Cyclic Ether-Anhydride Resin Photopolymerization via UV-Visible Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
The epoxy-anhydride polyaddition process is slow and requires heat or catalysis, posing challenges in developing efficient systems for producing cyclic ether-anhydride resins due to the toxic nature of amine hardeners used in epoxy-amine reactions.
Innovation Solution
A composition curable under UV-visible to near-infrared irradiation, comprising a polyfunctional cyclic ether component, a carboxylic anhydride component, and a photoinitiating system with a photoinitiator or photosensitizer that generates catalytic species, along with an oxidation agent or accelerator, enabling rapid and efficient curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If epoxy-anhydride polyaddition is performed using conventional methods, then the reaction can proceed without specialized initiators, but the reaction rate is very slow and requires heat or catalysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces photoinitiators that absorb UV-visible light to generate catalytic species, fundamentally changing the reaction conditions from thermal to photochemical initiation. This enables rapid polymerization at room temperature without requiring heat or traditional catalysts, directly resolving the contradiction between reaction speed and process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces thermal energy input (heating) with optical energy input (UV-visible irradiation) to initiate and control the polymerization reaction. This substitution allows precise spatial and temporal control of the reaction through light exposure, achieving fast curing without the complexity of thermal management systems
2Productivity
If amine hardeners are used in epoxy-amine reactions, then the reaction proceeds efficiently, but the amine hardeners are toxic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the toxic amine hardener component from the epoxy curing system by replacing it with a photoinitiator-based system. The photoinitiator generates catalytic species upon light absorption that can initiate epoxy-anhydride polyaddition without requiring toxic amines, thus maintaining productivity while removing harmful factors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces photoinitiators as intermediary substances that absorb UV-visible light and generate catalytic species to mediate the epoxy-anhydride reaction. This intermediary mechanism replaces the direct epoxy-amine reaction with a photochemically initiated process, achieving efficient curing without toxic amine hardeners
3Ease of manufacture
If photopolymerization is performed under conventional UV irradiation, then curing can be achieved, but oxygen inhibition significantly reduces the effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite photoinitiating systems combining multiple photoinitiators with different absorption characteristics and mechanisms. This composite approach creates a more robust system that can overcome oxygen inhibition by utilizing multiple simultaneous pathways for catalytic species generation, ensuring reliable and complete curing while maintaining process simplicity
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 approach significantly accelerates the epoxy-anhydride polymerization process, achieving rapid curing within minutes at room temperature, improving mechanical properties and adhesion on various substrates while being resistant to oxygen inhibition.
Implementation Method 1
curable on demand under the triggering action of UV-visible to near-infrared irradiation of moderate intensity
Implementation Method 2
a photoinitiating system generating catalytic species comprising at least one suitable photoinitiator or photosensitizer that absorbs light
Implementation Method 3
at least one oxidation agent able to react with the photoinitiator or the photosensitizer, selected from iodonium salts, sulfonium salts, peroxides and thianthrenium salts
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to compositions (self-thermally) curable on demand under the triggering action of UV-visible to near-infrared irradiation of moderate intensity, method of using same for accelerated photopolyaddition of cyclic ether-anhydride resins or dark curing of cyclic ether-anhydride resins, and articles obtained by such method. The invention also relates to a resin casting, film or coated substrate, and an adhesive layer or bonding agent, comprising a cyclic ether-anhydride resin obtained by an accelerated curing process according to the invention. The invention additionally relates to the use of a composition of the invention for increasing the delamination strength of laminated composite materials.