Oxygen-Curable Silicone Composition Room Temperature Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current silicone rubber curable compositions require heating or UV irradiation for curing, which is energy-intensive and limits their application in energy-saving manufacturing processes and mechanical characteristics.
Innovation Solution
An oxygen-curable silicone composition containing an organopolysiloxane with reactive double bonds and a specific organoborane complex that initiates polymerization in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, allowing curing at room temperature without heating or UV irradiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heating is used for curing silicone rubber, then curability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the curing mechanism from thermal activation to oxygen-triggered radical polymerization. By introducing an organoborane complex that reacts with atmospheric oxygen to generate radicals, the curing process can proceed at room temperature without heating, thus maintaining curability while eliminating energy consumption for heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the thermal field (heating system) with a chemical field (oxygen-triggered radical reaction). The organoborane complex serves as a chemical initiator that converts atmospheric oxygen into reactive radicals, substituting the need for thermal energy with a chemical reaction mechanism.
2Reliability
If UV irradiation is used for curing silicone rubber, then curability is improved, but equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the UV irradiation system (optical field) with an oxygen-triggered chemical reaction system. The organoborane complex reacts with atmospheric oxygen to generate radicals that initiate polymerization, eliminating the need for UV lamps, irradiation equipment, and associated safety measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The composition utilizes atmospheric oxygen, which is freely available in the environment, as the trigger for curing. The organoborane complex automatically reacts with oxygen in the air to generate radicals, making the system self-activating without requiring external UV equipment or complex irradiation systems.
3Use of energy by moving object
If room temperature curing is achieved, then energy saving is improved, but curability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the activation mechanism from thermal energy-dependent to oxygen-concentration-dependent. The organoborane complex has a specific chemical structure that allows it to react with atmospheric oxygen at room temperature, generating sufficient radicals to drive polymerization without heating, thus achieving both energy saving and effective curability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite system consisting of the organopolysiloxane (containing reactive double bonds and Si-OH groups) and the organoborane complex. This combination creates a synergistic effect where the borane complex acts as an oxygen-sensitive initiator, enabling room temperature curing while maintaining complete polymerization and crosslinking for full curability.
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 at room temperature, eliminating the need for heating or UV equipment, thus saving time and energy, and is suitable for applications like adhesives with improved mechanical characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a composition, which contains an organopolysiloxane having a reactive double bond such as acryloyloxyalkyl group and having Si-OH group, as well as a specific organoborane complex, can allow a polymerization reaction to proceed while being triggered by atmospheric oxygen
Implementation Method 2
oxygen-curable silicone composition capable of curing at room temperature, whose reaction being triggered by atmospheric oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an oxygen-curable silicone composition that includes: (A) an organopolysiloxane having in a molecule at least one group selected from acryloyloxy group, methacryloyloxy group, acryloyloxyalkyl group, methacryloyloxyalkyl group, acryloyloxyalkyloxy group, and methacryloyloxyalkyloxy group, and having Si-OH group; and (B) an organoborane complex having the formula (2) below: wherein R3 each independently represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R4 and R5 each independently represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and, R4 and R5 may bond to form a divalent linking group.