Hydroxy-functional Polyester Dispersion with Urethane Groups

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aqueous polyester dispersions for paints and coatings often require high amounts of volatile organic solvents, leading to unsatisfactory application reliability, film optical properties, and resistance to water or solvents, while also being costly and complex to prepare.

Innovation Solution

Hydroxy-functional polyester dispersions containing urethane groups, composed of specific weight percentages of hydroxy-functional polyester, di- and/or tri- and/or mono-hydroxycarboxylic acid, polyisocyanate component, and other components, are synthesized using a process that minimizes solvent use and eliminates the need for external emulsifiers, stabilizers, or surface-active substances, resulting in stable, low-acid-number dispersions suitable for a wide range of crosslinker resins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high amounts of volatile organic solvents are used in existing aqueous polyester dispersions, then application reliability and coating properties are improved, but environmental harm and economic cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication reliabilityVSAvoidenvironmental harm from volatile organic solvents
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing specific hydrophilicizing agents (sulfonated compounds, carboxymethylated compounds, and their salts) to replace volatile organic solvents. This allows the dispersion to maintain stability and application reliability without relying on large amounts of harmful solvents, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simplified dispersion system that copies the essential stabilizing function of traditional solvent-based systems but uses environmentally friendly aqueous components instead. The hydrophilicizing agents replicate the solubilization and stabilization effects previously achieved only through organic solvents, enabling solvent-free or low-solvent formulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Stability of the object's composition

If high fractions of carboxyl and carboxylate groups are used to disperse polyisocyanate, then stable dispersion is achieved, but film optical properties and flow characteristics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispersion stabilityVSAvoidfilm optical properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using different types of hydrophilicizing agents with specific functions: sulfonated compounds for electrostatic stabilization, carboxymethylated compounds for steric stabilization, and their salts for pH control. This localized functional differentiation allows stable dispersion without excessive carboxyl groups that would harm optical properties, resolving the contradiction between stability and film quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If relatively large amounts of organic solvents are used in 2-component polyurethane coating compositions, then room temperature curing is achieved, but storage stability and resistance properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroom temperature curingVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the curing mechanism parameters by using blocked isocyanate groups that require thermal activation (baking) instead of room temperature curing. This parameter change eliminates the need for large amounts of organic solvents and hydrophilicizing agents, thereby improving storage stability and resistance properties while maintaining ease of application through controlled curing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 dispersions exhibit improved application reliability, reduced crater susceptibility, balanced hardness/elasticity, and excellent storage stability, with clear, defect-free coatings that maintain optical and mechanical properties even after curing.

Implementation Method 1

hydroxy-functional polyester dispersions containing urethane groups... reaction products of 87.0% to 95% by weight of at least one hydroxy-functional polyester... and 4% to 10.6% by weight of one or more at least difunctional polyisocyanate component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS7557156B2Aqueous hydroxy-functional polyester dispersions containing urethane groups
Publication Date: 2009.07.07 COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG

AI summary

The invention relates to new, aqueous, hydroxy-functional polyester dispersions containing urethane groups, to a process for preparing them, and to their use in combination with crosslinker resins for preparing paints, coatings and adhesives.