Oxirane Chain Transfer Agents for Low-Odor Molecular Weight Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mercaptan compounds used as chain transfer agents in polymerization processes have issues with odor and corrosion, limiting their application, and existing alternatives fail to adequately control molecular weight.
Innovation Solution
A chain transfer agent represented by a specific general formula, which includes groups such as cyano, aryl, acyl, or carboxy, is used to polymerize monomers, allowing for controlled molecular weight and reduced odor and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mercaptan compounds are used as chain transfer agents, then molecular weight control is improved, but odor and corrosion problems worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the chain transfer agent by replacing the mercaptan group (-SH) with an oxirane ring containing an oxygen atom. This structural parameter change eliminates the harmful odor and corrosion properties of mercaptan compounds while maintaining the chain transfer functionality. The oxirane ring structure provides a different chemical reactivity profile that achieves molecular weight control without the adverse effects of sulfur-containing compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a simple oxirane-containing compound as a chain transfer agent that can be easily introduced and removed or degraded in the polymerization process. The oxirane ring serves as a temporary functional group during polymerization that fulfills the chain transfer function without leaving harmful residues in the final polymer product, thus eliminating long-term odor and corrosion issues.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-mercaptan chain transfer agents are used, then odor and corrosion problems are improved, but molecular weight control worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the parameters of the oxirane-containing compound to achieve effective chain transfer. By adjusting the substituents on the oxirane ring (such as alkyl groups, aryl groups, or heteroatom-containing groups), the chain transfer constant and molecular weight control are fine-tuned. This parameter optimization ensures that non-mercaptan agents can achieve molecular weight control comparable to mercaptan compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite functional structure where the oxirane ring is combined with various substituent groups (alkyl, aryl, heteroatom-containing) to achieve both odorless operation and effective molecular weight control. The combination of the oxirane core structure with appropriate substituents creates a chain transfer agent that balances chain transfer activity with benign chemical properties.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional thiol-based chain transfer agents are used, then molecular weight control is improved, but corrosion resistance worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The oxirane-containing chain transfer agent acts as a temporary functional component during polymerization that fulfills the molecular weight control function and then becomes part of the polymer chain or is removed. Unlike mercaptan compounds that leave sulfur-containing residues causing corrosion, the oxirane-based agent degrades or incorporates cleanly, providing molecular weight control without compromising long-term corrosion resistance of the polymer product.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters from sulfur-based (mercaptan) to oxygen-based (oxirane) chain transfer agents. This compositional parameter change fundamentally alters the chemical behavior: oxygen-containing oxirane rings provide the necessary chain transfer reactivity without the corrosive properties of sulfur compounds, thus improving corrosion resistance while maintaining molecular weight control capability.
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 new chain transfer agent effectively controls molecular weight and minimizes odor and corrosion issues, enabling broader application of polymers produced.
Implementation Method 1
When a radically polymerizable compound such as methyl methacrylate or the like is polymerized, a chain transfer agent is used for the purpose of controlling the molecular weight of the polymer
Data Source
AI summary
A chain transfer agent represented by following general formula (1):In general formula (1), X is a group selected from among a cyano group, an optionally substituted aryl group, an acyl group, a carboxy group, COOR1, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHR1, C(O)NR12, SOR1, SO2R1, SO3R1, and OR1; each Y and Z is a group selected from among a cyano group, an optionally substituted aryl group, an acyl group, a carboxy group, COOR1, C(O)NH2, C(O)NHR1, C(O)NR12, SOR1, SO2R1, SO3R1, OR1, OC(O)R1, N(H)C(O)R1, and a halogen, or Y and Z are bonded to form an optionally substituted carbocyclic structure or an optionally substituted heterocyclic structure; X, Y and Z are the same or different; R1 is an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.