A method of making a coating solution includes the steps of polymerising an initial monomer feed comprising an N-vinyl pyrrolidone and an acrylate, preferably methacrylate, salt in water to synthesise a copolymer thereof, acidifying the resulting copolymer-water mixture to give free carboxylic acid groups along the copolymer backbone, diluting the aqueous solution down with alcohol, and adding a cross-linking agent which is capable of reacting with the carboxylic acid groups and curing the copolymer at a later stage after the coating solution has been applied to a substrate and the copolymer coated thereon. Also disclosed are a coating solution in storage, a method of coating a substrate which is on, or is part of, a medical device or other article, a substrate, article or medical device having a coating so applied, and a coated medical device packaged in a hydration solution. The aqueous-alcoholic coating solution may be stored for an extended period, suitably for at least one month and desirably for substantially longer, without deteriorating.

The invention relates to a copolymer and a substrate having a surface, at least one part of which is coated with an epilame agent comprising at least one compound in the form of a copolymer comprising V units, N units, optionally at least one M unit, and optionally at least one P unit, linked by covalent bonds by their main chains, wherein

##STR00001## wherein W, X, Y, Z are spacer arms, T is a tracer group arranged to determine the concentration of epilame agent in an epilame-coating bath, L is a halogenated, preferably fluorinated, C.sub.1-C.sub.20 carbon moiety, A is a substrate anchoring moiety, Q is H, CH.sub.3, or a hydrocarbon chain different from T.

The invention also concerns a method for coating such a substrate with epilame, said method comprising a step of checking the concentration of epilame agent in the epilame-coating bath by means of the tracer group and if necessary, a step of readjusting the concentration of epilame agent in the epilame-coating bath.

Disclosed is a method for fabricating a low friction and highly durable coating on a solid substrate. Also disclosed is a coating that increase durability and reduce friction of a substrate. The coating comprises at least one layer polydopamine and one layer of graphite. Dip coating is used to deposit said polydopamine layer on top of a substrate and then said graphite coating on top of said polydopamine layer.

The present invention relates to polymers used as rolling lubricating agents, to compositions comprising said polymers, and to alkali metal films including the polymers or compositions on the surface(s) thereof. The use of said polymers and compositions is also described for strip-rolling alkali metals or alloys thereof in order to obtain thin films. Methods for producing said thin films, which are suitable for use in electrochemical cells, are also described. The present invention proposes an improved lubricant according to formula I, which, for example, achieves enhanced conductivity, and/or enables the production of electrochemical cells having an improved life span in cycles.

The disclosure relates to a coating composition comprising a polymerizable compound of formula [1], wherein G is a residue of a hydrophobic hydroxy-functional oligomer, n is 1-10, each R1 independently is a residue of a C.sub.6-C.sub.20 aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aromatic hydrocarbon compound, and Z is a moiety having a polymerizable group; Formula [1] a hydrophilic polymer; a photo-initiator; optionally one or more further components, and a solvent. The polymerizable compound of formula [1] is typically present in an amount of 2.0-30 mass % based on total dry mass of the composition. Such coating composition can be made into a well-adhering single-layer hydrophilic coating on a surface of polymer substrates without providing a primer layer or chemically modifying the surface of the substrate. Upon wetting, the coating shows excellent lubricity and durability. In further aspects, the disclosure provides a method of applying a hydrophilic and optionally lubricious coating to an article; and an article like a medical device having on at least part of its surface a single-layer, hydrophilic and optionally lubricious coating, like a catheter, guidewire, or a delivery device for an implant. ##STR00001##

Lubricious thermoplastic articles are formed from thermoplastic compounds including (a) thermoplastic elastomer selected from thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether block amide, and combinations thereof; and (b) from about 5 to about 20 weight percent, by weight of the compound, of hydrophilic water-insoluble polymer selected from polyolefin-polyoxyalkylene block copolymer, crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof. The thermoplastic compounds are capable of providing enhanced lubricity in the thermoplastic articles without significant degradation in mechanical properties such as elongation and tensile strength, as compared to thermoplastic articles formed from the neat thermoplastic elastomer and subjected to the same heat processing history.

A lubricious coating for a medical device is formed including first and second coated layers. The first coated layer is between the second coated layer and the device surface and includes a vinyl pyrrolidone polymer and a photo reactive group. The second coated layer is in direct contact with the first coated layer and is a top coating that includes an acrylic acid polymer. The second coated layer can optionally include photoreactive groups. The coating was found to have a very low number of particulates (e.g., 10 m or greater) which is very desirable for in vivo use.

Lubricious thermoplastic articles are formed from thermoplastic compounds including (a) thermoplastic elastomer selected from thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether block amide, and combinations thereof; and (b) from about 5 to about 20 weight percent, by weight of the compound, of hydrophilic water-insoluble polymer selected from polyolefin-polyoxyalkylene block copolymer, crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof. The thermoplastic compounds are capable of providing enhanced lubricity in the thermoplastic articles without significant degradation in mechanical properties such as elongation and tensile strength, as compared to thermoplastic articles formed from the neat thermoplastic elastomer and subjected to the same heat processing history.

Multifunctional crosslinkers are a reaction product between a polyaziridine compound and two or more functionalized benzophenones. The polyaziridine compound is linked to the functionalized benzophenones through two or more reacted aziridine groups. Coating compositions, comprising: a polymer, and multifunctional crosslinkers. Coated medical devices, comprise a lubricious coating bonded adjacent to an exterior surface of the medical device. The lubricious coating is prepared by UV-curing a coating composition, wherein the coating composition comprises: a water/isopropyl alcohol (IPA) soluble polymer and/or a UV-curable polymer, and a water/IPA soluble multifunctional crosslinker.

Embodiments herein relate to polyacrylic acid containing lubricious coatings for medical devices. In an embodiment, a lubricious coated medical device is included having a substrate and a first layer disposed over the substrate. The first layer can include a photoreactive polyvinylpyrrolidone, a non-photoreactive polyvinylpyrrolidone, and a crosslinking compound. A second layer can be disposed over the first layer, the second layer can include a poly(acrylic acid), and a non-photoreactive polyvinylpyrrolidone. The non-photoreactive polyvinylpyrrolidone of the second layer forms a complex with the poly(acrylic acid) of the second layer. The non-photoreactive polyvinylpyrrolidone of the second layer has a concentration existing as a gradient through a thickness of the second layer with a lower concentration at an outer surface of the second layer than at an inner surface of the second layer. Other embodiments are also included herein.