Crosslinked Copolymer Adhesive for Formaldehyde-Free Artificial Boards

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current adhesives used in artificial board production, particularly those based on trialdehyde resins, emit formaldehyde, posing health risks and environmental pollution, while alternatives like biomass-based adhesives face issues of high cost and resource limitations, and non-water-soluble polymers require high energy consumption and are not environmentally friendly.

Innovation Solution

A copolymer comprising repeating units with amide groups and carboxyl or ammonium salts, derived from C2-C18 α-monoolefins and monomers with multiple carbon-carbon unsaturated double bonds, which can be crosslinked and used to create a formaldehyde-free adhesive suitable for artificial boards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If trialdehyde adhesive is used for artificial board production, then the adhesive is simple to prepare and low in price, but formaldehyde is released during use, polluting the indoor environment and threatening health

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive preparation simplicityVSAvoidformaldehyde emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using amino-modified silane and acrylic acid to replace formaldehyde-based trialdehyde adhesive, maintaining the simplicity of preparation while eliminating formaldehyde emission through fundamentally different chemical reaction mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful formaldehyde component from the adhesive system by substituting it with amino-modified silane and acrylic acid, which do not release formaldehyde, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while preserving adhesive functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If biomass-based adhesive is used to avoid formaldehyde, then formaldehyde emission is reduced, but the adhesive has high cost and resource limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformaldehyde emissionVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive inorganic materials (amino-modified silane and acrylic acid) instead of costly biomass resources, achieving formaldehyde-free adhesive performance through low-cost chemical components that do not require sustainable resource management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from organic biomass-based chemistry to inorganic silane-based chemistry, fundamentally changing the material parameter space to achieve both formaldehyde elimination and cost reduction through abundant, inexpensive raw materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If non-water-soluble polymer is used for board production, then adhesive can be formed, but high energy consumption is required for hot melt or organic solvent processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive formation capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the water solubility phase transition property of amino-modified silane and acrylic acid, allowing the adhesive to be applied in water-based form and cured through moisture-induced hydrolysis and condensation reactions, eliminating the need for high-temperature hot melt processing or organic solvents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

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 copolymer provides a formaldehyde-free, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly adhesive solution for artificial boards with excellent performance and ease of application, addressing the health and environmental concerns of traditional adhesives.

Implementation Method 1

a copolymer A, which has (i) at least one repeating unit carrying an amide group and a carboxyl and/or its ammonium salt, (ii) at least one repeating unit derived from linear or branched C 2 -C 18 α-monoolefin, and (iii) at least one repeating unit derived from a monomer having at least two carbon-carbon unsaturated double bonds

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP4257655B1Crosslinked copolymer of repeat unit having amide group and carboxyl and/or ammonium salt thereof and repeat unit of alpha-monoolefins
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
  • EP4257655B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4257655B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a copolymer A, which has (i) at least one repeating unit carrying an amide group and a carboxyl and/or its ammonium salt, (ii) at least one repeating unit derived from linear or branched C2-C18 α-monoolefin, and (iii) at least one repeating unit derived from a monomer having at least two carbon-carbon unsaturated double bonds. The present disclosure also relates to an article comprising a component formed from the adhesive of the present invention.