Polymerizable Ionic Liquid Curing Composition Oxygen Inhibition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional curable compositions face challenges in achieving complete curing in the presence of oxygen due to oxygen inhibition, leading to incomplete polymerization and surface residue formation, especially with conventional (meth)acrylate monomers which have low air to nitrogen curing exotherm ratios.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a polymerizable ionic liquid with a high air to nitrogen curing exotherm ratio, such as multifunctional polymerizable ionic liquids, which can facilitate complete curing in air without the need for inerting, combined with conventional ethylenically unsaturated monomers or polymers to enhance stability and cure speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional (meth)acrylate monomers are used for curing, then the composition can be cured, but oxygen inhibition prevents complete curing leading to surface residue formation and incomplete polymerization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the monomer system by introducing polymerizable ionic liquids with specific air-to-nitrogen curing exotherm ratios ≥0.70. This parameter change enables the curing system to overcome oxygen inhibition and achieve complete curing in air, transforming the curing completeness from unreliable to reliable without requiring nitrogen inerting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite curing system by combining polymerizable ionic liquids with conventional ethylenically unsaturated monomers. This composite approach leverages the high air-to-nitrogen ratio of ionic liquids to overcome oxygen inhibition while maintaining the beneficial properties of conventional monomers, achieving both complete curing and operational stability
2Reliability
If polymerizable ionic liquid is used to enable complete curing in air, then oxygen inhibition is overcome, but the stability of the composition during storage may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the air-to-nitrogen curing exotherm ratio parameter to be ≥0.70 for polymerizable ionic liquids, which is high enough to overcome oxygen inhibition but controlled enough to maintain storage stability. This precise parameter control resolves the contradiction between curing effectiveness in air and compositional stability during storage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent formulates a composite system combining polymerizable ionic liquids with conventional monomers, where each component compensates for the other's weaknesses. The ionic liquid provides oxygen resistance while the conventional monomer contributes to storage stability, achieving both curing completeness and compositional stability simultaneously
3Productivity
If conventional monomers are used, then storage stability is maintained, but curing speed is reduced and incomplete polymerization occurs in the presence of oxygen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polymerizable ionic liquids with high air-to-nitrogen curing exotherm ratios (≥0.70), which fundamentally changes the curing kinetics parameter. This enables faster curing speeds while simultaneously achieving complete polymerization in air, resolving both productivity and reliability concerns
4Reliability
If nitrogen inerting is used to achieve complete curing, then oxygen inhibition is eliminated, but process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by incorporating polymerizable ionic liquids with high air-to-nitrogen curing exotherm ratios, which inherently resist oxygen inhibition. This eliminates the need for nitrogen inerting equipment and processes, achieving complete curing while reducing device and process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the oxygen inhibition problem from the system by using ionic liquids that are intrinsically resistant to oxygen interference. This removes the need for external inerting systems, simplifying the overall curing process while maintaining curing completeness
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 use of polymerizable ionic liquids with high air to nitrogen curing exotherm ratios allows for complete curing in air, reducing surface inhibition and uncured residue, thereby improving the efficiency and stability of the curing process, enabling faster and more cost-effective production of cured materials.
Implementation Method 1
curable compositions comprising a mixture of at least one (e.g. free-radically) polymerizable ionic liquid and at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer, oligomer, or polymer
Implementation Method 2
The polymerizable ionic liquid is characterized as having an air to nitrogen curing exotherm ratio of at least 0.70
Data Source
AI summary
Presently described are curable compositions comprising a mixture of at least one (e.g. free-radically) polymerizable ionic liquid and at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer, oligomer, or polymer. The polymerizable ionic liquid is characterized as having an air to nitrogen curing exotherm ratio of at least 0.70. Also described are articles and methods of making articles from such curable compositions. A monofunctional polymerizable ionic liquid is also described comprising a non-polymerizable substituted imidazolium cationic group and a polymerizable sulfonate anion.