Imidazole Charge Transfer Complex for Stable Epoxy Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Epoxy resin systems face challenges in balancing curability and storage stability when using traditional curing agents, leading to issues with handleability and workability due to increased viscosity in modified products.
Innovation Solution
A charge transfer complex with an imidazole moiety as an electron donor is used as a curing agent in combination with an epoxy resin, achieving a balance between curability and storage stability in curable resin compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If modified imidazole or modified amine is used as a curing agent, then storage stability is improved, but viscosity increases impairing handleability and workability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite system consisting of a modified imidazole compound (with epoxy resin reaction product) combined with an unmodified imidazole compound. This composite approach allows the modified compound to provide storage stability while the unmodified compound maintains low viscosity and good handleability, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the imidazole compound by introducing epoxy resin reaction products at controlled levels (modified imidazole compound content of 1-50 mass%). This parameter adjustment enables tuning of both storage stability and viscosity to achieve optimal balance between stability and handleability
2Reliability
If imidazole-based curing agent is used, then curability is improved with low volatility and toxicity, but storage stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the curing agent system into two functional components: a modified imidazole compound (providing storage stability through epoxy resin reaction product) and an unmodified imidazole compound (providing curability). This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one function while working together to achieve both curability and storage stability
3Stability of the object's composition
If epoxy resin is modified to improve storage stability, then storage stability is improved, but viscosity increases reducing workability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention controls the degree of epoxy resin modification by limiting the content of modified imidazole compound to 1-50 mass% of total imidazole compound. This parameter control ensures sufficient storage stability improvement while maintaining viscosity at acceptable levels for good workability
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 charge transfer complex provides a curable resin composition with excellent curability and storage stability, suitable for applications such as one-pack curing-type coating materials and adhesives, while maintaining workability and reducing viscosity.
Implementation Method 1
a charge transfer complex having an imidazole moiety as an electron donor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a charge transfer complex capable of obtaining a curable resin composition having an excellent balance between curability and storage stability when used as an epoxy-resin curing agent. The charge transfer complex has an imidazole moiety as an electron donor moiety. The charge transfer complex may be an assembly wherein electrons included in a compound (a) having an imidazole moiety are accepted by a compound (b) having an electron acceptor moiety, or may be a compound having an imidazole moiety and an electron acceptor moiety in its molecule, and the electron acceptor moiety accepts electrons included in the imidazole moiety.