Non-etherified Cyclic Urea Crosslinker for Low-Temperature Coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional melamine-formaldehyde resin crosslinkers emit formaldehyde and require high temperatures for curing, making them environmentally undesirable and energy-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A non-etherified reaction product of a cyclic urea and a multifunctional aldehyde is used to create a crosslinking composition that reduces formaldehyde and alcohol emission, allowing for lower curing temperatures below 80°C, achieved by controlling the degree of etherification and incorporating specific crosslinking agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional melamine-formaldehyde resin crosslinkers are used, then good crosslinking performance is achieved, but formaldehyde emission occurs and high temperatures are required for curing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using cyclic urea compounds instead of conventional melamine-formaldehyde resins, and controls the etherification degree parameter to be between 0.1-5.0 mmol/g to achieve crosslinking without formaldehyde emission while maintaining good crosslinking performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cyclic urea compounds as temporary crosslinking agents that provide effective crosslinking performance but decompose without releasing harmful formaldehyde, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional crosslinkers
2Reliability
If conventional melamine-formaldehyde resin crosslinkers are used, then effective crosslinking is achieved, but high curing temperatures are required which increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the curing temperature parameter from conventional high temperatures (≥80°C) to ambient temperatures (20-30°C) by using cyclic urea compounds with controlled etherification degrees, achieving effective crosslinking without high energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal activation mechanism (high temperature heating) with a chemical mechanism (cyclic urea compound decomposition and crosslinking) that operates at ambient temperatures, substituting thermal energy with chemical reactivity to achieve crosslinking
3Reliability
If amino resins are used as crosslinkers, then crosslinking reaction occurs, but formaldehyde and alcohol are liberated during curing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of substance liberation into a benefit by designing cyclic urea compounds that decompose to release water instead of formaldehyde and alcohol, transforming the curing process into an environmentally friendly reaction that maintains mass balance without harmful emissions
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 enables the development of crosslinker compositions that can cure at ambient temperatures, providing improved stability and reduced energy consumption while minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
reaction product of a cyclic urea and a multifunctional aldehyde
Implementation Method 2
chemical reactions occur during film formation which lead to crosslinked macromolecules
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a coating composition comprising a reaction product UA of at least one multifunctional aldehyde A with at least one cyclic urea U, and a crosslinkable resin having at least one kind of functional groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl functional groups, acid functional groups, amide functional groups, amino functional groups, imino functional groups, mercaptan functional groups, phosphine functional groups, and carbamate functional groups, characterised in that the degree of etherification, measured as the ratio «(13 O—R)/«(U) of the amount of substance n(—O—R) of alkoxy groups as substituents of the aldehyde carbon atoms of the multifunctional aldehyde chemically bound in the reaction product UA to the amount of substance «(U) of cyclic urea U chemically bound in the reaction products, is less than 0.01 mol/mol, and to a process for the preparation of the reaction product UA.