Polyether Diamine Etheramine Mixtures for Room-Temperature Epoxy Curing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for polyetheramines that act as curing agents for epoxy resins, providing self-curing capabilities at room temperature and offering good flexibility for applications like floor coatings and decorative coatings.
Innovation Solution
An etheramine mixture comprising polyether diamines, produced through the alkoxylation and reductive amination of hydrophobic diols, which can be used as a curing agent for epoxy resins, allowing for self-curing at room temperature and forming flexible cured compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional polyetheramines are used as curing agents for epoxy resins, then the epoxy resins can be cured, but additional heating is required and the curing process takes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of polyether diamines by varying the hydrophobic diol component (cycloaliphatic, aromatic, or aliphatic) and the polyoxyalkylene chain length (x+y=2-10), which changes the reactivity and curing characteristics. This allows room temperature curing while maintaining reasonable cure time through molecular structure optimization rather than external heating
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite etheramine mixtures containing multiple polyether diamine components with different structures (combining different diol types and chain lengths). This composite approach creates synergistic effects that enable both room temperature curing capability and adequate curing speed, resolving the contradiction between low temperature processing and time efficiency
2Strength
If conventional curing agents are used, then epoxy resins can be cured, but the cured compositions lack sufficient flexibility for applications like floor coatings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically varies the flexible aliphatic chain length (x and y values from 1-9 each) and the type of hydrophobic diol to optimize the balance between crosslink density and chain flexibility. Longer polyoxyalkylene chains and flexible aliphatic diols increase flexibility, while maintaining adequate crosslinking for structural integrity, making the cured epoxy suitable for flexible applications like floor coatings and table tops
3Temperature
If new polyetheramine structures are developed to achieve room temperature curing and flexibility, then the curing conditions improve, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the polyether diamine structure into distinct modular segments: the hydrophobic diol head group (cycloaliphatic, aromatic, or aliphatic), the polyoxyalkylene chain (controllable length x+y), and the terminal amine groups. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each segment's properties and facilitates systematic synthesis through standardized chemical reactions, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite structural sophistication
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 etheramine mixture enables epoxy resin systems to cure at room temperature within 12 hours without additional heating, resulting in flexible and defect-free coatings suitable for applications such as self-leveling floor coatings and high-build table tops.
Implementation Method 1
subsequent conversion of the hydroxyl groups to amine groups by reductive amination
Implementation Method 2
The etheramine mixture enables epoxy resin systems to cure at room temperature within 12 hours
Data Source
AI summary
An etheramine mixture comprising one or more polyether diamines, methods for its production, and its use as a curing agent for epoxy resins. The etheramine mixture may also be used in the preparation of polyamides and polyurea compounds.