Patent ID: 7112621

Claim:
A method of functionalizing a soft surface comprising the steps of: a) applying a surfactant to a soft surface; b) coating the soft surface with a coating composition comprising: i) a nanoparticle system selected from the group consisting of: A) layered clay minerals selected from the group consisting of smectites, kaolins, illites, chlorites, attapulgites and mixtures thereof; B) inorganic metal oxides selected from the group consisting of silica, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, boehmite alumina, hydrotalcite and mixtures thereof; C) mixtures thereof; and ii) from about 10% to about 99% by weight of the coating composition of a suitable carrier medium; and c) treating the soft surface with anchoring segments, hydrophilizing segments, hydrophobizing segments, coating composition, and mixtures thereof.