(Meth)acrylate Composition Curing via Exothermic Heat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional (meth)acrylate compositions face challenges in achieving homogeneous curing, as photocuring alone is insufficient for areas not adequately irradiated with light, leading to incomplete curing due to the short-lived nature of radicals involved in the curing reaction.

Innovation Solution

A (meth)acrylate composition method involving a first compound with a molecular weight-to-vinyl group ratio of 300 or lower, combined with 0.1 to 20 mass% photopolymerization initiator, where photopolymerization generates heat for self-polymerization in irradiated areas and thermal polymerization occurs in unirradiated areas, ensuring complete curing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If photocuring alone is used, then the curing reaction proceeds quickly in irradiated areas, but the composition is not sufficiently cured in unirradiated areas due to short-lived radicals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring speed in irradiated areasVSAvoidcuring completeness in unirradiated areas
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the curing mechanism into two distinct pathways: photopolymerization for irradiated areas and thermal self-polymerization for unirradiated areas. This segmentation allows each mechanism to operate optimally in its respective zone, ensuring complete curing throughout the composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the composition to self-generate the necessary heat for thermal polymerization through the exothermic photopolymerization reaction. The heat generated during photopolymerization automatically raises the temperature of unirradiated portions above the self-polymerization starting temperature, eliminating the need for external heating sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Stability of the object's composition

If the molecular weight to vinyl group ratio is increased, then the composition viscosity increases, but the heat generation efficiency during photopolymerization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposition viscosityVSAvoidheat generation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies and controls the critical parameter of molecular weight to vinyl group ratio, setting it to 300 or lower. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient vinyl group density for effective heat generation during photopolymerization while maintaining appropriate composition viscosity for practical application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 composition effectively cures even in unirradiated portions by generating sufficient exothermic heat during photopolymerization, allowing for complete polymerization and overcoming the limitations of photocuring alone.

Implementation Method 1

irradiating the composition with light to cure the composition in the portion irradiated with light and to generate a heat of reaction by photopolymerization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

generate a heat of reaction by photopolymerization and to raise a temperature of the first compound above a starting temperature of self-polymerization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExothermic reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Implementation Method 3

curing the composition in the portion that is not irradiated with light by thermal polymerization induced by said heat of reaction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal polymerization:

Data Source

PatentEP2905292B1Method for curing a (METH)acrylate composition
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 AUTONETWORKS TECH LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a (meth)acrylate composition that can be cured even in an unirradiated portion that is not reached by light. The (meth)acrylate composition contains a compound having one or more vinyl groups in a molecular structure thereof. The compound has a ratio of a molecular weight thereof to a number of the vinyl groups of 300 or lower. The composition generates a heat of reaction during photopolymerization thereof, and the heat of reaction causes thermal polymerization of the composition.