Hydroxyalkyl Methacrylate Stability via Water Content Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates is hindered by the generation of dialkylene glycol as an impurity, which leads to instability and unwanted polymerization reactions, affecting the quality and safety of the final resin products.

Innovation Solution

The method involves adjusting the water content in the reaction mixture to no more than 0.05 mass% by using raw materials with controlled water content, and optimizing the addition sequence and amounts of (meth)acrylic acid and alkylene oxide, ensuring that the initial charged amount of (meth)acrylic acid is not more than 90 mass% to inhibit dialkylene glycol generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional production methods are used to produce hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, then production efficiency is maintained, but dialkylene glycol impurity is generated leading to product instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct stabilityVSAvoiddialkylene glycol impurity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the water content parameter in the reaction mixture to not more than 0.05 mass%, which fundamentally alters the reaction conditions to prevent dialkylene glycol formation. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining product stability while eliminating the harmful impurity through precise control of reaction conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies preliminary anti-action by pre-adjusting the water content in raw materials and reaction mixture before the polymerization reaction occurs. By controlling water content to not more than 0.05 mass% beforehand, the method prevents dialkylene glycol impurity formation at the source, thereby ensuring product stability without requiring post-processing purification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Productivity

If hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate is produced with high reactivity, then polymerization performance is improved, but premature polymerization during storage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolymerization reactivityVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

By precisely controlling the water content parameter to not more than 0.05 mass%, the invention creates optimal reaction conditions that produce hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate with high reactivity while simultaneously preventing premature polymerization during storage. This parameter control resolves the contradiction between productivity and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention produces a high-purity product by eliminating impurities at the production stage, creating a 'clean copy' of the desired compound without the dialkylene glycol impurity that would trigger premature polymerization. This ensures both high reactivity for polymerization and stability during storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of manufacture

If water content in reaction mixture is increased, then dialkylene glycol generation is promoted, but product purity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction conditionsVSAvoidproduct purity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention sets the water content parameter to not more than 0.05 mass%, which is a precise control threshold that simultaneously achieves ease of manufacture and high product purity. This parameter change eliminates dialkylene glycol formation while maintaining practical manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex post-reaction purification mechanical systems with a preventive approach by controlling water content during the reaction. This substitution achieves high product purity through process control rather than mechanical separation, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 approach results in a highly stable hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate with reduced dialkylene glycol content, preventing premature polymerization and ensuring the production of high-quality poly(meth)acrylate resins with improved stability and safety.

Implementation Method 1

reacting (meth)acrylic acid with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Data Source

PatentEP2857382B1Hydroxyalkyl (METH)acrylate and method for producing same
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO LTD

AI summary

The objective of the present invention is to provide a highly stable hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate. The hydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylate according to the present invention is characterized in that a contained amount of dialkylene glycol is not more than 0.05 mass%.