Mold Release Agent Using Short-Chain Fluorophosphonates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mold-releasing agents with perfluoroalkyl groups containing 8 or more carbon atoms have high bioaccumulation potential and environmental concerns, while those with fewer carbon atoms compromise mold release performance and durability.

Innovation Solution

A mold-releasing agent using polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid esters with a perfluoroalkyl group containing 6 or less carbon atoms, represented by specific chemical formulas, which are designed to have low bioaccumulation potential and improved mold release performance, incorporating a polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid oxyalkylene ester for enhanced solubility and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If phosphate or phosphonate compounds having a perfluoroalkyl group containing 8 or more carbon atoms are used as mold-releasing agents, then mold releasability and durability are improved, but bioaccumulation potential and environmental harm increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemold releasabilityVSAvoidbioaccumulation potential
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the carbon atom number parameter of the perfluoroalkyl group from 8 or more to 6 or less, thereby reducing bioaccumulation potential while maintaining acceptable mold releasability performance. This parameter modification directly addresses the contradiction between reliability and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs compounds with shorter carbon chains (6 or less) that are more environmentally benign and less persistent, effectively using 'shorter-lived' molecular structures that decompose more readily in the environment compared to long-chain perfluoroalkyl compounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If phosphate or phosphonate compounds having a perfluoroalkyl group containing 6 or less carbon atoms are used, then bioaccumulation potential is reduced, but mold release performance and durability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebioaccumulation potentialVSAvoidmold release performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite molecular structures combining polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid groups with specific oxyalkylene ester side chains, creating a composite molecule that achieves both low bioaccumulation potential and acceptable mold release performance through synergistic structural features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces oxyalkylene groups with specific carbon atom numbers (2-6) as local functional units that provide solubility and interaction capabilities, allowing the molecule to achieve adequate performance despite having shorter perfluoroalkyl chains.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Duration of action of stationary object

If compounds having a perfluoroalkyl group containing 14 or more carbon atoms are used, then mold release durability is improved, but handling difficulty increases due to physical and chemical properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemold release durabilityVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the carbon chain length parameter to 6 or less, which dramatically improves handling ease by reducing viscosity and improving volatility, while accepting reduced durability compared to very long-chain compounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2476533B1Mold release agent
Publication Date: 2017.11.08 UNIMATEC CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a mold-releasing agent comprising, as active ingredients, a polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid represented by the general formula: CnF2n+1(CH2CF2)a(CF2CF2)b(CH2CH2)cP(O)(OH)2 (n: an integer of 1 to 6, a: an integer of 1 to 4, b: an integer of 1 to 3, c: an integer of 1 to 3), or a salt thereof and a polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid oxyalkylene ester represented by the general formula: CnF2n+1(CH2CF2)a(CF2CF2)b(CH2CH2)cP(O)[O(RO)mR']d(OH)2-d (RO: a C2-C6 linear or branched oxyalkylene group, R': a hydrogen atom, a C1-C20 alkyl group, or aralkyl group, n: an integer of 1 to 6, a: an integer of 1 to 4, b: an integer of 1 to 3, c: an integer of 1 to 3, d: an integer of 1 or 2, m: an integer of 1 to 100). This mold-releasing agent comprises, as an active ingredient, a polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid oxyalkylene ester having a perfluoroalkyl group containing 6 or less carbon atoms, which is said to have low bioaccumulation potential, but exhibits mold release performance equivalent to that of a mold-releasing agent comprising a compound having a perfluoroalkyl group containing 8 or more carbon atoms as an active ingredient.