Surface treatment agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface treatment agents fail to provide both excellent solubility of fluorine-containing polymers in petroleum solvents and effective water- and oil-repellency, which are essential for practical applications such as dry cleaning and textile treatment.
Innovation Solution
A fluorine-containing polymer is developed, comprising repeating units from specific monomers including fluorine-containing, cyclic hydrocarbon, and aliphatic hydrocarbon group-containing acrylate ester monomers, polymerized in the presence of silicon-containing monomers or chain transfer agents, enhancing solubility and water- and oil-repellency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fluorine-containing polymer with low carbon number fluoroalkyl group (at most 7) is used, then solubility in petroleum solvent is improved, but water- and oil-repellency deteriorates due to low crystallinity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite polymer system by copolymerizing fluorine-containing monomer (a) with cyclic hydrocarbon group-containing monomer (b) and aliphatic hydrocarbon group-containing monomer (c). This composite structure combines the solubility advantage of low carbon number fluoroalkyl groups with the crystallinity advantage of higher carbon number groups, achieving both good solubility in petroleum solvents and excellent water- and oil-repellency through controlled phase separation and crystallization of the hydrocarbon segments.
2Reliability
If fluorine-containing polymer with high carbon number fluoroalkyl group (at least 8) is used, then water- and oil-repellency is improved due to high crystallinity, but solubility in petroleum solvent deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct functional segments within the polymer chain: the fluorine-containing segments (a) provide solubility in petroleum solvents, while the hydrocarbon segments (b) and (c) with higher carbon numbers provide crystallinity and water- and oil-repellency. This local differentiation of properties within the same polymer molecule resolves the contradiction between solubility and repellency.
3Reliability
If conventional fluorine-containing polymers are used, then water- and oil-repellency is achieved, but durability and stain-proofness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates cyclic hydrocarbon group-containing monomer (b) with cyclic structures into the polymer chain. These cyclic groups promote three-dimensional network formation and enhanced intermolecular interactions, creating a more durable and crosslinked polymer structure that improves durability and stain-proofness while maintaining water- and oil-repellency through the fluorine-containing segments.
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 solution achieves excellent solubility and durability in petroleum solvents, providing high water- and oil-repellency, as well as stain-proofness, making it suitable for various substrates like textiles and masonry.
Implementation Method 1
The fluorine-containing compounds have the advantageous effects of having properties excellent in heat resistance, oxidation resistance, weather resistance and the like. The fluorine-containing compounds are used as, for example, the water- and oil-repellent agent and soil release agent by utilizing the properties that the fluorine-containing compounds have low free energy, i.e., difficulty in adherence.
Implementation Method 2
A fluorine-containing polymer is developed, comprising repeating units from specific monomers including fluorine-containing, cyclic hydrocarbon, and aliphatic hydrocarbon group-containing acrylate ester monomers, polymerized in the presence of silicon-containing monomers or chain transfer agents, enhancing solubility and water- and oil-repellency.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluorine-containing polymer having (a) a repeating unit derived from a fluorine-containing monomer indicated by the formula CH2═C(—X)—C(═O)—Y—Z—Rf, (b) a repeating unit derived from a cyclic-hydrocarbon-group-containing acrylate ester monomer indicated by the formula CH2═CQ11—C(═O)—O-Q12, and (c) a repeating unit derived from an aliphatic-hydrocarbon-group-containing acrylate ester monomer indicated by the formula CH2═CQ21—C(═O)—O-Q22. The fluorine-containing polymer is produced by polymerizing in the presence of one or both of (d) a silicon-containing monomer and a silicon-containing chain transfer agent.