Non-flammable Aerosol Coatings via HFO Propellants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol coatings face challenges due to their flammability, toxicity, high VOC levels, and environmental impact, which restrict their use in sensitive environments and limit consumer visibility of the paint color.
Innovation Solution
The use of trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene as a solvent/propellant in aerosol paint compositions, which is non-flammable, has low VOC levels, and is compatible with polyethylene terephthalate containers, allowing for clear packaging and improved safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional flammable solvents (acetone, methylene chloride) are used in aerosol coatings, then the coating performance and solvent strength are improved, but the safety and environmental impact deteriorate due to flammability and toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing traditional flammable solvents with HFO-1225ye and HFO-1336mzzze propellants. This substitution maintains the necessary solvent strength for coating application while fundamentally altering the flammability parameter from highly flammable to non-flammable, thus resolving the contradiction between coating performance and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs propellants that are designed to evaporate completely after dispensing, leaving no harmful residue. The HFO-1225ye and HFO-1336mzzze propellants serve this purpose by providing the necessary propelling force and solvent action during application, then fully evaporating to leave only the coating material, thereby eliminating persistent toxic or flammable components in the environment
2Productivity
If VOCs are used in aerosol coatings, then the coating formulation effectiveness is improved, but the environmental impact and health effects worsen due to smog formation and sick building syndrome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical class parameter by substituting traditional VOC solvents with HFO-based propellants. These HFO compounds have fundamentally different environmental characteristics - they are classified as non-VOC or low-VOC substances with minimal reactivity to form ground-level ozone. This parameter change maintains coating effectiveness while eliminating the harmful smog-forming potential associated with traditional VOCs
Solution Approach 2:
The HFO propellants are designed to serve their function during aerosol dispensing and then completely evaporate without leaving persistent environmental contaminants. Their short-lived nature in the environment, combined with their low reactivity, ensures they do not contribute to long-term air quality issues or sick building syndrome, thereby resolving the contradiction between formulation effectiveness and environmental harm
3Ease of operation
If HFC propellants are used in aerosol coatings, then the propelling function is improved, but the environmental impact worsens due to high global warming potential
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by replacing HFC propellants with HFO-1225ye and HFO-1336mzzze. This substitution maintains the necessary vapor pressure and propelling characteristics while dramatically reducing the global warming potential parameter. The HFO compounds have GWP values near zero compared to the high GWP of traditional HFCs, thus resolving the contradiction between effective propelling function and environmental harm
Solution Approach 2:
The HFO propellants are designed to evaporate completely after providing the necessary propelling force, leaving no persistent greenhouse gas residue in the atmosphere. Their short atmospheric lifetime and minimal greenhouse gas activity ensure they do not contribute to long-term climate change, thereby resolving the contradiction between propelling effectiveness and global warming impact
4Loss of information
If clear plastic containers are used for aerosol coatings, then consumer visibility of paint color is improved, but the container compatibility deteriorates due to chemical interaction with the coating formulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using HFO-1225ye and HFO-1336mzzze propellants, which have different chemical properties compared to traditional solvents. These HFO compounds exhibit lower chemical reactivity and reduced affinity for plastic materials, thereby preventing the degradation or interaction issues that would compromise container integrity while still allowing clear PET containers to be used for product visibility
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
This solution results in an aerosol coating system that is non-flammable, low in toxicity and VOCs, and has a reduced environmental impact, enabling its use in more restrictive environments and allowing consumers to observe the paint color directly from the container.
Implementation Method 1
aerosol coating composition comprising at least one film-forming resin selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins and alkyd resins, trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene
Implementation Method 2
trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and at least one propellant
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol coating composition contains at least one film-forming resin, trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and at least one propellant such as CO2. The aerosol coating composition is non-flammable and compatible with polyethylene terephthalate. The film-forming resin may be acrylic resins, alkyd resins or mixtures thereof. A glycol ether solvent may be present. The coating composition may have low toxicity, be non-ozone depleting, have low or no VOC, be low in maximum incremental reactivity and/or be low in global warming potential. A method of coating a substrate with the aerosol coating composition comprises providing at least one film-forming resin selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, alkyd resins, and mixtures thereof and trans-1-chloro-trifluoropropene in a container comprising polyethylene terephthalate, which is charged with a propellant comprising carbon dioxide. The aerosol coating composition is non-flammable. The composition is applied to a substrate and allowed to dry.