Photocurable Composition Storage Stability via Low pKa Stabilizer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional photocurable compositions with polythiol compounds face a trade-off between storage stability and photocurability, making it difficult to achieve both simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A photocurable composition comprising a compound with a (meth)acryloyl group, a polythiol compound, a photoinitiator, and a storage stabilizer with a pKa of 1.0 to 4.0, such as a phosphorus compound, which enhances storage stability without reducing photocurability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a polythiol compound is added to a compound having a (meth)acryloyl group to enhance surface curability, then photocurability is improved, but storage stability deteriorates due to reduced reactivity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovephotocurabilityVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A polymerization inhibitor acts as an intermediary substance that selectively suppresses unwanted polymerization during storage while allowing photocurability to proceed normally. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling the polythiol compound to enhance curability without causing premature polymerization that would reduce storage stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the composition by introducing a polymerization inhibitor with specific properties (low molecular weight, appropriate concentration range of 0.01-5.0 parts by mass). This parameter change allows the system to maintain both high photocurability and adequate storage stability simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If a polymerization inhibitor is added to suppress radical polymerization and increase storage stability, then storage stability is improved, but photocurability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidphotocurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The polymerization inhibitor serves as a selective mediator that distinguishes between storage conditions and curing conditions. Under storage conditions, it suppresses radical polymerization; under photocuring conditions, it allows the photoinitiator to generate radicals that overcome the inhibition, enabling curability to proceed effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces thermal or chemical initiation methods with photoinitiation. The photoinitiator absorbs UV light to generate radicals that can overcome the polymerization inhibition, allowing curing to proceed without thermal activation that would be blocked by the inhibitor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 achieves both increased storage stability and maintained photocurability, allowing for stable viscosity and effective curing performance.

Implementation Method 1

a photocurable composition comprising component (A) to component (D)... Component (C): a photoinitiator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

A polymerization inhibitor used in International Publication No. WO 2017/154428... can be added to suppress radical polymerization and increase storage stability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization inhibition:

Data Source

PatentUS20240415760A1Photocurable composition
Publication Date: 2024.12.19 THREE BOND CO LTD

AI summary

It has been conventionally difficult to achieve both storage stability and photocurability by addition of a polythiol compound to a compound having a (meth)acryloyl group. A photocurable composition contains components (A) to (D): Component (A): a compound having a (meth)acryloyl group, Component (B): a polythiol compound, Component (C): a photoinitiator, Component (D): a storage stabilizer having pKa of 1.0 to 4.0 (containing no component (A)).