Polyether Curing Agent for Epoxy Resins

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for new curing agents with novel compounds that can enhance the polymerizing and curing abilities of polymerizable compounds used in various industrial applications, such as coatings, adhesives, and semiconductor sealing, as existing agents like aliphatic polyamines, while effective, may require additional components and have limitations in specific uses.

Innovation Solution

A novel polyether compound represented by specific general formulas, which includes a polyamine compound with a specific molecular structure that can undergo polyaddition-type reactions with epoxy compounds, offering excellent curing properties and the ability to be used alone or in combination with other curing agents, and a method of producing this compound through reactions involving tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane and acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If aliphatic polyamines are used as curing agents, then excellent mechanical properties and adhesive properties are achieved, but additional components are required and limitations in specific uses occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical propertiesVSAvoidadditional components
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and combines the essential functional groups (amino groups and hydroxyl groups) from traditional polyamine curing agents into a single simplified molecular structure. The polyether compound contains both nucleophilic amino groups for epoxy ring-opening and hydroxyl groups for further crosslinking, eliminating the need for additional curing agents or components while maintaining excellent mechanical properties and adhesive performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If traditional curing agents are used, then curing properties are achieved, but polymerizing and curing abilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring propertiesVSAvoidpolymerizing and curing abilities
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The polyether compound serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a curing agent through its amino groups, provides additional crosslinking through its hydroxyl groups, and enhances the overall polymerizing ability of the epoxy resin system. This multi-functionality allows the single compound to improve both curing properties and polymerizing abilities without requiring multiple specialized additives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If existing curing agents are used, then epoxy compounds can be cured, but novel compounds with enhanced abilities are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring abilityVSAvoidnovel compound requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite molecular structure within the polyether compound that integrates multiple functional groups (amino groups from polyamine and hydroxyl groups from ether linkages) into a single synergistic molecule. This composite structure provides both the curing ability of traditional polyamines and the enhanced polymerizing properties of compounds with multiple reactive groups, satisfying the need for novel compounds with superior performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 polyether compound demonstrates superior polymerizing and curing abilities, enabling the formation of high-quality epoxy resins with improved mechanical, adhesive, and chemical resistance properties, suitable for diverse industrial applications with reduced reliance on other curing agents.

Implementation Method 1

The polyether compound of formula (1) has four amino groups and one hydroxyl group in the molecule, and the compound may be used as a curing agent for an epoxy compound or the like

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolyaddition reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a producing method of a polyether compound represented by the following general formula (3) including a step of obtaining a compound represented by the following general formula (2) by reacting tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane with acrylonitril and/or methacrylonitril and a step of reducing the compound represented by the general formula (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduction reaction: Reduction

Data Source

PatentEP2698364B1Polyether compound, curing agent using the polyether compound, and producing method of the polyether compound
Publication Date: 2015.08.26 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP2698364B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2698364B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2698364B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a polyether compound which is useful as a curing agent or the like, a curing agent using the compound and a producing method of the compound. The polyether compound of the present invention is represented by the following general formula (1). (In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or -C(=O)-C(R3)=CH2. R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. R1, R2 and R3 may be the same as or different from each other.)