Fluoropolymer Solvent Blend DMSO Carbonate Esters
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing solvents used for dissolving fluoropolymers, such as N-methyl pyrrolidone and dimethylformamide, pose safety and environmental risks due to their classification as carcinogenic and mutagenic, necessitating the development of alternative solvents with a better health, safety, and environment (HSE) profile.
Innovation Solution
A solvent blend comprising a compound of formula (I) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is used to solubilize fluoropolymers, offering a good HSE profile and suitable solvency power, with the option to form solutions or gels, and is advantageous due to its lower freezing point and water solubility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If N-methyl pyrrolidone or dimethylformamide is used as solvent for fluoropolymer, then good solvency power is achieved, but safety and environmental risks increase due to carcinogenic and mutagenic classification
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the solvent system by replacing CMR-containing solvents with a blend of DMSO and cyclic carbonate esters. This parameter substitution maintains the solvency capability while eliminating harmful chemical properties, directly resolving the contradiction between effective solvation and safety concerns
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite solvent system combining DMSO with cyclic carbonate esters (ethyl methyl carbonate, ethyl ethyl carbonate, or propyl methyl carbonate). This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of both solvent types to achieve effective fluoropolymer dissolution while maintaining a safe HSE profile, resolving the contradiction through material composition innovation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If alternative solvents with better HSE profile are used, then safety and environmental risks are reduced, but solvency power may be insufficient for fluoropolymers
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges DMSO (which provides strong solvency for fluoropolymers) with cyclic carbonate esters (which contribute to safe HSE profile and lower freezing point). This combination achieves a synergistic effect where the solvent blend maintains effective solvency power while ensuring good health, safety, and environmental characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes the concentration parameters of the solvent components, specifically using DMSO in amounts of 20-80 wt% and cyclic carbonate esters in amounts of 80-20 wt%, with preferred ranges of 40-60 wt% and 60-40 wt% respectively. This parameter optimization ensures both adequate solvency power and desirable safety properties
3Reliability
If DMSO is used as solvent, then good solvency power is achieved, but freezing point is too high (18°C) which may cause freezing in applications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameter of freezing point by adding cyclic carbonate esters to the DMSO-based solvent system. The cyclic carbonate esters lower the freezing point of the overall solvent blend, preventing freezing in application conditions while DMSO maintains the necessary solvency power for fluoropolymer dissolution
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite solvent system where DMSO provides strong solvency and cyclic carbonate esters contribute to lower freezing point. This composite material approach simultaneously addresses both the solvency requirement and the freezing point concern, eliminating the contradiction through compositional design
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 solvent blend effectively solubilizes fluoropolymers with reduced risks to human health and the environment, maintaining effective solvency and being convenient for applications, particularly in battery and coating processes.
Implementation Method 1
A solvent blend comprising a compound of formula (I) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is used to solubilize fluoropolymers
Implementation Method 2
The solvent blend has a freezing point lower than the one of DMSO
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a composition for solubilizing a fluoropolymer, comprising a solvent blend of a) Compound of formula (I) R1 C(=0)NR2R3 wherein R1 and R2 and R3 are defined as in the specification and b) DiMethylSulfoxide {DMSO). The invention also relates to the process for the preparation of the composition and its uses. The invention is also of use the fluoropolymer composition for coating applications.