Lactate Ester-Alcohol Solvent Blends for Odor Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lactate esters, despite their good solvent properties, face commercial acceptance issues due to odor perception and tolerance problems, and existing solutions with tertiary amines have drawbacks such as ammonia-like odor and reactivity concerns.
Innovation Solution
Blending C1-C4 aliphatic esters of lactic acid with C2-C6 alcohols to create a solvent composition that reduces odor, enhances odor tolerance, and improves solvent properties, resulting in a homogeneous liquid with balanced drying rates and higher solvency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If lactate esters are used as solvents, then good solvent properties are achieved, but odor perception and tolerance problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines lactate esters with aliphatic alcohols (C2-C6) in specific ratios to create a blended solvent system. This merging of two different solvent types resolves the contradiction by maintaining the good solvent properties of lactate esters while the aliphatic alcohols contribute to reduced odor perception, achieving both benefits simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite solvent system by formulating blends of lactate esters with aliphatic alcohols. This composite approach allows the mixture to exhibit properties that neither component alone could achieve - specifically, the combination provides both excellent solvent performance and improved odor characteristics.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If tertiary amines are added to reduce odor, then odor tolerance improves, but ammonia-like odor and reactivity concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes the problematic tertiary amine component from the formulation while retaining the desired odor tolerance benefit through the use of aliphatic alcohols instead. This substitution eliminates the ammonia-like odor and reactivity issues associated with amines while still addressing the odor tolerance problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The aliphatic alcohols serve as intermediary substances that mediate between the lactate esters and the odor tolerance requirement. Rather than using direct odor-masking agents like tertiary amines, the alcohols act as intermediaries that naturally reduce odor perception without introducing harmful side effects.
3Speed
If aliphatic alcohols are used as solvents, then rapid drying rates are achieved, but solvency for polymers is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges aliphatic alcohols with lactate esters in a blended solvent system. This combination allows the mixture to exhibit both the rapid drying rate characteristic of alcohols and the superior polymer solvency of lactate esters, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing properties.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the composition parameters of the solvent system - specifically the ratio of lactate esters to aliphatic alcohols - the invention optimizes both drying rate and solvency. The parameter adjustment allows tuning of the solvent blend to achieve the desired balance between evaporation speed and polymer dissolution capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A solvent composition of about 90 to about 10 percent by weight C1-C4 lactate ester and about 10 to about 90 percent by weight C2-C6 aliphatic alcohol with low odor and enhanced performance properties is disclosed. This composition can also be mixed with other solvents and continue to provide the low odor and enhanced performance properties.