Cyclic Olefin Polymer Composition Balancing Optical and Mechanical Properties
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cyclic olefin polymers face challenges in simultaneously optimizing mechanical properties and optical properties due to uncontrolled sequence distribution and relative content of rigid cyclic structures and flexible aliphatic group chain segments, limiting their application in electronic products.
Innovation Solution
A cyclic olefin polymer with controlled sequence distribution and relative content of rigid bicyclic structures and flexible aliphatic group chain segments, achieved through specific repeat units and molecular structures, allowing for adjustable mechanical and optical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If ROMP-hydrogenation is performed on norbornene to synthesize COP, then optical properties are improved due to alternating sequence distribution, but mechanical properties deteriorate due to high internal stress from 50% cyclic structure content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters by using a cyclic olefin copolymer as monomer instead of pure cyclic olefin, resulting in a polymer with 20-40% cyclic structure content instead of the conventional 50%. This parameter change simultaneously improves mechanical properties (reduces internal stress) while maintaining good optical properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure at the molecular level by incorporating both cyclic olefin units (from norbornene) and α-olefin units (from ethylene or propylene) in the polymer chain. This composite approach allows the material to benefit from both the rigidity of cyclic structures and the flexibility of aliphatic chains, achieving balanced mechanical and optical properties
2Strength
If VAP is performed on norbornene and ethylene to synthesize COC, then mechanical properties are improved through adjustable monomer ratio, but optical properties deteriorate due to polyethylene crystallization from ethylene chain stacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the VAP polymerization mechanism with ROMP mechanism. In VAP, ethylene chains stack and crystallize; in ROMP, the cyclic olefin copolymer monomer undergoes ring-opening metathesis polymerization that creates an alternating sequence distribution preventing chain stacking and crystallization, thus maintaining optical properties while preserving mechanical strength
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing ethylene chains to stack and crystallize (as in VAP), the patent inverts the approach by using ROMP to create an alternating copolymer structure that actively prevents crystallization. The inversion transforms the problem of chain stacking into a solution where the polymerization mechanism itself prevents the harmful stacking behavior
3Strength
If the cyclic olefin copolymer content is increased to improve mechanical properties, then internal stress increases, but if decreased to reduce internal stress, then optical properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the cyclic structure content parameter to a specific range (20-40%) that balances mechanical and optical properties. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the sweet spot where internal stress is sufficiently reduced for good mechanical properties while maintaining enough cyclic structure content for good optical properties
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 polymer exhibits excellent mechanical properties, optical properties, and processability, making it suitable for various optical products.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclic olefin polymer that is a polymer product obtained through hydrogenation after ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) performed on a single cyclic olefin monomer
Implementation Method 2
a cyclic olefin polymer (COP) that is a polymer product obtained through hydrogenation after ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) performed on a single cyclic olefin monomer
Data Source
AI summary
A cyclic olefin polymer, a cyclic olefin polymer monomer, and an optical product using the foregoing cyclic olefin polymer are provided.The cyclic olefin polymer includes a repeat unit shown in Formula (1) and/or a repeat unit shown in Formula (2). In Formula (1), 0≤p, and q≤6; x≥0, and y≥0; 0≤p1, q1≤6, and p1 and q1 are not 0 at the same time; R1 to R12, Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, R13, R14, R15, and R16 are separately and independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a hydroxy group, an ester group, a cyano group, an amino group, a thiol group, and an atom or an atomic group that can replace the foregoing group; and any two, three, or four of R13, R14, R15, and R16 may be connected to form a cyclic structure.