Water-Dispersible Polyurethane Polymer with Cycloaliphatic Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water-dispersible polyurethane (PU) polymers struggle to achieve a balance between hardness and flexibility, often requiring increased isocyanate levels, which increases material costs and does not effectively address the need for low or zero VOC coatings.
Innovation Solution
A water-dispersible PU polymer incorporating cycloaliphatic groups and air-curable ethylenically unsaturated groups, with a structure that includes a divalent linkage group attaching the cycloaliphatic group to the polymer backbone, allowing for a balance of flexibility and hardness without the need for elevated isocyanate levels, and can be formulated into a coating composition with an aqueous carrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional water-dispersible PU polymers are used to reduce VOC levels, then environmental compliance is improved, but the ability to achieve both hardness and flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cycloaliphatic groups (providing structural rigidity and hardness) with ethylenically unsaturated groups (providing flexibility and air-curability) within a single water-dispersible PU polymer molecule. This composite structure allows the polymer to simultaneously achieve both hardness and flexibility without requiring excessive isocyanate content, thereby maintaining low VOC levels while resolving the performance contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of the PU polymer by incorporating specific cycloaliphatic groups with the formula X-Z-X where Z is an aliphatic ring structure. This structural parameter change enables the polymer to achieve optimal balance of hardness and flexibility at lower isocyanate levels, maintaining environmental compliance while improving performance versatility.
2Strength
If increased amounts of isocyanate are used to achieve both hardness and flexibility, then film performance is improved, but material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite polymer structure where cycloaliphatic groups contribute to mechanical strength and hardness, while ethylenically unsaturated groups provide flexibility and enable air-curability. This composite approach allows achieving optimal film performance with reduced isocyanate content, directly addressing the cost-performance contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces specific functional groups (cycloaliphatic and ethylenically unsaturated) at specific locations within the polymer structure to provide localized properties: cycloaliphatic groups provide rigidity and hardness where needed, while unsaturated groups provide flexibility and reactivity. This localized functional distribution achieves overall film performance without requiring uniform increase in isocyanate content throughout the polymer.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional water-dispersible PU polymers are used, then VOC release is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases to achieve proper performance blend
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates multiple functional groups (cycloaliphatic, ethylenically unsaturated, and water-dispersible groups) into a single integrated polymer structure. This multi-functional composite design eliminates the need for complex blend formulations to achieve the desired balance of properties, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining low VOC release.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal polymer structure that simultaneously provides water dispersibility, mechanical performance, hardness, flexibility, and air-curability through its integrated cycloaliphatic-unsaturated group architecture. This multi-functional design reduces formulation complexity by eliminating the need for separate additives or complex blending procedures to achieve each property individually.
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 PU polymer achieves enhanced physical properties, including toughness, chemical resistance, and rapid dry times, while reducing VOC levels and material costs, making it suitable for applications like wood flooring.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of air-curable ethylenically unsaturated groups
Data Source
AI summary
A water-dispersible polyurethane polymer useful in coating applications preferably includes a backbone having urethane linkages and at least one cycloaliphatic group having a closed aliphatic ring structure. Ethylenically unsaturated groups are preferably provided on the polyurethane polymer.