Solvent-Free Epoxy Binder for Low-Temp Curing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing powder paint compositions for the aeronautical industry face challenges with polymerization temperatures and gel times, as they either result in defects due to excessive reactivity or insufficient reactivity, and can chemically modify substrates due to prolonged contact, especially when trying to achieve low-temperature polymerization.

Innovation Solution

A solvent-free powder paint binder composition with a low polymerization temperature and short gel time, featuring specific epoxy resins, curing agents, and crosslinking catalysts, which includes variants with GMA acrylic resin, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether epoxy resin, and cresol novolac epoxy resin, optimized for low polymerization temperatures and enhanced mechanical and chemical resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the gel time is shortened to increase reactivity, then polymerization speed is improved, but coating defects increase due to excessive reactivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolymerization speedVSAvoidcoating quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the binder composition by selecting specific epoxy resins with controlled epoxy equivalents (250-800 g/eq) and glass transition temperatures (35-80°C), combined with specific curing agents and crosslinking catalysts. This parameter optimization achieves a gel time of 35-140 seconds at 180°C, which is sufficiently short for rapid polymerization but controlled enough to prevent coating defects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the gel time is extended to reduce reactivity, then coating quality is improved, but substrate chemical modification increases due to prolonged contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating qualityVSAvoidsubstrate chemical modification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the gel time parameter to fall within the specific range of 35-140 seconds at 180°C. This controlled parameter change ensures that the binder remains reactive enough to polymerize quickly before excessive substrate contact occurs, while not being so reactive as to cause coating defects. The low polymerization starting temperature of 80°C further controls the reaction kinetics to prevent harmful substrate modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the polymerization temperature is reduced to protect the substrate, then substrate integrity is improved, but polymerization reactivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate integrityVSAvoidpolymerization reactivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves a low polymerization starting temperature of 80°C by selecting epoxy resins with specific glass transition temperatures (35-80°C) and epoxy equivalents (250-800 g/eq), combined with appropriate curing agents and crosslinking catalysts. This parameter optimization enables the polymerization to proceed at low temperatures that protect substrate integrity while maintaining sufficient reactivity through the controlled gel time of 35-140 seconds at 180°C.

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 composition ensures substrate integrity with a polymerization starting temperature of 80°C and gel time between 35-140 seconds at 180°C, providing excellent UV-resistance, mechanical properties, and chemical resistance, suitable for the aeronautical industry and other applications requiring low-temperature crosslinking.

Implementation Method 1

a powder paint thermosetting binder composition, which includes: at least one first epoxy resin or one resin functionalized with at least one epoxy group... at least one curing agent... the composition has a polymerization starting temperature of 80° C. and a gel time of between 35 s and 140 s at 180° C.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

the composition has a polymerization starting temperature of 80° C. and a gel time of between 35 s and 140 s at 180° C... providing excellent UV-resistance, mechanical properties, and chemical resistance, suitable for the aeronautical industry and other applications requiring low-temperature crosslinking.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

at least one crosslinking catalyst... the composition has a polymerization starting temperature of 80° C. and a gel time of between 35 s and 140 s at 180° C.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentUS10626277B2Powder paint thermosetting binder composition and manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2020.04.21 H E F

AI summary

Some embodiments relate to a powder paint thermosetting binder composition that is solvent-free and includes at least one hardener and one cross-linking catalyst, and a first epoxy resin or a functionalized resin having at least one epoxy group. The resin has an epoxy equivalent weight of between 250 and 800 g/eq and a glass transition temperature of between 35 and 80° C. A binder composition of this kind has a polymerization starting temperature of 80° C. and a gel time of between 35 s and 140 s at 180° C. Some embodiments also relate to a paint composition containing a thermosetting binder composition of this kind, at least one pigment and, optionally, in addition a leveling agent and inorganic or organic fillers.