Enzyme Curable Alkyd Coatings Eliminating VOCs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ambient temperature cured coatings face challenges with shelf stability, cure time, and the need for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or malodorous chemicals, particularly with the use of thiols and diisocyanates, which affect pot-life and film performance.
Innovation Solution
A coatings composition comprising an alkyd resin with a diallylic group, a radical-producing oxidoreductase, and additives like pigments and rheology modifiers, which eliminates the need for VOCs and odor-producing crosslinking agents by using a one-pack curable system with a laccase enzyme for efficient film formation at ambient temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thiols or diisocyanates are used as crosslinking agents for ambient temperature curing, then cure speed and film performance are improved, but odor production and pot-life are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful thiol and diisocyanate crosslinking agents from the coating formulation and replaces them with an enzyme-based curing system (oxidoreductase enzyme) that achieves crosslinking without producing odors, thereby eliminating the harmful factor while maintaining the curing function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical crosslinking mechanism (using reactive chemicals like thiols and diisocyanates) with a biological/enzymatic mechanism (oxidoreductase enzyme catalyzed oxidation), substituting a clean, odorless biochemical process for a malodorous chemical process
2Reliability
If multi-component systems with thiol-functional compounds are used for enzymatic curing, then crosslinking performance is improved, but shelf stability is worsened due to premature cross-linking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the problematic thiol-functional compounds that cause premature cross-linking and replaces them with a stable alkyd resin containing diallylic groups that remain inert during storage but cure efficiently when exposed to the oxidoreductase enzyme, thereby improving shelf stability while maintaining crosslinking performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates the curing functionality (diallylic groups) directly into the alkyd resin during manufacturing, but the actual curing action is delayed until application through enzyme exposure, allowing the formulation to be pre-prepared and stored stably before the curing function is activated
3Speed
If VOCs and solvent-based systems are used for film formation, then fast evaporation-based film formation is achieved, but environmental compliance is worsened due to solvent release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental curing mechanism from evaporation-based (requiring VOCs and solvents) to enzyme-catalyzed oxidation-based curing, allowing film formation through chemical crosslinking of water-based alkyd resins without requiring volatile solvents, thereby eliminating VOC release while maintaining rapid film formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the physical evaporation mechanism with a biochemical oxidation mechanism catalyzed by the oxidoreductase enzyme, substituting a clean, solvent-free chemical process for a VOC-dependent physical process
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 achieves long shelf stability, fast cure times, and improved film hardness, print resistance, and tensile strength without using VOCs or malodorous chemicals, maintaining performance for at least six months and curing within 2-3 days.
Implementation Method 1
a radical producing oxidoreductase
Implementation Method 2
cured with a radical producing oxidoreductase
Implementation Method 3
radical producing oxidoreductase
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a coatings composition comprising an alkyd, a pigment, a rheology modifier, a radical producing oxidoreductase, and one or more additives, wherein the alkyd contains at least one C6-30-C(O)O- group having at least one diallylic group. The coatings composition of the present invention cures relatively rapidly without ancillary crosslinking agents and with minimal, if any, VOCs from solvents or coalescents.