Accelerator Solution for Curing Curable Resins

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing accelerators for curing curable resins, such as unsaturated polyester, (meth)acrylate, and vinyl ester resins, are toxic and cause coloration in end products, and there is a need for improving reactivity and efficiency, especially at lower temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A non-toxic accelerator solution comprising manganese and copper salts combined with iron complexes of tetradentate or pentadentate nitrogen donor ligands, which are added to curable resins along with peroxides to accelerate the free radical cure process, resulting in tack-free products with high peak exotherm and cure efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional accelerators (cobalt-based, iron chelates, copper chelates) are used to accelerate curing, then curing speed is improved, but toxicity and coloration of end product increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuring speedVSAvoidtoxicity and coloration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing conventional cobalt-based accelerators with a specific combination of manganese salt, copper salt, and iron complex. This parameter change maintains high curing speed while eliminating toxicity and coloration issues associated with conventional accelerators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite accelerator system combining three different metal salts (manganese, copper, and iron complex) working synergistically. This composite approach achieves superior performance compared to single-accelerator systems, providing high reactivity without the harmful effects of conventional accelerators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If conventional accelerators are used to improve reactivity, then curing efficiency increases, but the need for non-toxic alternatives remains unsatisfied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereactivity and efficiencyVSAvoidtoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters by selecting specific metal salts (manganese, copper, and iron with nitrogen donor ligands) that provide high reactivity and efficiency while being non-toxic. This parameter change directly addresses the contradiction by achieving superior performance without the toxicity of conventional accelerators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If accelerator activity is increased at lower temperatures, then curing speed improves, but existing accelerators still lack sufficient activity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuring speed at lower temperaturesVSAvoidaccelerator activity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a composite accelerator system where manganese salt, copper salt, and iron complex work together to provide enhanced activity at lower temperatures. The synergistic interaction between these different metal salts creates a more reliable and active curing system compared to conventional single-accelerator approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a non-toxic, high-reactivity curing process that produces end products with minimal coloration and high cure efficiency, effectively accelerating the curing process at lower temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

The accelerator solution is able to accelerate a free radical cure process... The accelerator solution is able to increase the activity of the peroxide at lower temperatures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

The accelerator solution is able to accelerate a free radical cure process... adding a peroxide and said accelerator solution to a curable resin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFree radical polymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

adding a peroxide and said accelerator solution to a curable resin... accelerate a free radical cure process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHomolytic bond cleavage: Photodissociation

Implementation Method 4

this process has a high peak exotherm and high cure efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExothermic reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Data Source

PatentUS9034785B2Accelerator solution and process for curing curable resins

Publication Date: 2015.05.19 AKZO NOBEL CHEMICALS INTERNATIONAL BV

AI summary

Solution suitable for accelerating the cure of a curable resin using a peroxide, said accelerator solution comprising (i) at least one organic solvent, (ii) a manganese salt, a copper salt, or a combination thereof, and (iii) an iron complex of a tetradentate, pentadentate or hexadentate nitrogen donor ligand.