Polyurethane Methacrylate Oligomers UV Curing Speed

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current soft touch coatings face challenges in achieving fast curing, energy savings, balanced chemical resistance, and scratch resistance while maintaining a superior soft touch feeling, particularly in UV-curable systems that are environmentally friendly.

Innovation Solution

Development of polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomers with a tri-block symmetric B—A—B structure, comprising a polyether central block linked by diisocyanate bonds to hydrophobic polyester oligomers with (meth)acryloyloxy alkylene groups, which are used in a UV-curable composition for 1K coatings, allowing for rapid curing and improved properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If waterborne polyurethane dispersions are used for soft touch coating, then environmental friendliness is improved, but curing time increases to at least 20 minutes due to water evaporation limitation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidcuring time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using polyester polyols with specific molecular weights (1000-5000 g/mol) and controlling the NCO:OH ratio (0.8-1.2) to optimize curing speed while maintaining environmental friendliness of waterborne systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite coating system combining waterborne polyurethane dispersion with specific polyester polyol modifiers and crosslinking agents, achieving both fast curing (5-15 minutes) and environmental compatibility by integrating multiple functional components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If UV-curable aqueous emulsion coatings are used, then curing speed is greatly reduced and energy saving is achieved, but water evaporation limits the curing speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuring speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates water from the curing system by using a solvent-free or low-solvent polyurethane formulation that cures via UV photopolymerization without water evaporation, achieving both fast curing and energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal/mechanical curing process (water evaporation requiring heat and time) with photochemical curing (UV light activation), fundamentally changing the curing mechanism to achieve speed and energy savings simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If solvent based polyurethane coatings are used, then chemical resistance is greatly improved, but environmental concerns arise from organic solvent utilization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical resistanceVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the solvent parameter from organic solvents to water or solvent-free formulation, achieving comparable chemical resistance through optimized polymer composition (polyester polyol selection, crosslinking density) without environmental harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If 2K waterborne polyurethane systems are used, then soft touch feeling is achieved, but the balance with scratch resistance is hard to control and requires at least 20 mins curing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoft touch feelingVSAvoidcuring time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a composite 1K formulation integrating soft segment (polyester polyol for soft touch), hard segment (isocyanate for durability), and crosslinking agents in a single component system, achieving balanced properties without separate mixing steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the functional components at the molecular level within the polymer structure itself, with soft segments providing tactile comfort and crosslinked network providing scratch resistance, eliminating the need for 2K mixing while maintaining performance balance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 UV-curable polyurethane (meth)acrylate coatings exhibit excellent soft touch feeling, increased curing speed, and enhanced chemical and scratch resistance, outperforming existing systems while being environmentally friendly and suitable for various applications including electronics and consumer goods.

Implementation Method 1

UV-curable polyurethane (meth)acrylate coatings exhibit excellent soft touch feeling, increased curing speed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS10851195B2Polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomers and curable compositions comprising said oligomers

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 ARKEMA FRANCE SA

AI summary

A polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomer, having a tri-block symmetric structure BAB, comprises a polyether central block A linked by two urethane bonds to respectively two terminal hydrophobic blocs B based on hydrophobic polyester oligomers having a terminal (meth)acryloyloxy alkylene group. A curable composition (1k) comprises the oligomer and may be used for soft touch coatings in electronics, consumer goods and vehicle manufacture, as the resulting cured soft touch coating.