Curable Epoxy Compositions with Adduct Hardener
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Epoxy systems face issues with blushing due to amine compounds reacting with moisture and carbon dioxide, leading to incomplete crosslinking, discoloration, and poor overcoatability, and contain high levels of volatile organic compounds, which are environmentally harmful and non-compliant with regulations.
Innovation Solution
The development of curable compositions comprising a resin component with aromatic, alicyclic, or aliphatic epoxy compounds and a reactive diluent, combined with a hardener component that includes an adduct and a Mannich base, reducing volatile organic compounds and preventing blushing by using an adduct with lower hygroscopicity and vapor pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If amine compounds are used as hardeners to achieve crosslinking, then curing reaction occurs, but blushing occurs due to reaction with moisture and carbon dioxide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adduct as an intermediary substance between the amine compound and the epoxy resin. The adduct has lower hygroscopicity and vapor pressure compared to conventional amine hardeners, serving as a mediator that reduces the harmful interaction with moisture and carbon dioxide while still enabling the curing reaction to proceed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the hardener system by using an adduct with modified properties (lower hygroscopicity and lower vapor pressure). This parameter change reduces the tendency to react with atmospheric moisture and CO2, thereby preventing blushing while maintaining curing functionality
2Reliability
If conventional hardeners are used to achieve crosslinking, then curing occurs, but volatile organic compounds are released causing environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the volatility parameter of the hardener system by using an adduct with lower vapor pressure. This parameter modification reduces the emission of volatile organic compounds during the curing process, making the system more environmentally friendly while maintaining effective crosslinking
Solution Approach 2:
The adduct serves as an intermediary that enables the curing reaction to proceed while minimizing the release of harmful volatile organic compounds. It mediates between the need for effective crosslinking and the requirement to reduce environmental impact
3Quantity of substance
If amine compounds react with moisture and carbon dioxide, then carbamates are formed, but crosslinking is incomplete leading to poor coating performance
Solution Approach 1:
The adduct acts as an intermediary hardener that reduces the direct reaction between amine compounds and atmospheric moisture/CO2. This mediation ensures that more amine groups are available for the intended crosslinking reaction with epoxy resin, improving both crosslinking completeness and coating performance
Solution Approach 2:
The use of an adduct with lower hygroscopicity preliminarily prevents the harmful reaction between amine compounds and moisture/CO2 before it can occur. This preliminary protective measure ensures that the amine groups remain available for productive crosslinking reactions
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 rapid cure times, desirable mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and reduced blushing, resulting in a coating with improved adhesion and compliance with environmental regulations by minimizing volatile organic compounds.
Implementation Method 1
The epoxy resins can be crosslinked, also referred to as curing, by the chemical reaction of the epoxide groups and the compounds of the hardener. This curing converts the epoxy resins, which have a relatively low molecular weight, into relatively high molecular weight materials by chemical addition of the compounds of the hardener.
Implementation Method 2
The resin component includes an epoxy compound and a reactive diluent
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include curable compositions including a resin component and a hardener component. The resin component can include an epoxy compound that is selected from the group consisting of aromatic epoxy compounds, alicyclic epoxy compounds, aliphatic epoxy compounds, and combinations thereof, and a reactive diluent that includes a polymeric glycidyl ether. The hardener component can include an adduct and a Mannich base.