Photocurable Fluoropolyether Elastomer Bonding Without Curing Bubbles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Photocurable fluoropolyether-based rubber compositions lack adhesiveness to various base materials and generate air bubbles during curing, compromising resin strength and curability.

Innovation Solution

A foaming inhibitor-containing photocurable fluoropolyether-based elastomer composition is applied to a base material, comprising specific components and a bonding method that involves plasma irradiation and photocuring to bond the elastomer to the base material at low temperature without generating air bubbles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a photocurable fluoropolyether-based rubber composition is used to achieve fast curability and adhesiveness, then curing time is reduced and adhesion is improved, but air bubbles remain in the resin causing deterioration of resin strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuring timeVSAvoidresin strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A silane coupling agent is introduced as an intermediary substance that reacts with both the fluoropolyether-based rubber and the base material (metal, glass, or resin). This coupling agent forms a chemical bridge between the elastomer and substrate, enabling strong adhesion without requiring excessive curing speed that would trap air bubbles. The silane coupling agent allows gradual curing while maintaining bond strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the elastomer system by incorporating specific ratios of fluoropolyether compounds, organohydrogen polysiloxanes, and silane coupling agents. By adjusting these compositional parameters, the curing reaction proceeds at an optimized rate that prevents air bubble entrapment while still achieving fast curing and strong adhesion to base materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If heat curing is used to achieve adhesiveness between cured product and base material, then bonding is achieved, but curing time becomes excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadhesivenessVSAvoidcuring time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the thermal curing mechanism with a photocuring mechanism using ultraviolet light. Instead of relying on heat diffusion and thermal reactions that take prolonged periods, the photoinitiator in the elastomer composition triggers rapid polymerization upon UV irradiation. This substitution of curing mechanism dramatically reduces curing time while maintaining strong adhesion to base materials through the silane coupling agent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12545761B2Photocurable fluoropolyether-based elastomer composition and bonding method thereof

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are a photocurable fluoropolyether-based elastomer composition having both a favorable preservation stability and fast curability, being bondable at a low temperature in a short period of time, and generating no air bubbles in the resin at the time of curing; and a bonding method thereof. The photocurable fluoropolyether-based elastomer composition contains:(A) a linear polyfluoro compound;(B) a fluorine-containing organohydrogenpolysiloxane;(C) a photoactive hydrosilylation reaction catalyst; and(D) a zeolite having an average primary particle size of not larger than 30 μm.