texturization component comprises beads of a polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the performing of the electroless nickel deposition comprises using a nickel alloy, and
 wherein the nickel alloy is a nickel phosphorous alloy.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first moiety is 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS). 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a fabric substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electroless nickel deposition is performed for at least 30 seconds. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a coating formed by the electroless nickel deposition is disposed directly on the substrate. 
     
     
         14 . An omniphobic composition, comprising:
 a substrate; and   an electroless nickel coating together with a texturization component disposed on the substrate,   wherein the omniphobic composition is hydrophobic and oleophobic.   
     
     
         15 . The omniphobic composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the electroless nickel coating is surface functionalized with a fluorinated monolayer. 
     
     
         16 . The omniphobic composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluorinated monolayer is 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctanephosphonic acid (PFOPA). 
     
     
         17 . The omniphobic composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the texturization component is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and
 wherein the substrate is surface functionalized with at least one of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) and PdCl 2 .   
     
     
         18 . The omniphobic composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the electroless nickel coating comprises a nickel alloy, and
 wherein the nickel alloy is a nickel phosphorous alloy.   
     
     
         19 . The omniphobic composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the substrate is a fabric substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The omniphobic composition according to  claim 14 , wherein the omniphobic composition is flexible and remains hydrophobic and oleophobic after being contorted, and
 wherein the omniphobic composition remains hydrophobic and oleophobic up to a temperature of at least 220° C.