Fluorine-Free Water-Repellent Textile Coating for Wash Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for imparting water-repellent properties to textiles often rely on fluorine-containing compounds, which are environmentally harmful, and there is a need for a durable, fluorine-free solution.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a polyacrylate made from two different (meth)acrylic acid esters and paraffin wax, optionally with blocked isocyanates, polysiloxanes, and melamine resins, formulated as an aqueous dispersion, providing hydrophobic properties without fluorine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fluorine-containing dispersions are used to provide water-repellent properties to textiles, then water-repellent effect is achieved, but environmentally harmful influences occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater-repellent effectVSAvoidenvironmentally harmful influences
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using fluorine-free alternatives (wax emulsion and polyacrylate copolymer) instead of fluorine-containing compounds, while adjusting the formulation to achieve comparable water-repellent performance through the synergistic combination of these components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite water-repellent composition combining wax emulsion (paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, or polyethylene wax) with polyacrylate copolymer made from specific monomer ratios, where the composite provides both environmental friendliness and effective water repellency that neither component achieves alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If fluorine-free compositions are used to avoid environmentally harmful substances, then environmental friendliness is improved, but water-repellent durability may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmentally harmful substancesVSAvoidwater-repellent durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the formulation parameters including the ratio of hydrophobic to hydrophilic monomers (5:95 to 45:5 by weight), wax type selection, and composition ratios to achieve durable water-repellent properties without fluorine, demonstrating that proper parameter adjustment can maintain durability while improving environmental compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The synergistic composite of wax emulsion and polyacrylate copolymer provides enhanced durability through the combined effects of the wax components (which provide hydrophobicity) and the polyacrylate copolymer (which provides adhesion and flexibility), creating a more robust water-repellent system than single-component fluorine-free alternatives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 effectively imparts durable water-repellent properties to textiles, resisting wetting and maintaining performance through multiple wash cycles, while being environmentally friendly by avoiding fluorine and other harmful compounds.

Implementation Method 1

the composition effectively imparts durable water-repellent properties to textiles, resisting wetting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

providing hydrophobic properties without fluorine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3164427B1Fluorine-free water-repellent composition
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 ARCHROMA IP GMBH

AI summary

Composition, comprising at least components (A) and (B) and optionally at least one of components (C) to (E): (A) polyacryiate obtained in the polymerisation of components (M1) CH2=CR3COO-R1 with (M2) CH2=CR3COO-R2 and optionally (M3) CH2=CR3-X-R4 (B) wax (C) blocked isocyanate (D) organic polysiloxane; (E) melamine resin; wherein R1 is a residue containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; R2 is a residue containing from 9 to 40 carbon atoms; R3 = H, CH3, C2H5; X = COO, CONH R4 = glycidyl or CH2(CH2)n-OR5, wherein n is an integer in the range of from 1-10 and R5 is H or a residue containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and wherein the composition is based on water and/or an organic solvent and is fluorine-free.