Active Energy Ray-Curable Resin for Substrate Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional coating methods for inorganic and organic substrates require high temperatures and lengthy curing processes, leading to issues such as cracking, peeling, and inadequate adhesion, especially for pre-coated metals and glass surfaces, which are prone to breakage and scattering, and existing active energy ray-curable materials cannot be directly applied to metal substrates or chemical conversion coatings.

Innovation Solution

An active energy ray-curable resin composition containing a hydrolyzable silyl group-containing (meth)acrylic copolymer, specific silane compounds, and a photoacid generator, which forms a transparent, cured coating with good adhesion to both inorganic and organic substrates, high surface hardness, and excellent weather resistance through electron beam or UV irradiation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional coating methods are used for inorganic substrates, then adhesion can be improved through chemical conversions and primers, but high temperature baking for long periods is required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadhesionVSAvoidcuring time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal curing (mechanical/thermal system) with active energy ray curing (optical system). The coating composition contains photopolymerizable groups that undergo polymerization upon irradiation with active energy rays such as UV light or electron beams, eliminating the need for high-temperature baking while achieving rapid curing and strong adhesion to inorganic substrates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the curing parameter from temperature-based (thermal) to energy-ray-based (photonic/electronic). By incorporating photopolymerizable functional groups into the coating composition and using appropriate photoinitiators or electron beam-sensitive compounds, the curing process transitions from slow thermal diffusion to rapid photochemical or radiolytic polymerization, reducing curing time from hours to seconds or minutes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Weight of moving object

If glass is made thinner to meet demand for lighter devices, then weight is reduced, but breakage and scattering resistance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglass weightVSAvoidbreakage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a composite coating system on glass surfaces that combines organic polymer matrices with inorganic filler particles (such as silica, alumina, or titania). This composite structure provides enhanced mechanical strength, impact resistance, and crack propagation resistance to thin glass substrates, allowing weight reduction while maintaining or improving breakage resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a flexible polymer coating film applied to the glass surface that can absorb and distribute impact stresses. The coating contains elastomeric components or plasticizers that provide flexibility and toughness, preventing crack initiation and propagation in thin glass while maintaining optical transparency and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Manufacturing precision

If pre-coating method is used for metals, then coating uniformity and quality are improved, but high temperature baking above 200°C is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating uniformityVSAvoidbaking temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal curing with active energy ray curing in the pre-coating process. The coating composition contains photopolymerizable monomers or oligomers that crosslink upon UV irradiation or electron beam exposure, achieving uniform coating formation at ambient or low temperatures, thus maintaining coating precision while eliminating high-temperature baking requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the energy input parameter from thermal energy to electromagnetic radiation energy. By using photoinitiators that absorb specific UV wavelengths or electron beam-sensitive compounds, the coating cures through photochemical or radiolytic reactions rather than thermal polymerization, enabling precise coating formation without thermal degradation or high-temperature equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If active energy ray-curable materials are used, then curing time is reduced, but adhesion to metal substrates or chemical conversion coatings is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring speedVSAvoidsubstrate adhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces adhesion promoters or coupling agents as intermediary components in the coating formulation. These intermediaries contain functional groups that interact with metal substrates or chemical conversion coatings (such as phosphates or chromates) and also possess photopolymerizable groups that participate in the active energy ray curing process. This dual functionality ensures strong substrate adhesion while maintaining rapid curing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite coating system that combines adhesion-enhancing inorganic particles (such as silanes, metal oxides, or phosphates) with organic photopolymerizable matrices. The inorganic components provide chemical bonding to metal substrates through surface complexation or chelation, while the organic polymer network provides rapid crosslinking upon active energy ray irradiation, achieving both strong adhesion and fast curing.

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 composition enables rapid curing at room temperature with high adhesion and weather resistance, suitable for pre-coated metals and glass surfaces, preventing breakage and scattering, and providing flexibility for forming processes.

Implementation Method 1

a composition essentially containing a thermoplastic polyurethane resin, an epoxy resin or melamine added to an aqueous polyurethane is used as a glass coating material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotodissociation: Photodissociation

Implementation Method 2

An active energy ray-curable resin composition containing a hydrolyzable silyl group-containing (meth)acrylic copolymer, specific silane compounds, and a photoacid generator, which forms a transparent, cured coating with good adhesion to both inorganic and organic substrates, high surface hardness, and excellent weather resistance through electron beam or UV irradiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 3

a polymer whose main chain is a (meth)acrylic copolymer and which has, at an end of the main chain and/or at a side chain, at least one group having a silicon atom bonded to a hydrolyzable group

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS10131810B2Active energy-ray-curable resin composition for coating organic or inorganic substrate
Publication Date: 2018.11.20 KANEKA CORP

AI summary

An active energy ray-curable resin composition includes 100 parts by weight of (A) a polymer whose main chain is a (meth)acrylic copolymer and which has, at an end of the main chain and/or at a side chain, at least one group having a silicon atom bonded to a hydrolyzable group represented by a formula (I): —SiR2a(OR1)3-a (I), where R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C10 alkyl group, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group selected from a C1-C10 alkyl group, a C6-C25 aryl group, and a C7-C12 aralkyl group, and a represents an integer of 0 to 2. The composition further includes 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of (B1) a secondary and/or tertiary amino group-containing silane compound, and 0.05 to 20 parts by weight of (C) a photoacid generator.