Fluorine-Containing Ether Coating for Friction Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a demand for surface treatment agents that provide enhanced durability and maintain water repellency or oil repellency even after repeated friction, such as on smartphone displays and other materials, while also ensuring effective fingerprint stain removability.

Innovation Solution

A fluorine-containing ether compound with a perfluoroether chain and hydrolytic silyl group is developed, which forms a surface layer that excels in durability through a specific molecular structure and manufacturing process, including reacting compounds expressed by certain formulas to create a coating liquid for application via dry or wet coating techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fluorine-containing ether compounds with perfluoroether chains are used to provide water and oil repellency, then friction resistance and fingerprint stain removability are improved, but durability of the surface layer decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction resistanceVSAvoiddurability of surface layer
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by combining fluorine-containing ether compounds with silane coupling agents in the surface treatment composition. This creates a hybrid organic-inorganic surface layer where the fluorine compound provides low surface energy (water/oil repellency) while the silane component forms a durable crosslinked network, thus simultaneously achieving friction resistance and long-term durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical structure parameters of the fluorine-containing ether compound by introducing specific functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, or amino groups) that can form strong bonds with substrates. This structural parameter change enables the compound to maintain both its low surface energy properties and enhanced adhesion durability on the substrate surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If fluorine-containing ether compounds are applied to maintain water and oil repellency after repeated friction, then friction resistance is improved, but the surface treatment durability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater and oil repellencyVSAvoidsurface treatment durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a surface layer with differentiated functional zones: the outermost layer maintains low surface energy for water/oil repellency, while the inner layer contains crosslinked silane structures that provide mechanical durability and strong substrate adhesion. This spatial differentiation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-forming a crosslinked silane network structure within the surface treatment composition before application. This pre-established durable framework ensures that when the fluorine-containing ether compound is applied, it adheres to a stable, long-lasting base structure that maintains water and oil repellency even after repeated friction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 fluorine-containing ether compound forms a surface layer with improved durability, friction resistance, and fingerprint stain removability, maintaining water and oil repellency even under repeated friction, thus addressing the need for long-lasting performance on various materials.

Implementation Method 1

Fluorine-containing ether compounds having a perfluoroether chain and a hydrolytic silyl group can form, on a surface of a substrate, a surface layer that is, for example, highly lubricant, water-repellent, or oil-repellent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS20230120739A1Fluorine-containing ether compound and method of manufacturing the same, compound and method of manufacturing the same, fluorine-containing ether composition, coating liquid, and article and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2023.04.20 AGC INC
  • US20230120739A1 patent drawing
  • US20230120739A1 patent drawing
  • US20230120739A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided are a fluorine-containing ether compound that can form a surface layer that excels in durability and a method of manufacturing the same, a fluorine-containing ether composition and a coating liquid, and an article having a surface layer that excels in durability and a method of manufacturing the same. A fluorine-containing ether compound is expressed by the following formula (A1) or (A2):{RfO—(Rf1O)m1—(R1)m2—(CHF)m3—O—(CHF)m4}n1-Q1(-T1)n2   Formula (A1)(T2)n3-Q2-(CHF)m5—O—(CHF)m6—(R2)m7—O—(Rf2O)m8—(R3)m9—(CHF)m10—O—(CHF)m11-Q3(-T3)n4  Formula (A2),in the above, the symbols in the formulas are as described in the specification.