Polyfluoroalkyl Phosphonate Emulsifier for Mold Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mold-releasing agents with perfluoroalkyl groups containing 6 or less carbon atoms have low bioaccumulation potential but suffer from reduced emulsification performance and durability, while those with 8 or more carbon atoms pose environmental concerns and handling difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid salt emulsifier, represented by the formula CnF2n+1(CH2CF2)a(CF2CF2)b(CH2CH2)cP(O)(OM1)(OM2), where M1 and M2 are hydrogen, alkali metal, or organic amine bases, is used as an active ingredient in both emulsions and mold-releasing agents, offering excellent emulsification and mold releasability with low bioaccumulation potential.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mold-releasing agents with perfluoroalkyl groups containing 8 or more carbon atoms are used, then mold releasability is improved, but environmental safety deteriorates due to high bioaccumulation potential

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemold releasabilityVSAvoidbioaccumulation potential
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the carbon atom parameter of the perfluoroalkyl group from 8 or more to 6 or less, thereby reducing bioaccumulation potential while maintaining adequate mold releasability through optimized molecular structure and composition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite composition of perfluoroalkyl group-containing phosphate ester and perfluoroalkyl group-containing phosphonate, where the phosphonate component compensates for the reduced performance of shorter-chain perfluoroalkyl groups, achieving both environmental safety and functional performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If mold-releasing agents with perfluoroalkyl groups containing 6 or less carbon atoms are used, then environmental safety is improved by reducing bioaccumulation potential, but mold releasability and durability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebioaccumulation potentialVSAvoidmold releasability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite system combining phosphate ester and phosphonate compounds with perfluoroalkyl groups of 6 or less carbon atoms. The phosphonate component provides enhanced mold releasability and durability that compensates for the shorter chain length, achieving both environmental safety and functional performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the local molecular structure by introducing specific phosphonate groups with particular chain lengths and configurations, creating localized high-performance regions that enhance overall mold releasability despite using shorter perfluoroalkyl chains

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If compounds with perfluoroalkyl groups containing 14 or more carbon atoms are used, then mold releasability is improved, but handling difficulty increases due to physical and chemical properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemold releasabilityVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces the carbon atom parameter of the perfluoroalkyl group from 14 or more to 6 or less, thereby improving handling ease through better fluidity and lower viscosity while maintaining adequate mold releasability through optimized molecular structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If conventional mold-releasing agents such as silicone oil and wax are used, then mold releasability is improved, but secondary processability deteriorates due to transfer to molded products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemold releasabilityVSAvoidsecondary processability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses perfluoroalkyl phosphonate compounds that form transient protective films during molding but do not persist on the final product, effectively serving as disposable release agents that fulfill their function and then degrade or remove without affecting secondary processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of substance transfer into a benefit by designing compounds that transfer minimally and degrade into harmless byproducts, thereby maintaining excellent mold releasability while preserving secondary processability of the molded products

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 emulsifier provides stable emulsions with perfluoropolyether oils and perfluorocarbon compounds, maintaining emulsification stability and exhibiting superior mold releasability, film-forming properties, and improved durability, even at low concentrations, reducing contamination and ensuring high-quality molded products.

Implementation Method 1

an emulsifier in the form of a salt... which can be effectively used, for example, as an emulsifier in the formation of an emulsion of a perfluoropolyether oil or perfluorocarbon compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

a polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid salt emulsifier... providing stable emulsions with perfluoropolyether oils and perfluorocarbon compounds

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentEP2497566B1Polyfluoroalkyl phosphonate salt emulsifying agent and mold release agent comprising same as active ingredient
Publication Date: 2019.01.30 UNIMATEC CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is an emulsifier comprising, as an active ingredient, a polyfluoroalkylphosphonic acid salt represented by the general formula: CnF2n+1(CH2CF2)a(CF2CF2)b(CH2CH2)cP(O)(OM1)(OM2), wherein M1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an ammonium base, or an organic amine base, M2 is an alkali metal, an ammonium base, or an organic amine base, n is an integer of 1 to 6, a is an integer of 1 to 4, b is an integer of 1 to 3, and c is an integer of 1 to 3. An aqueous solution or organic solvent solution of the emulsifier can be effectively used to emulsify a perfluoropolyether oil or a perfluorocarbon compound. The resulting emulsion exhibits excellent emulsification stability, and thus can be effectively used as a mold-releasing agent.