High-Index Plastic Substrate Dyeing With Carrier-Mediated Uniform Tinting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Substrates of high refractive index comprising a thioether group are difficult to tint effectively with conventional methods, such as water bath dyeing, which results in limited dye absorption and non-uniformity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a dye solution with specific carriers and solvents is used to immerse substrates, allowing for efficient and uniform tinting by adjusting immersion time and dye concentration, achieving higher tinting intensity and uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water bath direct tinting is used on substrates of high refractive index comprising thioether groups, then the substrate can be tinted, but the dye absorption amount is limited and tinting uniformity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific carrier compound (with thiol or disulfide groups) as an intermediary substance between the dye and the thioether-containing substrate. This carrier mediates the interaction by forming disulfide bonds with the thioether groups, enabling effective and uniform dye absorption that overcomes the limitations of direct water bath tinting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the tinting solution by introducing carriers with specific functional groups (thiol/disulfide) that can chemically interact with the substrate. This parameter change transforms the tinting process from simple physical absorption to a chemically-mediated process, achieving both higher dye absorption and better uniformity
2Quantity of substance
If conventional tinting processes are used on thioether-containing substrates, then the process can be carried out, but the tinting intensity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier acts as a chemical intermediary that enhances dye absorption capacity. By adding this intermediary substance to the conventional tinting process, the dye absorption amount increases significantly while the process remains relatively simple - just requiring the addition of the carrier to the dye solution
3Quantity of substance
If prolonged water bath dyeing is used to increase dye absorption, then more dye can be absorbed, but the process time increases and uniformity is still limited
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier-mediated mechanism accelerates the dye absorption process by providing a chemical pathway for dye attachment. This eliminates the need for prolonged immersion times, achieving high dye absorption in much shorter periods while maintaining uniformity through the uniform distribution of carrier-substrate interactions
Solution Approach 2:
The introduction of the carrier changes the kinetic parameters of the dyeing process, transforming it from a slow diffusion-limited process to a faster reaction-limited process. This parameter change reduces the time required to achieve adequate dye absorption while improving uniformity
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 method enables rapid, reproducible, and homogeneous tinting of substrates with varying color intensity, suitable for a range of colors, from light to dark, while maintaining acceptable haze levels.
Implementation Method 1
the carrier being chosen from the compounds represented by the following formulae (1) and (2) wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each selected from the group consisting of the following radicals: alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atom, H, -CH2SH, -CH2SCH2CH2SH
Implementation Method 2
at least partially immersing the substrate in the dye solution for a time sufficient to allow the effective tinting of the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Method for dyeing a substrate prepared by curing a polymerizable composition comprising one monomer containing one episulfide group, said method comprising: - providing a dye solution comprising a dye and a carrier in a solvent, the carrier being chosen from the compounds represented by the following formulae (1) and (2): * formula (1) : wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atom, H, -CH2SH, -CH2SCH2CH2SH, * formula (2) : (HSCH2)4-mC(CH2SCH2CH2SH)m (2) wherein m denotes an integer from 1 to 3; And - at least partially immersing the substrate in the dye solution for a time sufficient to allow the effective tinting of the substrate.