Iron Complex UV Blocking Coatings for Transparent Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UV blocking compounds in materials are ineffective in blocking UV radiation across a wide range of wavelengths, often leading to photodegradation and the generation of harmful radicals, and may have opaque appearances unsuitable for certain applications.
Innovation Solution
A coating composition comprising an iron complex with a carboxylic acid or its anion coordinated to an iron ion, combined with a polymer in an aqueous solvent, providing effective UV blocking properties while maintaining transparency and avoiding radical formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If inorganic UV blocking compounds are used, then UV radiation blocking is achieved, but oxidizing radicals are generated causing material degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using organic iron complexes with specific ligands (oxalate, citrate, tartrate, malonate, or glycolate) instead of inorganic compounds. This parameter change transforms the UV blocking mechanism to avoid radical generation while maintaining blocking effectiveness across UVA, UVB, and UVC ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates composite coordination complexes where iron ions are coordinated with organic acid ligands. These composite molecular structures provide both UV blocking capability and stability without the harmful radical generation associated with simple inorganic oxides.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional UV blocking compounds are used, then UV protection is provided, but the materials become opaque losing transparency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of iron complexes to achieve effective UV blocking while maintaining visible light transparency. By controlling the amount of iron complex in the coating composition and selecting appropriate ligands, the material blocks harmful UV radiation while remaining transparent to visible light.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If iron complex concentration is increased to improve UV blocking, then UV absorption increases, but the solution viscosity and polymer ratio requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for the polymer to iron ratio (40:1 to 2:1 by weight) and iron content (0.0005wt% to 10.0wt%) to optimize UV blocking performance while maintaining solution stability and processability. These parameter specifications balance UV absorption efficiency with formulation practicality.
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 iron complex-based coating composition effectively absorbs UV radiation, maintaining transparency and preventing substrate damage, with high UV blocking efficiency and low solvent content, suitable for various applications including food packaging and protective coatings.
Implementation Method 1
The iron complex-based coating composition effectively absorbs UV radiation, maintaining transparency and preventing substrate damage
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a coating composition comprising a) a metal complex comprising an organic acid or anion thereof coordinated to a metal ion; and b) a polymer, wherein there is no covalent bond between said metal complex and the polymer.