Episulfide Optical Material Composition Storage Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical materials face challenges in storage stability and light resistance, particularly with polyepisulfide compounds, which are difficult to store due to high reactivity and epoxy compounds with halogen groups that degrade light resistance.

Innovation Solution

An optical material composition incorporating an episulfide compound represented by Formula (1) and a polymerizable compound, with specific mass percentages, along with a polymerization catalyst, to enhance storage stability and light resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polyepisulfide compounds are used to achieve high refractive index and high Abbe's number, then optical properties are improved, but storage stability deteriorates due to high reactivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical propertiesVSAvoidstorage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A latent catalyst system is introduced as an intermediary between the polyepisulfide compound and the triggering mechanism. The catalyst remains dormant during storage and only becomes active under specific conditions (heat, light, or presence of a catalyst), thereby mediating between the need for stability during storage and the need for reactivity during curing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The composition is prepared with all necessary components (polyepisulfide compound, polymerizable compound, and latent catalyst) in advance, but the actual polymerization reaction is postponed until the triggering condition is applied. This preliminary preparation allows the materials to be stored together without reacting, yet be ready to cure immediately when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If epoxy compound with halogen group is added to improve storage stability, then storage stability is improved, but light resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidlight resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The halogen group, which causes light resistance deterioration, is extracted or removed from the stabilizing agent. Instead of using epoxy compounds with halogen groups, the invention uses halogen-free alternatives such as phenolic antioxidants or amine-based stabilizers that provide the same storage stability benefit without the harmful halogen content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If refrigeration is used to store polyepisulfide compound, then storage stability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to special cooling box

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidstorage equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage conditions are changed from requiring low temperature (refrigeration) to allowing room temperature storage. This parameter change is achieved by modifying the chemical composition to include stabilizers and using a latent catalyst system that prevents premature reaction while allowing stable storage at higher temperatures without special equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If polythiol compound with nitrogen component is used to reduce coloring and striae, then manufacturing quality is improved, but light resistance remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of optical materialVSAvoidlight resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite composition combining polyepisulfide compound with specific polymerizable compounds and additives. This composite approach allows achieving both good manufacturing quality (no coloring or striae) and sufficient light resistance by synergistic interaction of components, avoiding the need to choose between quality and light resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 composition allows for stable and inexpensive storage of the episulfide compound, improving light resistance, hue, and transparency of the optical material.

Implementation Method 1

an optical material composition comprising an episulfide compound represented by Formula (1) and a polymerizable compound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS10132961B2Episulfide compound and optical material composition including same

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 MITSUBISHI GAS CHEM CO INC

AI summary

A preferred embodiment of the present invention can provide an optical material composition that includes an episulfide compound that is represented by formula (1) and a polymerizable compound that is different from the episulfide compound that is represented by formula (1). The optical material composition makes it possible to stably and inexpensively store the polymerizable compound and to achieve an optical material that has a favorable hue and that has favorable lightfastness and transparency. (In the formula, m is an integer from 0 to 4, and n is an integer from 0 to 2.)