Coating Curing Detection via Analyte Penetration Kinetics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the degree of curing of coatings, particularly radiation-curing coatings and printing inks, often provide unclear or unreliable results, which can lead to issues with hardness, abrasion resistance, and migration behavior.

Innovation Solution

A method involving contacting the coating with a solution containing a predetermined concentration of an analyte for a specific period, followed by quantitative determination of the analyte's penetration kinetics using optical, spectroscopic, or chromatographic examinations, where the degree of curing is inferred from the analyte's entry or exit kinetics, with a denser polymer network in well-cured coatings allowing slower penetration or exit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a detection substance is used to determine the degree of curing, then the reliability of the determination is improved, but the complexity of the measurement process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of degree of curing determinationVSAvoidcomplexity of measurement process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses an analyte as an intermediary substance that penetrates the coating to provide information about the degree of curing. The analyte acts as a mediator between the measurement system and the coating, enabling reliable determination without directly analyzing the complex polymer network. This resolves the contradiction by providing reliable measurement through a simplified intermediary approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex mechanical or chemical analysis methods with a simpler penetration-based measurement approach. Instead of directly analyzing the polymer network structure, the method uses the penetration kinetics of an analyte to infer the degree of curing, substituting a complex mechanical/chemical analysis system with a simpler diffusion-based measurement system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Strength

If the coating is well-cured with strong crosslinking, then the hardness and abrasion resistance are improved, but the penetration speed of the detection substance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardness and abrasion resistanceVSAvoidpenetration speed of analyte

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the traditional approach by not measuring the property directly (hardness or crosslinking density) but rather measuring the opposite effect - the resistance to penetration. The strong crosslinking that provides hardness also slows analyte penetration, but this slowing effect is precisely what is measured to determine the degree of curing. This inversion resolves the contradiction by making the slowing effect the useful signal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses analytes with detectable properties (such as color changes, fluorescence, or other optical properties) that change as they penetrate the coating. This allows the penetration process to be tracked and quantified, transforming the slow penetration speed caused by strong crosslinking into a measurable signal that indicates the degree of curing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

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

This method provides a reliable and accurate assessment of the coating's degree of curing, ensuring adequate hardness and preventing substance migration, essential for quality control and safety in packaging applications.

Implementation Method 1

the detection substance can penetrate only comparatively slowly, whereas the detection substance can penetrate relatively quickly into a less well-cured coating, the entry kinetics allows conclusions to be drawn about the degree of curing of the coating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

the quantitative determination of a characteristic variable, which depends on an amount or concentration of the detection substance that has penetrated into the coating during the first period of time, by means of at least one of an optical examination

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpectroscopy: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentEP2338043B1Determination of degree of curing using a detection substance

Publication Date: 2018.05.16 BURTH DIRK

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining the degree of curing of a coating on a substrate. The method comprises: bringing the coating into contact with a first material containing a detection substance for a first period of time; determination of a characteristic variable that is dependent on the amount or concentration of the detection substance that has penetrated into the coating during the first time period; and deduction of the degree of curing of the coating from the characteristic variable that has been determined in the preceding step.