Gel Composition for Water-Repellent Porous Materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water absorption-preventing agents for inorganic porous materials in architectural and civil engineering applications face issues such as insufficient penetration, surface residue, and environmental concerns due to organic solvents, leading to inadequate water repellency and appearance deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A gel composition comprising an organoalkoxysilane, aluminum dicarboxylate, and aliphatic acid, which forms a stable gel that penetrates deeply into porous materials without dripping, providing effective water repellency without organic solvents and improving workability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a solvent-borne water absorption-preventing agent comprising alkylalkoxysilane diluted with an organic solvent is used, then the agent can be applied easily, but the concentration of alkylalkoxysilane and viscosity are low, so sufficient penetration and hydrophobic layer formation cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication easeVSAvoidconcentration of alkylalkoxysilane
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the composition from a dilute solution to a gel state by incorporating a gel-forming agent. This increases the viscosity and concentration of alkylalkoxysilane in the applied composition, enabling sufficient penetration into porous materials while maintaining application ease through the gel's flow properties before drying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The gel-forming agent acts as an intermediary substance that enables the alkylalkoxysilane to maintain high concentration and viscosity without requiring organic solvents. The gel structure provides a medium that facilitates penetration while preventing excessive flow, resolving the contradiction between application ease and effective concentration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a solvent-borne water absorption-preventing agent is used, then the agent can be applied, but VOCs evaporate from the organic solvent, deteriorating working environment and causing environmental problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication capabilityVSAvoidVOC evaporation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the organic solvent component from the composition, replacing it with a water-based gel system. This removes the source of VOC emissions while maintaining the composition's ability to be applied to surfaces, thereby eliminating harmful emissions without sacrificing application capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the solvent base from organic to aqueous, fundamentally altering the chemical composition to eliminate VOCs. The gel-forming agent enables this parameter change while maintaining suitable rheological properties for application, thus resolving the contradiction between application capability and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If an aqueous emulsion composition comprising alkylalkoxysilane, surfactant and water is used, then the composition can be applied, but the surfactant remains on the surface after application, so sufficient hydrophobicity cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication capabilityVSAvoidhydrophobic effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the surfactant component from the composition and replaces it with a gel-forming agent that does not leave harmful residues. The gel system provides the necessary viscosity and penetration properties without introducing substances that would interfere with the hydrophobic effect, thus achieving both application capability and reliable hydrophobicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite gel composition combining alkylalkoxysilane with a gel-forming agent in an aqueous system. This composite structure provides the benefits of aqueous application (environmental friendliness, ease of application) while ensuring the alkylalkoxysilane can penetrate and form a effective hydrophobic layer without being compromised by residual surfactants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of operation

If an aqueous cream comprising alkylalkoxysilane, emulsifier and water is used, then the composition can be applied thickly, but the emulsion state breaks in a short time, causing dripping and loss of effective component

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethick application capabilityVSAvoidemulsion stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the emulsifier component that causes instability and dripping, replacing it with a gel-forming agent. The gel structure provides stable thickening without the emulsion breaking, preventing dripping while maintaining the ability to apply thickly, thus resolving the contradiction between thick application capability and composition stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent develops a composite gel composition that combines alkylalkoxysilane with gel-forming agents to create a stable, non-dripping thickable composition. The gel network structure provides mechanical stability and controlled flow properties, enabling thick application on vertical surfaces without emulsion breakdown or component loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 gel composition effectively reduces water absorption in porous materials, ensuring good water repellency and maintaining appearance integrity, while eliminating the need for organic solvents and improving application ease.

Implementation Method 1

a gel composition comprising an organoalkoxysilane, aluminum dicarboxylate, and aliphatic acid, which forms a stable gel that penetrates deeply into porous materials without dripping

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGel formation: Gel

Implementation Method 2

the alkylalkoxysilane does not penetrate through a surface of a substrate by one-time application, so that a hydrophobic layer with a sufficient thickness is not formed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP2808315B1Gel composition and a use thereof
Publication Date: 2017.10.18 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP2808315B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The first aspect in the present invention provides a composition comprising (A) 100 parts by mass of an organoalkoxysilane represented by the following formula (1) and/or a compound obtained by partial hydrolysis and condensation of said organoalkoxysilane: R1aSi(OR2)4-a ... (1), (B) 0.3 to 20 parts by mass of an aluminum dicarboxylate represented by the following formula (2) : (R3COO)2Al(OH)...(2), and (C) 0.3 to 20 parts by mass of an aliphatic acid having 6 to 24 carbon atoms. The second aspect in the present invention provides a composition comprising the aforesaid components (A), (B) and (C) and further (D) 0.01 to 10 parts by mass of a dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 30 carbon atoms. Further, the present invention provides a method for making a porous material less water-absorptive by applying the composition to a surface of said porous material and a porous material modified by the method.