Acrylic Aqueous Dispersion for Food Container Coatings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coatings for food and beverage containers based on epoxy resins, such as bisphenol A and its derivatives, raise health concerns due to potential chemical release, necessitating a coating composition that eliminates these compounds while maintaining excellent adhesion and performance.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous dispersion of a hydrophobic vinyl addition polymer with pendant ethylenically unsaturated groups, reacted with a mixture of vinyl monomers containing carboxylic acid groups, is used to create a coating composition that is free from bisphenol A and its derivatives, providing excellent adhesion and stability for container coatings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If epoxy resin coatings based on bisphenol A are used, then excellent adhesion and coating performance are achieved, but health risks arise due to potential release of BPA and its derivatives

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating performanceVSAvoidhealth risks from BPA release
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful bisphenol A component from the coating system while retaining the desirable performance characteristics. This is achieved by using alternative polymer chemistry (acrylic polymers with carboxylic acid groups) that does not rely on BPA-based epoxy resins, thereby eliminating the harmful substance while maintaining coating functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs composite material strategies by combining acrylic polymers with specific functional groups (carboxylic acid groups) and crosslinking agents to create a multi-component coating system that replicates the performance of BPA-based coatings without using the harmful substance. The composite nature allows optimization of both safety and performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If BPA and its derivatives are eliminated from coating compositions, then health safety is improved, but adhesion performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth safetyVSAvoidadhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the coating system by transitioning from BPA-based epoxy chemistry to acrylic polymer chemistry with controlled functional group composition. By adjusting parameters such as carboxylic acid content, molecular weight, and crosslinking density, the formulation achieves both health safety (BPA elimination) and adequate adhesion performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces intermediary substances (acrylic polymers with carboxylic acid groups and appropriate crosslinking agents) that mediate between the substrate and the coating environment, providing adhesion functionality without relying on BPA. These intermediaries fulfill the bonding role previously performed by BPA-based resins while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 coating composition achieves excellent adhesion and corrosion resistance, suitable for food contact, and is free from bisphenol A and its derivatives, addressing health concerns and performance demands.

Implementation Method 1

aqueous dispersions of graft acrylic polymers comprising a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the reaction product containing active hydrogen groups and being at least partially neutralized with a base and dispersed in aqueous medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNeutralization: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentUS10233349B2Acrylic aqueous dispersions for container coatings
Publication Date: 2019.03.19 PPG INDUSTRIES OHIO INC

AI summary

Acrylic aqueous dispersions useful in coating compositions for coating food and beverage containers are disclosed. The aqueous dispersion is the reaction product of:(a) a hydrophobic vinyl addition polymer containing pendant or terminal ethylenically unsaturated groups,(b) a mixture of vinyl monomers including a vinyl monomer containing carboxylic acid groups;the reaction product containing active hydrogen groups and being at least partially neutralized with a base and dispersed in aqueous medium; the aqueous dispersion being substantially free of bisphenol A and derivatives thereof.