Some variations provide a sensing system configured to measure the concentration of an antimicrobial agent in a polymer, comprising: a polymer containing (i) a discrete solid structural phase comprising a solid structural polymer and (ii) a continuous transport phase comprising a solid transport polymer and capable of containing the antimicrobial agent; and an antimicrobial-agent sensor that chemically senses the antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial-agent sensor is disposed on a surface of, and in mass transport with, the polymer. The antimicrobial-agent sensor contains a responsive material disposed on or within a carrier material. The responsive material is chemically reactive with the antimicrobial agent and exhibits an observable and quantifiable property change upon chemically reacting with the antimicrobial agent. The observable and quantifiable property change may involve chromaticity, optical transparency, ionic conductivity, or electronic conductivity, for example. Some variations provide methods of making and/or using the sensing system.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least one (per)fluoropolyether base oil and at least one polymer obtained by the copolymerization of (per)fluoropolyether (PFPE), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and at least one non-homopolymerizable olefin.

Provided is a fluorine-containing siloxane acrylate represented by formula (1).

X—Z-PFPE-Z—X   (1)

[PFPE is a divalent perfluoropolyether chain, X is a group represented by formula (2)

##STR00001##

{Y.sup.1 is a divalent organic group, R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a methyl group, or a trifluoromethyl group, and G is a monovalent hydrocarbon group or a group represented by formula (3)

O—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2—Y.sup.1—OR.sup.1   (3)

(R.sup.1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and Y.sup.1 is same as mentioned above. The broken line represents a bond (hereinafter, the same shall apply.)) Q is a hydrogen atom or a group represented by formula (4)

SiR.sup.3.sub.3   (4)

(R.sup.3 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group.) e is an integer of 0-2, f is an integer of 0-2, and g is an integer of 1-3, and e+f+g is 3.} Z is a predetermined divalent organic group.]

Disclosed herein is a shelf-stable, two-part formula for making an antimicrobial biphasic polymer. Some variations provide a two-part formula for fabricating a biphasic polymer, wherein the two-part formula consists essentially of (A) a first liquid volume, wherein the first liquid volume comprises: a structural phase containing a solid structural polymer; a transport phase containing a solid transport polymer; a chain extender; a curing catalyst; a first solvent; and (B) a second liquid volume that is volumetrically isolated from the first liquid volume, wherein the second liquid volume comprises: a crosslinker that is capable of crosslinking the solid structural polymer with the solid transport polymer; and a second solvent. An antimicrobial agent (e.g., quaternary ammoniums salts) may be contained in the first liquid volume or in the second liquid volume. Methods of making and using the antimicrobial biphasic polymer are described.

This fluorine-containing curable composition comprises a curable component (A) that provides a cured product under the effect of heat or moisture, and a surface-modifying component (B) that contains a perfluoropolyether compound (b1) having a prescribed structure. The perfluoropolyether compound (b1) in the surface-modifying component (B) is present at 0.005-50 mass parts per 100 mass parts of the curable component (A) excluding volatile components. The fluorine-containing curable composition can be cured by heat or moisture, can be coated on the surface of an article even not containing a fluorine-containing solvent, and can provide the cured product surface with excellent surface characteristics.

The present invention relates to compounds according to formula (Ia) or formula (Ib); ##STR00001##
wherein each W is independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I and (CY.sub.2).sub.mCY.sub.3; each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I; each Z is independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, (CW.sub.2).sub.pCW.sub.3, CY.sub.3, OCW.sub.3, O(CW.sub.2).sub.pCW.sub.3, OCW((CY.sub.2).sub.mCY.sub.3)CWCW.sub.2, (CW.sub.2).sub.pOH, polyalkylene glycol and polyolester; n is an integer from 2 to 49; m is an integer from 0 to 3; p is an integer from 0 to 9; the molecular weight average (M.sub.W) is ≤5500; and the polydispersity index is ≤1.45; compositions comprising these compounds and methods for their production.

A compound represented by the following formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 is a monovalent organic group containing a polyether chain; X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each individually a monovalent group; and the polyether chain is a chain represented by the following formula: —(OC.sub.6F.sub.12).sub.m11—(OC.sub.5F.sub.10).sub.m12—(OC.sub.4F.sub.8).sub.m13—(OC.sub.3X.sup.10.sub.6).sub.m14—(OC.sub.2F.sub.4).sub.m15—(OCF.sub.2).sub.m16—, wherein m11, m12, m13, m14, m15, and m16 are each individually an integer of 0 or 1 or greater; X.sup.10s are each individually H, F, or Cl; the repeating units are present in any order; and the sum of m11 to m16 is an integer of 10 or greater, R.sup.1 being other than those containing a urethane bond.

A curable composition includes a perfluoro(poly)ether group-containing silane compound represented by the general formula (I) (wherein, definitions of each group are as described in the specification); (b) an organic silicon compound having at least two OR.sup.2 groups bonded to Si atom (here, R.sup.2s are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group at each appearance) or a partially hydrolyzed condensate thereof; and (c) a condensation catalyst.

A curable composition contains (A) a perfluoro(poly)ether group-containing silane compound having two or more Si atoms bonded to at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group, (B) a compound (other than (A)) having at least two OR.sup.2 groups bonded to an Si atom (in the formula, R.sup.2 each independently are a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group at each occurrence) or a partial hydrolysis condensate thereof, (C) a condensation catalyst, and (D) surface-treated silica.

A surface treatment agent that comprises a fluoropolyether-group-containing polymer represented by general formula (1), which has a hydroxylated silyl group or a hydrolyzable silyl group, and/or a product of partial (hydrolytic) condensation of the polymer. The surface treatment agent is capable of forming cured coating films which are excellent in terms of water and oil repellency and resistance to wear by steel wool and have a small water-sliding angle.

Rf—[CH(V).sub.2].sub.α  Formula (1):

(In the formula, Rf is a mono- or divalent residue of a polymer including a fluorooxyalkylene group, the V moieties each independently are a monovalent group having a hydroxylated silyl group or hydrolyzable silyl group at the end and having no polar group besides the hydroxylated silyl group or hydrolyzable silyl group, and α is 1 or 2.)