Aryl Acrylic Acid Ester Photoaligning Polymer Synthesis Without Purification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing synthesis processes for aryl acrylic acid ester photoaligning polymers are costly, use toxic materials, require tedious steps, and yield moderate results with difficult isolation of the final product.

Innovation Solution

A novel synthesis process involving the reaction of compounds with specific structural units, using non-toxic reagents and catalysts, allows for the direct formation of a homopolymer without further purification, utilizing heating or radical inhibitors to control polymerization and achieve desired molecular weights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional synthesis processes are used to prepare aryl acrylic acid ester photoaligning polymers, then the desired photoaligning material can be obtained, but the process requires very expensive educts and toxic materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotoaligning material qualityVSAvoidtoxic materials

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive conventional educts with cheaper alternatives: using commercially available coumarin derivatives and simple alkyl halides instead of costly specialized compounds. The process accepts that reagents are consumed completely (disposable) to achieve cost reduction while maintaining product quality through careful selection of alternative materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts potentially harmful polycondensation reactions into beneficial outcomes by deliberately controlling the process to produce homopolymers with desired photoaligning properties. The reaction conditions that could lead to unwanted side products are transformed into advantages by selecting specific monomer structures and controlled polymerization conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If conventional synthesis processes are used, then photoaligning polymer can be produced, but the synthesis processes are tedious and yield is moderate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotoaligning polymer productionVSAvoidsynthesis yield and efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the tedious purification steps from the synthesis process. By designing a one-pot polymerization reaction that directly produces the desired homopolymer, the method removes intermediate isolation and purification operations, thereby increasing productivity and simplifying the overall synthesis workflow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous polymerization reactions where monomers convert directly to polymers in a single operational step. This continuous process eliminates interruptions for purification and reprocessing, maintaining productive action throughout the synthesis and achieving higher yields with simpler procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If conventional synthesis processes are used, then photoaligning material can be obtained, but the final product is very difficult to isolate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotoaligning material productionVSAvoidproduct isolation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs self-service principles where the polymerization reaction automatically produces the final homopolymer product in a form ready for direct use. The reaction system self-regulates to produce soluble polymers that require no additional isolation steps, as the polymer precipitates or can be directly processed from the reaction mixture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the synthesis and isolation steps into a single integrated process. By combining monomer preparation, polymerization, and product formation into one operational sequence, the method eliminates separate isolation steps and delivers the final photoaligning polymer ready for application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 process reduces costs, eliminates the need for toxic materials, simplifies the synthesis, and produces high-yield homopolymers suitable for optical and electro-optical applications without additional purification steps.

Implementation Method 1

polymerizing the compound obtained under step a. or b. with an organic or inorganic peroxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadical polymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

stopping the reaction by heating or with a radical inhibitor or a radical scavenger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal degradation: Thermolysis

Implementation Method 3

stopping the reaction by heating or with a radical inhibitor or a radical scavenger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadical scavenging: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS12448473B2Method for the preparation of photoaligning polymer materials and compositions

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 ROLIC TECHNOLOGIES AG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a novel method for the preparation of photoaligning polymer materials comprising aryl acrylic acid ester groups, to photoalignment compositions obtained by this process, to the use of the composition as orienting layer for liquid crystals and to non-structured and structured optical elements, electro-optical elements, multi-layer systems or in nanoelectronics comprising the compositions.