Two-Component Epoxy (Meth)Acrylate Snap Cure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Two-component epoxy compositions cure slowly at room temperature, requiring 6 to 8 hours for handling and up to seven days for full cure, which is disadvantageous for industrial applications needing rapid processing and high throughput, and the use of cure accelerators can increase brittleness and reduce dynamic strength.
Innovation Solution
A two-component composition comprising 60-100 wt% of an epoxy (meth)acrylate compound with (meth)acrylate and epoxide groups, mixed with a second component of polyamine and polythiol, achieving snap-cure capability at room temperature without the need for cure accelerators or tougheners, with a molar ratio of active hydrogen atoms to epoxide and ethylenically unsaturated groups ranging from 0.75:1 to 1:1.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high temperature is used to promote fast curing, then curing speed is improved, but material failure occurs due to moisture evaporation and bubbling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the curing system by introducing a polythiol component with specific molecular weight (100-700 g/eq) and functionality (2-5 thiol groups) that enables rapid curing at room temperature through thiol-epoxide reaction, eliminating the need for high temperature processing and preventing moisture-related material failure
Solution Approach 2:
The polythiol acts as an intermediary curing agent that mediates the reaction between epoxy groups and provides rapid crosslinking at room temperature, serving as a bridge that enables fast curing without requiring thermal energy that would cause moisture evaporation and bubbling
2Reliability
If room temperature curing is used, then material failure is prevented, but curing time becomes excessively long (6-8 hours to handle, 1-7 days for full cure)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the reactivity parameters of the curing system by selecting a polythiol with specific molecular weight (100-700 g/eq) and functionality (2-5 thiol groups), which provides sufficient reactivity to enable rapid curing at room temperature without requiring high temperature, thus reducing curing time from days to minutes while maintaining material integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite curing system combining polyamine and polythiol components that work synergistically to provide both rapid curing capability and good mechanical properties, achieving fast room-temperature curing without the need for high temperature processing
3Speed
If cure accelerators are added to speed up curing, then curing speed is improved, but brittleness increases and dynamic strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the molecular parameters of the curing agent by using a polythiol with controlled molecular weight (100-700 g/eq) and functionality (2-5 thiol groups), which provides rapid curing through thiol-epoxide reaction without the brittleness-inducing effects of conventional low molecular weight accelerators, maintaining both speed and dynamic strength
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite curing system with polyamine and polythiol that works together to provide rapid curing without the harmful effects of single-component accelerators, achieving both fast curing and good mechanical properties through the synergistic action of multiple curing agents
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
Enables rapid curing within 60 seconds at room temperature, eliminating the need for heat and preventing material failure, while maintaining mechanical strength and flexibility, and can cure even faster under elevated temperatures or photo-irradiation.
Implementation Method 1
a second component comprising at least one polyamine having at least two amine hydrogen atoms reactive towards epoxide groups and at least one polythiol
Implementation Method 2
at least one epoxy (meth)acrylate compound, said compound having at least one (meth)acrylate group and at least one epoxide group
Data Source
AI summary
The present application is directed to a two component (2K) composition which is snap curable at room temperature, said composition comprising:a first component comprising, based on the weight of said component:from 60 to 100 wt. % of a) at least one epoxy (meth)acrylate compound, said compound having at least one (meth)acrylate group and at least one epoxide group;from 0 to 20 wt. % of b) at least one epoxide compound not having (meth)acrylate functionality; and, from 0 to 20 wt. % of c) at least one ethylenically unsaturated non-ionic monomer not having epoxide functionality;a second component comprising:d) i) at least one polyamine having at least two amine hydrogen atoms reactive towards epoxide groups; and,d) ii) at least one polythiol,wherein the composition is characterized in that the molar ratio of active hydrogen atoms provided by said second component to the total of epoxide groups and ethylenically unsaturated groups provided by said first component is from 0.75:1 to 1:1.