Ester Solvent Wood Preservative Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wood preservative systems, particularly those using organic solvents like white spirit, face issues with health and safety concerns, environmental impact, and inefficiencies in solvent recovery, leading to manufacturing bottlenecks and increased costs due to slow solvent evaporation and resin bleed at elevated temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A wood preservative composition utilizing ester compounds as solvents, such as n-propyl ethanoate, tertiary butyl ethanoate, and n-propyl propanoate, which are more soluble and evaporate faster than white spirit, allowing for higher recovery rates and minimizing wood dimensional changes, along with a method for applying and recovering these solvents from wood-based materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If volatile solvents like white spirit are used for wood preservation, then deep penetration and water insolubility of active ingredients are achieved, but health and safety concerns arise and solvent recovery is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the solvent from traditional volatile solvents like white spirit to ester-based solvents (ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, butyl acetate). This parameter change maintains the ability to dissolve water-insoluble active ingredients and penetrate wood effectively while improving health and safety profiles by reducing toxicity and unpleasant odors associated with petroleum-based solvents.
2Productivity
If traditional volatile solvents are used, then active ingredients are effectively transported, but manufacturing bottlenecks occur due to slow solvent evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the volatility parameter of the solvent system by selecting esters with controlled vapor pressures. Ethyl acetate and propyl acetate provide faster evaporation rates than white spirit, reducing the waiting time before painting or finishing operations can proceed, thereby eliminating manufacturing bottlenecks and improving overall productivity.
3Speed
If elevated temperatures are used for solvent recovery, then evaporation rate increases, but resin bleed occurs at the wood surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal properties parameter by selecting ester solvents with different boiling points and vapor pressure characteristics compared to white spirit. These esters allow for effective solvent recovery at lower temperatures, preventing the resin bleed phenomenon that occurs when traditional solvents are heated to high temperatures for rapid evaporation.
4Ease of manufacture
If white spirit is used as carrier, then cost competitiveness is achieved, but environmental impact and odour issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter from petroleum-based white spirit to ester-based solvents derived from renewable resources. This substitution maintains cost-effectiveness while dramatically improving environmental compatibility and eliminating the characteristic unpleasant odour of white spirit, making the treatment more environmentally friendly and socially acceptable.
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 ester-based system enhances solvent recovery rates, reduces health and safety risks, and lowers processing costs by facilitating faster solvent evaporation and minimizing wood swelling, while maintaining effective impregnation and stability of active ingredients, thus offering a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional LOSP treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The ester based solvent is evolved or evaporated from the wood based material
Data Source
AI summary
This invention is related to a wood preservative composition comprising i) at least one active ingredient, and ii) a carrier system containing at least 10% w/w of a solvent selected from one or more ester compounds of the formula (I) wherein: R and R′ are independently selected from Ci-Cβ-alkyl groups, and wherein the carbon chains of alkyl groups of 3 or more carbon atoms may be straight-chained or branched; and wherein the at least one active ingredient is substantially soluble in the earner system. The preservative compositions may be used to treat wood based materials, and the ester solvent may optionally be recovered following the treatment. Formula (I).