Epoxy Resin Curing Agent for High Gas-Barrier Adhesives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current epoxy resin adhesives for packaging materials face challenges in achieving high gas-barrier properties and sufficient adhesiveness to polyester, often requiring additional gas-barrier layers which increase production costs and reduce workability, while also having slow curing rates and issues with unreacted isocyanate groups forming air bubbles.

Innovation Solution

A specific epoxy resin curing agent comprising a reaction product of m-xylylenediamine, a polyfunctional compound forming amide linkages, and aromatic dicarboxylic acid derivatives, which forms a cohesive amide linkage-based adhesive with high gas-barrier and adhesive properties, eliminating the need for separate gas-barrier layers and improving humidity resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional epoxy resin adhesives are used, then good adhesiveness and heat resistance are achieved, but gas-barrier properties are insufficient requiring additional layers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas-barrier propertiesVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the epoxy resin adhesive by incorporating specific amine curing agents (polyaminodiphenylmethane, diaminodiphenylsulfone, or their mixtures) to achieve superior gas-barrier properties without adding structural layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite adhesive system by combining epoxy resin with specific amine curing agents that possess both adhesive functionality and gas-barrier properties, achieving multi-functionality in a single material layer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If additional gas-barrier layers are added to improve gas-barrier properties, then gas-barrier performance increases, but production costs increase and workability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas-barrier propertiesVSAvoidworkability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The epoxy resin adhesive is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing adhesiveness, heat resistance, and high gas-barrier properties, eliminating the need for separate gas-barrier layers and simplifying the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If two-part polyurethane adhesive is used, then high adhesiveness is achieved, but curing rate is slow requiring long-term aging

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadhesivenessVSAvoidcuring rate
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition by selecting specific amine curing agents with appropriate reactivity toward epoxy groups, achieving both high adhesiveness and accelerated curing rate without requiring long-term aging

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 solution provides laminate films with excellent gas-barrier, adhesive, and mechanical properties, enhancing the protection and preservation of packaged contents without additional gas-barrier layers, while maintaining stability under high humidity conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a curing agent comprising a reaction product of components (A), (B), and (C): (A) m-xylylenediamine or p-xylylenediamine; (B) a polyfunctional compound having one acyl group, which forms amide linkage by a reaction with polyamine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCovalent bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a polyfunctional compound having one acyl group, which forms amide linkage by a reaction with polyamine and is capable of forming an oligomer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogen bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS9303116B2Epoxy resin curing agent, epoxy resin composition, and adhesive agent for laminate
Publication Date: 2016.04.05 MITSUBISHI GAS CHEM CO INC

AI summary

An epoxy resin curing agent which provides good adhesiveness to polyester in addition to excellent performance and high gas-barrier properties of epoxy resins, an epoxy resin composition containing the epoxy resin curing agent, an adhesive for laminating which mainly contains the composition, a laminate film obtained by using the adhesive, a multi-layer packaging material, and a packaging bag. The epoxy resin curing agent is a reaction product of (A) m-xylylenediamine or p-xylylenediamine, (B) a polyfunctional compound having one acyl group, which forms amide linkage by a reaction with polyamine and is capable of forming an oligomer; and (C) an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an ester thereof, an amide thereof, an acid anhydride thereof, or an acid chloride thereof.