Compositions for surface treatments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compounds with perfluorinated alkyl chains of six or fewer carbon atoms fail to provide effective oil repellency in thin coatings compared to longer chain derivatives, due to weaker hydrophobic interactions and disrupted pseudo-crystalline structures, posing challenges for environmental regulations and performance standards.

Innovation Solution

A combination of perfluorinated monomers with a hydrophilic group, represented by compounds of Formula A and Formula B, which exhibit a synergistic effect, enhancing water and oil repellency performance in surface treatments, even with shorter perfluorinated chain lengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If perfluorinated monomers with chain length of six or fewer carbon atoms are used, then environmental compliance is improved, but oil repellency performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental persistence and bioaccumulationVSAvoidoil repellency performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines perfluorinated monomers with hydrophilic groups (Formula A) and perfluorinated monomers without hydrophilic groups (Formula B) to create a composite coating system. This composite approach allows the shorter perfluorinated chains to work synergistically, achieving effective oil repellency while maintaining environmental compliance through reduced chain length

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical structure parameters by introducing hydrophilic groups into the perfluorinated monomer system. This structural modification alters the surface properties and intermolecular interactions, enabling shorter perfluorinated chains to achieve performance comparable to longer chains while meeting environmental standards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If perfluorinated chains are shortened to meet environmental standards, then environmental compliance is improved, but surface energy reduction capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental persistenceVSAvoidsurface energy reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite system combining perfluorinated monomers with hydrophilic groups (Formula A) and perfluorinated monomers without hydrophilic groups (Formula B). This composite structure enables the shorter perfluorinated chains to collectively provide sufficient surface energy reduction while maintaining environmental compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges two types of perfluorinated monomers (with and without hydrophilic groups) into a single coating formulation. This combination allows the shorter perfluorinated chains to work together synergistically to achieve the required surface energy reduction capability

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 combination of perfluorinated monomers with hydrophilic groups achieves superior water and oil repellency, matching or exceeding the performance of longer chain derivatives, while meeting environmental standards by optimizing surface properties in thin coatings.

Implementation Method 1

due to weaker hydrophobic interactions and disrupted pseudo-crystalline structures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic interactions: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

disrupted pseudo-crystalline structures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPseudo-crystalline structure formation: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentEP3066162B1Compositions for surface treatments

Publication Date: 2019.07.03 EI DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO

AI summary

A composition having at least one first component containing a perfluorinated aliphatic structure in which no more than six fluorine bearing carbons are connected in any single straight chain segment, in addition a group providing binding functionality to a surface to be treated or containing at least one polymerisable double bond or containing at least one cross-linkable group, and in addition a divalent radical containing at least one group capable of forming polar interactions or hydrogen bonds, and at least one second component containing a perfluorinated aliphatic structure in which no more than six fluorine bearing carbons are connected in any single straight chain segment and a moiety containing at least one group providing binding functionality to a surface to be treated or containing at least one polymerisable double bond or containing at least one cross-linkable group.