Fluorine Copolymer for Masonry Water Repellency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water- and oil-repellent treatment agents for masonry surfaces lack sufficient solubility and simultaneously provide inadequate water-repellency, oil-repellency, and soil resistance, while agents with short fluoroalkyl groups are ineffective, and those with long chains pose environmental concerns due to the potential formation of perfluorooctanoic acid.
Innovation Solution
A fluorine-containing polymer comprising repeating units from a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer and a fluorine-free acrylate monomer with a cyclic hydrocarbon group, which enhances solubility and provides effective water- and oil-repellency and soil resistance, avoiding the use of long chain fluoroalkyl groups to mitigate environmental risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a treatment agent comprising a fluorine-containing copolymer with a long chain fluoroalkyl group (at least 8 carbon atoms) is used to impart water- and oil-repellency and soil resistance, then the repellency and soil resistance are improved, but environmental harm increases due to the potential formation of perfluorooctanoic acid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of fluoroalkyl group length from at least 8 carbon atoms to 4-6 carbon atoms. This parameter change maintains the water- and oil-repellency and soil resistance functions while reducing the environmental harm associated with long chain fluoroalkyl groups that can decompose into perfluorooctanoic acid
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of using fluoroalkyl groups by selecting a specific intermediate chain length (4-6 carbon atoms) that provides the desired repellency and soil resistance functions without the environmental degradation issues of longer chains. The shorter chain length prevents the formation of harmful perfluorooctanoic acid while still achieving the protective function
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a treatment agent comprising a polymer with a short fluoroalkyl group (at most 6 carbon atoms) is used to reduce environmental harm, then environmental safety is improved, but water-repellency and oil-repellency become insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the fluoroalkyl group chain length to a specific range of 4-6 carbon atoms, which is sufficient to provide the necessary water- and oil-repellency and soil resistance while being short enough to prevent environmental degradation into perfluorooctanoic acid
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a copolymer composition combining fluorine-containing monomers (providing repellency and soil resistance) with silicon-containing vinyl monomers and other comonomers. This composite structure enhances the overall performance, allowing the shorter fluoroalkyl groups (4-6 carbon atoms) to achieve sufficient water- and oil-repellency that would be inadequate with such short chains alone
3Ease of manufacture
If a monomer having a long chain hydrocarbon group (e.g., stearyl group) is used to enhance solubility in petroleum-based solvent, then solubility is improved, but the copolymer becomes insoluble at low temperature due to crystallinity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the type of hydrocarbon group from long chain (stearyl group with 18 carbon atoms) to cyclic hydrocarbon groups (such as cyclohexyl or adamantyl groups). This parameter change maintains good solubility in petroleum-based solvents while preventing the crystallization that occurs with long linear chains at low temperatures, thus maintaining solubility stability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using linear long chain hydrocarbon groups that provide solubility but cause crystallization, the patent inverts the approach by using cyclic hydrocarbon groups. The cyclic structure prevents the linear packing that leads to crystallization while still providing the necessary hydrophobic character and solubility in petroleum-based solvents
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 polymer effectively imparts excellent water- and oil-repellency and soil resistance to masonry surfaces while maintaining good solubility, addressing the limitations of previous agents and minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a fluorine-containing polymer comprising: (A) repeating units derived from a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer
Implementation Method 2
water- and oil-repellency and soil resistant property
Implementation Method 3
a monomer having a silane group (C)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a water-repellent oil-repellent antifouling agent containing a fluorine-containing polymer for a treatment for providing water repellency, oil repellency and antifouling property. The fluorine-containing polymer has a repeating unit (A) derived from a fluorine-containing acrylate monomer, and a repeating unit (B) derived from at least one non-fluorine acrylate monomer selected from the group consisting of a monomer (B1) having a cyclic hydrocarbon group and a monomer (B2) having a short chain hydrocarbon group. This water-repellent oil-repellent antifouling agent has good solubility in solvents, and exhibits excellent effects on various bases, especially on masonries.