Polyamide with Pendent Optical Absorbers for Uniform Coloring

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for incorporating pigments into polyamides, such as those used in 3-D printing, often result in uneven coloring due to the difficulty in achieving homogeneous dispersion of particulate pigments.

Innovation Solution

The development of polyamides with an optical absorber pendant from the backbone, achieved through esterification and N-alkylation processes, which ensures that the optical absorber is securely attached and cannot migrate or leach, maintaining even coloration over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If particulate pigments are used to color polyamides, then the polyamide can be colored, but the pigments cannot be homogeneously mixed, causing uneven coloring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoloring capabilityVSAvoidcolor uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pigment molecules with the polyamide polymer chain by covalent bonding. The optical absorber (pigment) is incorporated into the polyamide backbone through chemical linkage, creating a single integrated molecular structure rather than a physical mixture. This eliminates the dispersion problems of particulate pigments while maintaining coloring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material at the molecular level by combining the polyamide backbone with optical absorber moieties. The resulting OAMB-polyamide is a hybrid structure where the pigment and polymer are chemically integrated, providing both the mechanical properties of polyamide and the coloring function of the optical absorber with uniform distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If particulate pigments are used for coloring, then coloration is achieved, but the pigments may migrate or leach over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoloring functionVSAvoidcolor stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pigment molecules with the polyamide polymer chain by covalent bonding. The optical absorber (pigment) is incorporated into the polyamide backbone through chemical linkage, creating a single integrated molecular structure rather than a physical mixture. This eliminates the dispersion problems of particulate pigments while maintaining coloring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

This principle is applied in reverse - instead of using temporary physical mixtures that can separate, the patent creates permanent chemical bonds between pigment and polymer. The covalent linkage ensures the pigment remains fixed to the polymer chain indefinitely, preventing migration or leaching under normal use conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional pigment mixing methods are used, then coloring is achieved, but homogeneous dispersion is difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoloring processVSAvoidpigment distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pigment molecules with the polyamide polymer chain by covalent bonding. The optical absorber (pigment) is incorporated into the polyamide backbone through chemical linkage, creating a single integrated molecular structure rather than a physical mixture. This eliminates the dispersion problems of particulate pigments while maintaining coloring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of pigment-polymer interaction from physical mixing to chemical bonding. By transforming the dispersion state into a covalently bonded state, the system achieves perfect uniformity at the molecular level, eliminating aggregation and segregation issues inherent in particulate mixing.

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

This approach ensures that objects produced using these polyamides maintain an even color, as the optical absorber is permanently attached, preventing migration or leaching, and enhancing the consistency and durability of colored polyamide products.

Implementation Method 1

esterifying a hydroxyl-pendent optical absorber with a halogen-terminal aliphatic acid to yield a halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEsterification: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

N-alkylating a polyamide with the halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber to yield a polyamide having an optical absorber pendent from the polyamide's backbone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectN-alkylation: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS12338326B2Polyamides with pendent optical absorbers and related methods

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 XEROX CORP

AI summary

Methods for producing a polyamide having an optical absorber pendent from the polyamide's backbone (OAMB-polyamide) may comprise: esterifying a hydroxyl-pendent optical absorber with a halogen-terminal aliphatic acid to yield a halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber; and N-alkylating a polyamide with the halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber to yield the OAMB-polyamide. Other methods for producing an OAMB-polyamide may comprise: esterifying a carboxyl-pendent optical absorber with a halogen-terminal aliphatic alcohol to yield a halogen-terminal alkyl-optical absorber; and N-alkylating a polyamide with the modified optical absorber to yield a polyamide having the OAMB-polyamide.