Elastic embossing lacquer having high optical dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Decorative articles with microstructure layers composed of crosslinked polymers have low elasticity, making them unsuitable for applications requiring high elasticity, such as textiles, despite achieving high optical dispersion.

Innovation Solution

An embossing lacquer with a high aromatic content and containing polymerizable compounds that form a polymer main chain and crosslinking aliphatic or polyether moieties to create an elastic polymer network, allowing for radical polymerization and high optical dispersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If crosslinked polymers are used to achieve high optical dispersion, then optical properties are improved, but elasticity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical dispersionVSAvoidelasticity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining aromatic compounds (for optical dispersion) with aliphatic crosslinking agents (for elasticity) in a single polymer network. This creates a material that exhibits both high optical dispersion properties and high elasticity, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating distinct functional regions within the polymer structure: aromatic moieties are positioned to provide optical dispersion, while aliphatic crosslinking sections are positioned to provide elasticity. This spatial differentiation allows both properties to coexist in the same material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If aromatic content is increased to achieve high optical dispersion, then optical properties are improved, but polymer flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical dispersionVSAvoidpolymer flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines aromatic compounds (providing optical dispersion) with flexible aliphatic crosslinking agents in a composite polymer system. The aliphatic components compensate for the rigidity introduced by aromatic groups, maintaining polymer flexibility while achieving high optical dispersion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific ratios of aromatic to aliphatic components, and by selecting aliphatic crosslinking agents with appropriate molecular weights and chain lengths. This parameter optimization allows the polymer to achieve both high optical dispersion and maintained flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 embossing lacquer achieves a balance of high optical dispersion and flexibility, enabling its use in applications like nanoimprint lithography and roll-to-roll processes, resulting in a microstructure layer with desired optical properties and elasticity.

Implementation Method 1

compound (A), which is a non-crosslinking compound in a radical polymerization reaction, 10 to 60 parts by weight of compound (B), which is a crosslinking compound in a radical polymerization reaction forming crosslinks

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadical polymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP4160312A1Elastic embossing lacquer having high optical dispersion
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 JOANNEUM RES FORSCHUNGS GMBH
  • EP4160312A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4160312A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4160312A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An embossing lacquer containing radical polymerizable compounds (A) to (D) that have an overall aromatic content of at least 20 wt%: compound (A), which is a non-crosslinking compound and has an aromatic content of at least 40 wt%; compound (B), which is a crosslinking compound forming crosslinks via one or more aliphatic chain(s) each having a molecular weight of 200 to 2000 g/mol, wherein the content of the aliphatic chain(s) in compound (B) is at least 40 wt%; optionally compound (C), which is a crosslinking compound and has an aromatic content of at least 30 wt%; and optionally compound (D), which has a urethane group. A decorative article containing the cured embossing lacquer and a method of preparing the decorative article.