Aerospace Coatings Rapid Curing via UV Actinic Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerospace industry requires coatings and sealants that can be rapidly cured to meet evolving requirements, as existing isocyanate-terminated prepolymers take several days to weeks to fully cure at room temperature, making them inconvenient and costly to accelerate.
Innovation Solution
Formulations comprising polythiols and urethane/urea-containing polyalkenyl prepolymers that are cured using actinic radiation, specifically ultraviolet radiation, to achieve rapid curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If isocyanate-terminated prepolymers are used for curing, then the coating can be applied and cured at room temperature, but the curing time takes from several days to weeks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the curing system by replacing isocyanate-terminated prepolymers with epoxy-terminated prepolymers that cure with polyamines. This parameter change enables the coating to achieve full cure in 24 hours or less at room temperature, dramatically reducing curing time and improving operational efficiency while maintaining room temperature curing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the curing mechanism by replacing the isocyanate-polyol reaction system with an epoxy-polyamine curing system. This substitution maintains the chemical curing process but changes the reaction kinetics and mechanism to achieve faster cure rates without requiring heat acceleration, thus improving productivity without sacrificing ease of operation
2Speed
If heating is applied to accelerate curing rate, then the curing speed increases, but the cost and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the curing system to use epoxy-terminated prepolymers with polyamines, which inherently provide faster cure rates at room temperature compared to traditional isocyanate systems. This parameter change eliminates the need for heating while maintaining or improving curing speed, thus preserving ease of operation and convenience
3Speed
If heating is applied to accelerate curing rate, then the curing speed increases, but the operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using epoxy-terminated prepolymers cured with polyamines, which provide accelerated cure rates at room temperature. This chemical parameter change eliminates the need for energy-intensive heating processes, thereby reducing energy costs while maintaining high curing speeds and improving the overall energy efficiency of the stationary coating system
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 described compositions enable rapid curing of coatings and sealants, reducing the time required for full curing and improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the applied composition to ultraviolet radiation; and allowing the irradiated composition to cure
Data Source
AI summary
Actinic radiation-curable compositions containing polythiols and urethane/urea-containing polyalkenyl prepolymers that can be used for aerospace coatings and sealants. The coatings can be applied to surfaces and rapidly cured.