Fluoropolymer Surface Treatment for Solubility and Repellency
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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 compounds and carboxylic acid group-containing monomers, enhancing solubility and 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 employs a composite polymer structure combining fluorine-containing units (for repellency) with hydrocarbon-containing units (for solubility and crystallinity). This composite approach allows the polymer to simultaneously achieve solubility in petroleum solvents and effective water- and oil-repellency, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the polymer structure by controlling the carbon number of the fluoroalkyl group and incorporating hydrocarbon groups to adjust crystallinity to an optimal range (5-50%). By changing these structural parameters, the polymer achieves both solubility in petroleum solvents and sufficient crystallinity for practical repellency performance.
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 side chain crystallization, but solubility in petroleum solvent deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite polymer where fluorine-containing segments provide repellency while hydrocarbon-containing segments maintain solubility. This composite structure prevents the polymer from being too crystalline (which would reduce solubility) while still achieving sufficient crystallinity for repellency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the carbon number of the fluoroalkyl group (preferably 3-7, especially 4-6) and controls the overall crystallinity to 5-50% by incorporating hydrocarbon groups. This parameter optimization ensures both solubility in petroleum solvents and practical water- and oil-repellency.
3Reliability
If conventional fluorine-containing compounds are used for water- and oil-repelling treatment, then repellency is achieved, but compatibility with petroleum solvent as drying agent deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure of the fluorine-containing polymer by incorporating hydrocarbon groups (especially cyclic hydrocarbon groups) to improve compatibility with petroleum solvents. This structural modification allows the polymer to be effectively used in petroleum solvent-based dry cleaning and water- and oil-repelling treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite polymer structure with both fluorine-containing and hydrocarbon-containing units, which provides both repellency and compatibility with petroleum solvents, enabling versatile application in dry cleaning and surface treatment.
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 water- and oil-repellency, along with stain proofness, durability, and improved copolymerizability, making it suitable for various substrates like textiles and masonry.
Implementation Method 1
the fluorine-containing compounds have low free energy, i.e., difficulty in adherence
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides 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, wherein 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. The fluorine-containing polymer provides a surface treatment agent that has superior water repellency and oil repellency, and that is such that the fluorine-containing polymer has superior solubility in the surface treatment agent.