Short-Chain Fluorocopolymer Composition for Wash-Durable Stain Proofing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fluorine type antifouling agents with short chain perfluoroalkyl groups face challenges in maintaining antifouling properties, water/oil repellency, and durability against washing, as the performance tends to be low due to the shortening of the perfluoroalkyl chain.

Innovation Solution

A fluorocopolymer composition comprising specific monomers, including a perfluoroalkyl group, polyethylene oxide, and tetramethylene oxide units, is developed to enhance antifouling properties and durability, with a balanced ratio of polymerized units to achieve excellent water/oil repellency and washing durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a short chain perfluoroalkyl group is used in a fluorine type antifouling agent, then environmental impact is reduced, but antifouling property and water/oil repellency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidantifouling property
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a copolymer composition containing multiple types of monomer units (perfluoroalkyl acrylate/methacrylate units, polyethylene oxide units, and polypropylene oxide units) to create a composite material that combines the environmental benefits of short chain perfluoroalkyl groups with the functional performance of oxyalkylene chains, achieving both reduced environmental impact and maintained antifouling property

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention assigns different functional roles to different monomer units within the copolymer: perfluoroalkyl units provide environmental compatibility and basic repellency, while polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide units provide enhanced water/oil repellency and antifouling performance through their specific chain structures and lengths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a short chain perfluoroalkyl group is used, then environmental impact is reduced, but durability against washing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoiddurability against washing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The copolymer combines perfluoroalkyl units with polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide units to create a composite structure where the oxyalkylene chains provide enhanced durability against washing through their adhesion and film-forming properties, compensating for the reduced chain length of the perfluoroalkyl groups

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameters of the copolymer by controlling the content ranges of different monomer units (perfluoroalkyl units: 30-65 mass%, polyethylene oxide units: 1-67 mass%, polypropylene oxide units: 3-34 mass%) and the chain lengths of oxyalkylene groups to optimize both environmental compatibility and washing durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the perfluoroalkyl chain is shortened, then environmental impact is reduced, but water/oil repellency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidwater/oil repellency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention assigns specific functional roles to different monomer units: perfluoroalkyl units provide environmental compatibility, while polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide units with specific chain lengths (20-65 mass% and 2-13 mass% respectively) provide enhanced water/oil repellency through their hydrophobic and lipophobic properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The copolymer creates a composite structure where the combination of perfluoroalkyl groups with polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide chains produces synergistic effects, maintaining superior water/oil repellency even with shortened perfluoroalkyl chains due to the complementary properties of the different monomer units

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 provides a fluorocopolymer with improved antifouling properties and water/oil repellency while maintaining good durability against repeated washing, even with shorter perfluoroalkyl chains, by incorporating specific alkylene oxide chains for enhanced adhesion and film-forming properties.

Implementation Method 1

a fluorine type antifouling composition which is excellent in the antifouling property and water/oil repellency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobe: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

water/oil repellency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLipphobe: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 3

incorporating specific alkylene oxide chains for enhanced adhesion and film-forming properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2147961B1Stain-proofing agent composition, method for producing the same, and article processed with the same
Publication Date: 2011.12.28 AGC INC

AI summary

To provide an antifouling composition which is a fluorine-type antifouling composition using a short chain perfluoroalkyl group and which is excellent in antifouling properties and water/oil repellency and presents good durability against washing. An antifouling composition comprising a fluorocopolymer which comprises from 30 to 65 mass% of polymerized units (a) having a C1-6 perfluoroalkyl group, from 1 to 67 mass% of polymerized units (b1) having -(C2H4O)- and from 3 to 34 mass% of polymerized units (b2) having -(C4H8O)-, wherein the content of -(C2H4O)- is from 20 to 65 mass%, and the content of -(C4H8O)- is from 2 to 13 mass%.