Polyurethane Prepolymer Composition With Low Free Diisocyanate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polyurethane prepolymers contain high residual concentrations of diisocyanate monomers, leading to health and safety issues and reduced product performance, such as decreased adhesion and increased moisture sensitivity.

Innovation Solution

A polyurethane prepolymer composition with less than 1.0 wt.% free diisocyanate monomer and less than 75 wt.% of a 2:1 stoichiometric adduct of diisocyanate and polyol, prepared using a reaction of excess diisocyanate with polyol, achieving low residual diisocyanate levels and high oligomer content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional polyurethane prepolymer manufacturing process is used, then high productivity is achieved, but high residual diisocyanate monomer concentration results in health and safety issues and reduced product performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct performanceVSAvoidresidual diisocyanate monomer
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the compositional parameters of the prepolymer by limiting free diisocyanate to less than 1.0 wt.% and controlling the 2:1 adduct content to less than 75 wt.%, thereby transforming the product from high-residual to low-residual diisocyanate formulation that maintains performance while reducing harmful effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite prepolymer system containing multiple components (free diisocyanate, 2:1 adduct, oligomers) with controlled proportions, where the combination of these components in specific ratios achieves both low residual monomer and high performance characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If residual polyisocyanate is reduced to less than 1.0 wt.%, then health and safety risks are minimized, but manufacturing complexity increases due to additional processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth and safety risksVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by removing excess diisocyanate monomer through distillation or extraction before the prepolymerization reaction is complete, thereby preventing the formation of high residual monomer levels and simplifying downstream processing while ensuring safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If high amount of 2:1 stoichiometric adduct is used, then adhesion performance is improved, but residual diisocyanate migration to interface causes decreased adhesion and increased moisture sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadhesionVSAvoidproduct stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a prepolymer composition with non-uniform distribution of components, where the interface region has reduced diisocyanate migration due to the controlled composition (less than 75 wt.% 2:1 adduct), thereby maintaining strong adhesion while improving stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12522687B2Low free polyurethane prepolymer composition
Publication Date: 2026.01.13 URETHANE SYSTEMS USA LLC

AI summary

A polyurethane prepolymer composition may include more than 0 wt. % and less than 1.0 wt. % free diisocyanate monomer. The polyurethane prepolymer may include less than 80 wt. % of a 2:1 stoichiometric adduct of diisocyanate and at least one polyol (perfect prepolymer). Curable compositions may include such polyurethane prepolymer compositions and the such polyurethane prepolymer compositions may be used as adhesives.