Fluorinated Surfactant with Cationic Group for Solubility and Surface Activity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluorine-containing surfactants lack improved properties and are not easily accessible synthetically, with concerns regarding degradability and environmental compatibility.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a fluorine-containing surfactant with a cationic group, a divalent or polyvalent sulfur-containing group, and a fluorinated group, along with an anion corresponding to the cationic group, featuring an N,N-disubstituted imidazolium, benzimidazolium, or benzimidazolinium group, which allows for cost-effective production and modification of surfactant properties, enhancing hydrophobic and oleophobic effects and solubility in polar solvents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional fluorine-containing surfactants are used, then surfactant properties are achieved, but production cost is high and synthetic accessibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynthetic accessibilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the surfactant by introducing a cationic group (quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, or sulfonium) combined with a fluorinated alkyl group. This structural parameter change enables the surfactant to be synthesized from readily available precursors through straightforward quaternization reactions, significantly improving synthetic accessibility and reducing production costs while maintaining effective surfactant properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite surfactant structure by combining two functional components: a cationic group (for solubility and substrate interaction) and a fluorinated alkyl group (for hydrophobic/oleophobic effects). This composite structure integrates the benefits of both components, achieving cost-effective production through simple synthesis while maintaining superior surfactant performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If fluorinated group chain length is increased to enhance hydrophobic and oleophobic effects, then surface activity is improved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface activityVSAvoidenvironmental friendliness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the fluorinated alkyl group chain length to a specific range (C3-C9, preferably C4-C6) to achieve the desired balance. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient hydrophobic and oleophobic effects for effective surface activity while keeping the molecular size limited, thereby improving degradability and reducing environmental persistence compared to longer-chain fluorinated surfactants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If cationic group is introduced to improve solubility in polar solvents and substrate interaction, then surface activity is enhanced, but molecular complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolubility and substrate interactionVSAvoidmolecular structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cationic group (quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, or sulfonium) as a simple structural modification to the base molecule. This parameter change dramatically improves solubility in polar solvents and enhances interaction with negatively charged substrates through electrostatic attraction, while the modular nature of the cationic group keeps the overall molecular structure relatively simple and easy to synthesize

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 exhibits improved solubility, surface activity, and environmental friendliness, with enhanced hydrophobic and oleophobic properties, and can be used in various applications such as surface coatings, foaming agents, and polymerization processes.

Implementation Method 1

The fluorinated group has a hydrophobic and oleophobic (amphiphobic) effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

The fluorinated group has a hydrophobic and oleophobic (amphiphobic) effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 3

The cationic group allows the fluorosurfactants to be dissolved in solvents with higher polarity and increases the interaction with substrates that have at least a negative partial charge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 4

the cationic charge of the fluorosurfactants can also introduce specific anions, which in turn have an effect on the surface activity of the composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon pairing: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Data Source

PatentEP3419744B1Composition comprising a fluorine-containing surfactant
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 HWK KRONBICHLER GMBH
  • EP3419744B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3419744B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3419744B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The invention relates to a composition comprising a fluorine-containing surfactant having a cationic group, a divalent sulfur-containing group and a fluorinated group, further comprising an anion that corresponds to the cationic group of the fluorine-containing surfactant, the cationic group being an N-alkylated heterocyclic group.