Functionalized Polymeric Hard Coating Resolves Hardness Flexibility Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) materials face limitations in hydrophilicity, flexibility, and environmental sustainability due to their hydrophobic nature, which restricts their widespread application in hard coatings, and generate significant organic waste during processing.
Innovation Solution
Development of thoroughly modified, functionalized polymeric hard coating materials with hydrophilic groups and photo/thermal curable crosslinking capabilities, allowing for improved flexibility, hydrophilicity, and anti-smudge properties, achieved through the synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid materials using hydrophobic epoxy or glycidyl-containing groups and hydrophobic photo/thermal curable crosslinking groups, with a molar ratio adjustment for optimal properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional POSS materials are used, then surface hardness is improved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses organic-inorganic hybrid materials combining siloxane inorganic components with organic polymer matrices. This composite structure allows the inorganic siloxane network to provide surface hardness while the organic polymer phase maintains flexibility, resolving the contradiction between hardness and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the molecular weight, crosslinking density, and compositional ratios of the hybrid materials to optimize both hardness and flexibility. By controlling these parameters, the coating achieves high surface hardness while maintaining adequate flexibility for practical applications.
2Strength
If conventional POSS materials are used, then surface hardness is improved, but hydrophilicity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hydrophilic functional groups (such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, or amino groups) at specific locations within the hybrid coating structure. This local modification of chemical properties allows the coating to maintain its hard siloxane backbone while adding hydrophilic characteristics to specific regions, improving water resistance and anti-smudge properties.
3Strength
If conventional coating processes are used, then surface hardness is achieved, but environmental sustainability deteriorates due to organic waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the coating system by incorporating bio-based or water-soluble components, reducing the reliance on conventional organic solvents. This parameter change in material composition maintains coating performance while improving environmental sustainability.
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 resulting coating films exhibit high surface hardness, transparency, and flexibility, with a pencil hardness of at least 6H on flexible substrates and 9H on rigid substrates, along with antimicrobial effectiveness of at least 99%, and can withstand over 100,000 bending cycles without deformation, while being environmentally friendly and using minimal volatile organic compounds.
Implementation Method 1
photo/thermal curable crosslinking capabilities
Implementation Method 2
hydrophobic epoxy or glycidyl-containing groups and hydrophobic photo/thermal curable crosslinking groups
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a thoroughly modified, functionalized polymeric hard coating material represented by one of the following formulae for a bendable, transparent and photo/thermal curable coating film:[R1RaSiO3/2] Formula (1);[R1R2RaSiO3/2] Formula (2).This invention further relates to the synthetic method and application of the thoroughly modified, functionalized polymeric hard coating material. The thoroughly modified, functionalized polymeric hard coating material-containing composition for a coating exhibits higher surface hardness of at least 6H on flexible substrates, higher surface hardness of at least 9H on rigid substrates, and a certain degree of flexibility, with potential properties such as a light transparency of at least 85% and/or an antimicrobial effectiveness of at least 99%, and/or anti-scratch ability.