Benzoic Acid Acrylic Clearcoat Ambient Curing Etch Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Acrylic urethane clear coats used in the automotive refinish coatings industry often lack sufficient acid etch resistance while curing at ambient temperatures, making them impractical for OEM applications due to softness.

Innovation Solution

Development of curable film-forming compositions comprising a polymeric acrylic binder derived from an ethylenically unsaturated epoxy functional monomer reacted with benzoic acid, combined with a curing agent containing reactive functional groups, which can cure at ambient temperatures and provide enhanced acid etch resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If acrylic urethane clear coats are used for ambient temperature curing, then ease of operation is improved, but acid etch resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveambient temperature curingVSAvoidacid etch resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the acrylic polymer by incorporating specific functional groups (carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, amine, or isocyanate groups) that enable ambient temperature curing while maintaining acid etch resistance. This resolves the contradiction by modifying the chemical parameters of the binder to achieve both ease of operation and resistance to harmful factors simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite coating system combining the acrylic polymer binder with metal oxide particles (such as zinc oxide, titanium oxide, or silicon oxide) to achieve both ambient temperature curing capability and enhanced acid etch resistance. The composite formulation allows the coating to cure easily at ambient temperatures while the metal oxide components provide the necessary resistance to acid etching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If acrylic coatings are designed for etch resistance in OEM applications, then acid etch resistance is improved, but strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacid etch resistanceVSAvoidcoating softness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the acrylic polymer by incorporating reactive functional groups that enable crosslinking at ambient temperatures. This creates a stronger molecular network structure that provides both acid etch resistance and adequate strength, eliminating the need for high-temperature curing while preventing coating softness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent formulates a composite coating system where metal oxide particles (zinc oxide, titanium oxide, silicon oxide) are incorporated into the acrylic polymer matrix. This composite structure provides enhanced acid etch resistance while the crosslinking mechanism maintains coating strength and prevents softness, resolving the contradiction between etch resistance and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional acrylic coatings are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidacid etch resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the acrylic polymer binder to include specific functional groups (carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, amine, or isocyanate) that provide both ease of manufacture through ambient temperature curing and reliable acid etch resistance. This formulation approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving the required reliability performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a composite coating formulation combining acrylic polymer with metal oxide particles (zinc oxide, titanium oxide, silicon oxide). This composite approach maintains ease of manufacture through simple mixing and ambient temperature application while providing reliable acid etch resistance, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and performance reliability.

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 solution achieves excellent acid etch resistance and maintains other physical properties, demonstrating improved durability and performance compared to traditional coatings.

Implementation Method 1

a polymeric acrylic binder having reactive functional groups, wherein the polymeric acrylic binder is prepared from an ethylenically unsaturated, epoxy functional monomer that is reacted with benzoic acid; and a curing agent containing functional groups that are reactive with reactive functional groups on the polymeric acrylic binder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS10221328B2Curable film-forming compositions prepared from polymers derived from benzoic acid
Publication Date: 2019.03.05 PPG INDUSTRIES OHIO INC

AI summary

The present invention is directed to curable film-forming compositions comprising: (a) a polymeric acrylic binder having reactive functional groups, wherein the polymeric acrylic binder is prepared from an ethylenically unsaturated, epoxy functional monomer that is reacted with benzoic acid; and (b) a curing agent containing functional groups that are reactive with reactive functional groups on the polymeric acrylic binder. Also provided is a multilayer coated substrate comprising: a substrate; a colored basecoat applied to at least a portion of a surface of the substrate; and a clearcoat applied to at least a portion of the basecoat, wherein the clearcoat is deposited from the curable film-forming composition described above.