Lactam-Based Compounds with Urethane Linkages for Polymer Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing N-vinyl lactam-based polymers have limited functionality due to fixed molecular weight and lactam ring size, which restricts modulation of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance and glass transition temperature, and require copolymerization to achieve desired properties, while also having residual monomer issues.
Innovation Solution
Development of new lactam-based compounds comprising a lactam moiety and a urethane or urea functional group with a variable spacer group, allowing for the creation of new monomers and polymers with expanded functionality, including homopolymers and non-homopolymers, through reactions with isocyanate-containing compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If N-vinyl lactam-based polymers are used with fixed molecular weight and lactam ring size, then the polymer structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the functionality is limited and cannot be adequately modulated for different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spacer group between the lactam nitrogen and the polymer backbone, dividing the structure into distinct functional segments: the hydrophilic lactam group, the spacer linkage, and the hydrophobic polymer backbone. This segmentation allows independent modulation of each component's properties to achieve desired balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local quality differentiation by introducing a specific spacer group structure that provides both hydrophilic character (from the lactam group) and hydrophobic character (from the spacer and backbone). This local structural feature enables simultaneous modulation of multiple properties including hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance, glass transition temperature, and molecular weight effects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If copolymerization is used to achieve desired properties, then functionality and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance can be modulated, but residual monomer issues arise and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the monomer residue problem by designing a polymerization system where the starting materials (isocyanate and hydroxyalkyl lactam or aminoalkyl lactam) completely react to form the final polymer product. The isocyanate group reacts fully with the hydroxyl or amino group to form urethane or urea linkages, eliminating unreacted monomer residues that would otherwise be present in copolymerization systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polymerization system by using isocyanate as the polymeric component and hydroxyalkyl lactam or aminoalkyl lactam as the monomeric component. This parameter change allows for complete reaction and eliminates residual monomer issues while enabling property modulation through selection of different lactam ring sizes and spacer group structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If N-vinyl lactam structure is used directly in polymer backbone, then polymerization is straightforward, but glass transition temperature remains relatively high and cannot be easily altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spacer group as an intermediary element between the lactam nitrogen and the polymer backbone. This intermediary structure acts as a molecular spacer that reduces the direct interaction between the lactam group and the backbone, thereby lowering the glass transition temperature while maintaining polymerization simplicity through the use of standard isocyanate-alkyl lactam coupling reactions.
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
These new compounds provide a broader range of functional design options and applications, such as in adhesives, biocides, and personal care products, while being free of N-vinyl lactam monomer residues and offering improved properties not attainable with traditional N-vinyl lactam polymers.
Implementation Method 1
compounds comprising a lactam moiety and a urethane or urea functional group... prepared using a compound comprising a polymerizable moiety and an isocyanate moiety, and reacting it with a hydroxyalkyl lactam or an aminoalkyl lactam
Data Source
AI summary
Compounds comprising a lactam moiety, and a urethane or urea functional group are presented. By a preferred synthesis route, they are prepared using at least one polymerizable compound comprising an isocyanate moiety and reacting it with at least one hydroxyalkyl lactam compound or one aminoalkyl lactam compound. In preferred embodiments the lactam moiety is a pyrrolidone or caprolactam ring, and the polymerizable compound is a functionalized aryl isocyanate. The compounds and homopolymers and non-homopolymers thereof find useful application in a wide variety of arts, including: adhesive, agricultural, biocides, cleaning, coating, electronics, encapsulation, membrane, microelectronics, oilfield, performance chemical, personal care, sealant, and sensor applications.