Fluorinated polymer and surface treating agent composition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluorine-containing polymer compositions for water- and oil-repellency lack adequate washing durability and performance, particularly when used in combination with auxiliaries like softening agents and antistatic agents.

Innovation Solution

A surface-treating composition comprising a fluorine-containing polymer with specific monomer ratios and a fluorine-free non-crosslinkable monomer, combined with a liquid aqueous medium and a surfactant, which imparts excellent water-repellency, oil-repellency, and antifouling properties to substrates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If fluorine-containing polymer with low carbon number fluoroalkyl group (at most 7) is used to reduce crystallinity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but water-repellency performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidwater-repellency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the carbon number parameter of the fluoroalkyl group from the conventional range (at most 7) to a specific range (8-12), which fundamentally alters the crystallization behavior of the side chain. This parameter change enables the polymer to achieve both processability and superior water-repellency by optimizing the balance between crystallinity and molecular mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite fluorine-containing polymer by combining multiple fluorine-containing monomers with different carbon numbers (at least two different carbon numbers in the range of 8-12). This composite structure allows the polymer to exhibit synergistic effects, achieving both ease of manufacture and excellent water-repellency that cannot be obtained with single-monomer polymers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If fluorine-containing compound is used as water- and oil-repellent agent, then water-repellency is improved, but washing durability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater-repellencyVSAvoidwashing durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the carbon number parameter of the fluoroalkyl group to the range of 8-12, which prevents excessive crystallization while maintaining water-repellency. This parameter optimization ensures that the polymer maintains its performance after repeated washing, solving the washing durability problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite structure with at least two different fluorine-containing monomers having carbon numbers in the range of 8-12. This composite approach creates a more robust polymer structure that resists degradation during washing, thereby improving washing durability while maintaining water-repellency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If side chain crystallization is increased to improve water-repellency, then water-repellency is improved, but mobility of surface-treating agent molecules deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater-repellencyVSAvoidmolecular mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent precisely controls the carbon number parameter of the fluoroalkyl group to be in the range of 8-12, which optimizes the degree of crystallization. This controlled crystallization provides sufficient water-repellency while maintaining adequate molecular mobility for the polymer to function effectively as a surface-treating agent.

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 achieves superior durability and performance in water- and oil-repellency, even at low heat treatment temperatures, making it suitable for various textile and material applications.

Implementation Method 1

The fluorine-containing compound has an advantage that it is excellent in characteristics such as heat resistance, oxidation resistance and weather resistance. A fluorine-containing compound is used, for example, as a water- and oil-repellent agent and a soil resistant agent by utilizing the property that the free energy of the fluorine-containing compound is low, that is, it is difficult to adhere.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLow free energy property: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 2

a liquid aqueous medium and a surfactant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP3536718B1Fluorinated polymer and surface treating agent composition
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

Provided is a fluorinated polymer that can impart excellent washing durability and water- and oil-repellency to fibers, said fluorinated polymer having a repeating unit derived from a fluorinated monomer (a) that comprises a first fluorinated monomer (a1) represented by the formula: CH2=C(-X1)-C(=O)-Y1-Z1-Rf1 [wherein X1 represents a halogen atom; Y1 represents -O- or -NH-; Z1 represents a direct bond or a bivalent organic group; and Rf1 represents a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms] and a second fluorinated monomer (a2) represented by the formula: CH2=C(-X2)-C(=O)-Y2-Z2-Rf2 [wherein X2 represents a monovalent organic group or a hydrogen atom; Y2 represents -O- or -NH-; Z2 represents a direct bond or a bivalent organic group; and Rf2 represents a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms].