Fluoropolymer Surface Treatment with Short-Chain Oil and Water Repellency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fluorine-containing acrylate polymers with long fluoroalkyl side chains face issues such as excessive hydrophobicity, requiring large amounts of emulsifiers and auxiliary solvents, and fail to provide sufficient water repellency due to high crystallinity, while also raising environmental concerns with the use of PFOA and telomers.

Innovation Solution

A fluorine-containing polymer with a copolymer structure comprising repeating units from a fluorine-containing monomer with a short fluoroalkyl group (1-6 carbon atoms), a fluorine-free monomer, and optionally a crosslinkable monomer, produced through solution or emulsion polymerization, to achieve excellent water and oil repellency, soil resistance, and stain adhesion resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fluorine-containing acrylate monomer with long fluoroalkyl chain (at least 8 carbon atoms) is used, then water repellency is improved, but excessive hydrophobicity causes problems in preparation and properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater repellencyVSAvoidpreparation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the key parameter of fluoroalkyl chain length from conventional 8 or more carbon atoms to 4-7 carbon atoms. This parameter change reduces the excessive hydrophobicity that causes preparation difficulties while maintaining sufficient water repellency through optimized fluorine content and copolymer composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite polymer system by copolymerizing fluorine-containing acrylate monomer with fluorine-free monomers. This composite approach balances the hydrophobic properties needed for water repellency with the processability requirements, avoiding the extremes of pure fluorinated polymers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If fluorine-containing acrylate monomer with long fluoroalkyl chain is used, then water repellency is improved, but crystallization of side chain reduces practical water repellency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater repellencyVSAvoidside chain crystallinity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the fluoroalkyl chain length parameter to 4-7 carbon atoms, which prevents side chain crystallization. This parameter range is critical because chains of 7 or more carbon atoms crystallize, reducing practical water repellency, while shorter chains provide sufficient repellency without crystallization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces local structural variation by using different fluorine-containing monomers with varying fluoroalkyl chain lengths (4-7 carbon atoms) and combining them with fluorine-free monomers. This creates local regions with optimal properties that prevent crystallization while maintaining water repellency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If fluorine-containing acrylate monomer is used, then water and oil repellency is achieved, but environmental concerns arise with PFOA and telomers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater and oil repellencyVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses shorter fluoroalkyl chains (4-7 carbon atoms) instead of long chains like PFOA (8 carbon atoms). These shorter chains are less persistent in the environment and pose lower ecological risks while still providing the necessary water and oil repellency functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of long-chain fluorinated compounds (environmental persistence) into a benefit by using optimized medium-chain lengths that provide sufficient performance while reducing environmental impact. The fluorine content is optimized to achieve repellency without requiring problematic long chains

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 polymer provides superior water and oil repellency, soil resistance, and stain adhesion resistance, while reducing environmental impact by using a shorter fluoroalkyl group and avoiding the use of PFOA and telomers, with improved solubility and processing characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

A fluorine-containing polymer with a copolymer structure comprising repeating units from a fluorine-containing monomer with a short fluoroalkyl group (1-6 carbon atoms)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization:

Implementation Method 2

The polymer provides superior water and oil repellency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS9328455B2Surface-treating agent comprising fluoropolymer

Publication Date: 2016.05.03 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

A surface-treating agent comprises a fluoropolymer comprising (A) repeating units derived from a fluorine-containing monomer of the formula:(B) repeating units derived from a monomer free from a fluorine atom. The surface treating agent is excellent in water repellency, oil repellency and unsusceptibility to fouling even when the side chains are C4 or lower fluoroalkyl groups.