Easy to Clean Coating for Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current coatings for applications like touch panel displays and solar panel screens face challenges with abrasion resistance, long-term thermal stability, and ease of cleaning, particularly due to the use of fluorinated materials that require expensive fluorosolvents and result in monolayer coatings with limited durability.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the preparation of a thin film using a first precursor composition of metal or metalloid compounds and a fluoropolyether silane, which are combined and cured to form a multi-layer coating that enhances hardness, abrasion resistance, and cleanability without the need for additional adhesion layers, while reducing fluorine solvent usage and allowing for low-temperature curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluorinated materials with siloxane groups are used to achieve easy-to-clean properties and abrasion resistance, then the coating provides good E2C properties and initial adhesion, but the coating suffers from poor long-term thermal stability when exposed to high temperatures and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is divided into two distinct layers: a lower adhesion promoter layer containing siloxane-functionalized fluorinated material for initial bonding, and an upper crosslinkable polymer layer providing thermal stability and mechanical durability. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining fluorinated materials (for E2C properties) with crosslinkable polymers containing hydroxyl, carboxyl, or amino groups (for thermal stability and hardness). The interaction between these chemically distinct materials creates a synergistic effect where the fluorinated layer provides surface properties while the crosslinkable polymer provides structural integrity.
2Reliability
If siloxane functionalized perfluoropolyether is used to achieve good E2C properties, then the coating provides hydrophobic and oleophobic properties, but the material requires expensive fluorosolvents for dilution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the solvent parameter from expensive fluorosolvents to cheaper non-fluorinated solvents such as alcohols, esters, or ketones. This parameter change maintains the solubility and application properties of the fluorinated material while dramatically reducing the cost of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluorinated material is extracted from its traditional fluorosolvent environment and placed into a non-fluorinated solvent system. This extraction allows the fluorinated active ingredients to retain their E2C functionality while eliminating the expensive fluorinated solvent component.
3Device complexity
If monolayer coatings are used to mimic substrate hardness, then the coating provides a simple single-layer structure, but the coating cannot pass severe abrasion resistance conditions and retain long-term use life
Solution Approach 1:
The single monolayer coating is segmented into two functional layers: a lower layer for adhesion and surface properties, and an upper crosslinkable polymer layer for mechanical strength and abrasion resistance. This segmentation provides the durability of multi-layer systems while maintaining relative structural simplicity.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional coating methods are used to produce wet film, then the coating can be applied by liquid phase deposition, but the curing requires costly and cumbersome processes such as e-beam or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The curing process parameters are changed from complex plasma or e-beam conditions to simple thermal curing or UV irradiation. The inclusion of crosslinkable functional groups (hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino) in the polymer layer enables this parameter change, allowing curing under mild, commercially available conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex physical curing mechanisms (e-beam, plasma) are replaced with simpler chemical curing mechanisms (thermal crosslinking, UV-initiated crosslinking). This substitution maintains the crosslinking functionality while eliminating the need for expensive and complex equipment.
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 resulting coating provides superior hardness, abrasion resistance, and easy cleanability, with improved thermal stability and long-term performance, while also reducing production costs and environmental impact by minimizing fluorine solvent use.
Implementation Method 1
a2) at least partial hydrolysation of the M1(OR1)-moieties and polymerizing the one or more metal or metalloid compound according to formula (I)
Implementation Method 2
b1) providing a fluoropolyether silane comprising hydrolysable groups (PFS)
Implementation Method 3
f) curing the intermediate product obtained in step e), if present, or step d), if step e) is not present thereby obtaining a thin film
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a thin film on a substrate in which a first precursor composition (FPC) and a second precursor composition (SPC) are combined, a thin layer of the combined first precursor composition (FPC) and second precursor composition (SPC) is formed on a substrate and the thin layer is cured, an article comprising said thin layer, a composition comprising said first precursor composition (FPC) and said second precursor composition (SPC), a kit-of-parts comprising said first precursor composition (FPC) and said second precursor composition (SPC) in two vessels and the use of said composition or kit-of-parts for preparing a thin film on a substrate and for preparing an optical or electrical coating.