Fluorochemical Textile Coatings With Durable Water Repellency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluorochemical repellent treatment compositions for textiles require complex chemistry and high manufacturing costs, making them difficult to scale up and maintain durability and dynamic water repellency while providing a good 'hand feeling' and runnability.
Innovation Solution
Development of fluorinated compounds with a fluorochemical oligomeric portion, a fluorine-free hydrocarbon moiety, and a di-, tri-, or polymeric isocyanate-derived linking group, which are used in fluorochemical compositions to treat fibrous substrates, imparting durable water repellency and good dynamic water repellency characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex fluorochemical chemistry is used to achieve high water repellency and durability, then repellency performance is improved, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite fluorochemical compounds containing both fluorinated oligomeric portions and hydrocarbon moieties connected by isocyanate-derived linking groups. This composite structure combines the water repellency benefits of fluorinated compounds with the durability and ease of application of hydrocarbon-based polymers, resolving the contradiction between performance and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by using specific molar ratios (at least 6:1 of polymerized methacrylate units to functionalized chain transfer agent) and controlled polymerization conditions to create oligomeric portions with optimal properties. This allows achieving high repellency durability through parameter optimization rather than complex chemistry
2Reliability
If complex fluorochemical chemistry is used to achieve high water repellency, then repellency performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs readily available, inexpensive starting materials including commercial fluorinated oligomers and standard hydrocarbon monomers that can be polymerized using conventional processes. This substitution of expensive specialized chemicals with cheaper, more accessible materials reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining performance
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the molar ratio of components (at least 6:1 ratio of methacrylate units to chain transfer agent) and using controlled polymerization parameters, the patent achieves consistent high-performance products through parameter control rather than expensive complex chemical pathways
3Duration of action of stationary object
If complex fluorochemical chemistry is used to achieve durability, then durability is improved, but ease of operation and runnability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates homogeneous oligomeric portions through controlled polymerization where all units are covalently bonded in a uniform structure. This homogeneity ensures consistent performance and easy processing, improving both durability and runnability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combining fluorinated oligomers with hydrocarbon polymers creates materials that are both durable (fluorinated portion) and easy to process (hydrocarbon portion). This duality resolves the contradiction between durability and ease of operation
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 compositions demonstrate high water repellency and durability, maintaining a 100 spray rating and low water penetration even after 5 launderings, with no greater than 50 ml water penetration and 40% water absorption, while providing effective repellency and stain resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a fluorochemical oligomeric portion comprising an aliphatic backbone comprising polymerized (meth)acrylate monomeric units, each having a perfluorinated terminal C4-C6 aliphatic group
Implementation Method 2
a di-, tri-, or polymeric isocyanate-derived linking group
Data Source
AI summary
A fluorinated compound comprising: (i) a fluorochemical oligomeric portion comprising an aliphatic backbone comprising polymerized (meth)acrylate monomeric units, each having a perfluorinated terminal C4-C6 aliphatic group, and an organic residue obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from a functionalized chain transfer agent, wherein: the polymerized (meth)acrylate units are present in a molar ratio of at least 6:1 relative to the functionalized chain transfer agent; and the (meth)acrylate units comprise 0-30 mole-% acrylate units and 70-100 mole-% methacrylate units; (ii) a fluorine-free hydrocarbon moiety; (iii) a di-, tri-, or polymeric isocyanate-derived linking group; and (iv) a group that imparts a durable property when the compound is applied to a fibrous substrate.