Laminate Curing with Epoxy Plasticizer and Antioxidant

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing vehicle components using a curable composition with a polyoxyalkylene polymer having a reactive silicon group often result in thermal degradation and poor adhesion properties between the cured product and coating material, especially when high-temperature curing is employed to accelerate the curing process.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a curable composition comprising a polyoxyalkylene polymer with a reactive silicon group, an epoxy plasticizer such as epoxyhexahydrophthalic acid dialkyl ester or epoxidized fatty acid alkyl ester, and an antioxidant, which is applied to a substrate, aged at room temperature, and then cured with a coating material at 100°C or higher, enhancing thermal resistance and adhesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If curing by heating is carried out at higher temperature to shorten curing time and enhance productivity, then productivity is improved, but thermal degradation of the cured product occurs resulting in poor adhesion property

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring timeVSAvoidadhesion property
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the curable composition by incorporating specific antioxidants (2,6-di-t-butyl-4-ethylphenol or tetrakis(2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenyl)boron) and controlling the ratio of polyoxyalkylene polymer to reactive silicon group-containing compound. These parameter changes enable the cured product to withstand high-temperature curing (100°C or higher) without thermal degradation, thus maintaining adhesion properties while achieving short curing times for enhanced productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional curable composition is used for high-temperature curing, then productivity is improved, but thermal degradation occurs leading to poor adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring speedVSAvoidthermal degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of high temperature into a beneficial outcome by incorporating antioxidants that prevent thermal degradation. The antioxidants absorb the thermal stress and free radicals generated during high-temperature curing, transforming what would be a harmful thermal degradation into a controlled process that maintains adhesion properties while achieving rapid curing for improved productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If room temperature curing is used for the curable composition, then adhesion property is maintained, but the coating material cannot be cured within a short time reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion propertyVSAvoidcuring time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic temperature control into the curing process. The curable composition is designed to be cured at room temperature initially to maintain adhesion properties, then subjected to high-temperature curing (100°C or higher) for rapid completion. This dynamic approach allows the process to adapt to different stages: slow curing at low temperature for quality, then fast curing at high temperature for productivity, achieving both adhesion and short total curing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 proposed method produces a laminate with excellent thermal degradation resistance and coating material adhesion, effectively addressing the issues of thermal degradation and adhesion in the existing processes.

Implementation Method 1

a polyoxyalkylene polymer having a reactive silicon group is crosslinked by the formation of a siloxane bond, which is accompanied by hydrolysis and the like of the reactive silicon group due to moisture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

a polyoxyalkylene polymer having a reactive silicon group is crosslinked by the formation of a siloxane bond

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

curing the coating material by heating, wherein the curable composition comprises (A) a polyoxyalkylene polymer having a reactive silicon group, (B) an epoxy plasticizer, and (C) an antioxidant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3392036B1Method for producing laminate, and laminate
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 KANEKA CORP

AI summary

Provided is a method for producing a laminate that comprises a substrate, a cured product of a curable composition, and a coating film of a coating material, and exhibits excellent thermal degradation resistance and coating material adhesion properties. A method for producing a laminate that comprises a substrate, a cured product of a curable composition, and a coating film of a coating material, wherein: the curable composition contains (A) 100 parts by weight of a polyoxyalkylene polymer having a reactive silicon group, (B) 30-100 parts by weight of an epoxy plasticizer, and (C) 2-10 parts by weight of an antioxidant; and the coating material is heated and cured.