Thermosetting Powder Coating for Crack Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Epoxy resin powder coating materials lack sufficient crack resistance during bending processing, especially in severe environments like cold regions, and exhibit sagging issues during application, compromising their workability and heat resistance.

Innovation Solution

A thermosetting powder coating material composition comprising a bisphenol type epoxy resin with an epoxy equivalent weight of 600-800 g/eq, a bisphenol type phenol resin curing agent, and a combination of an imidazole compound and an amine-epoxy adduct-type compound as curing agents, without a rubber-modified epoxy resin, to enhance plasticity, heat resistance, and crack resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional epoxy resin powder coating material is used, then heat resistance is sufficient, but crack resistance during bending processing is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrack resistanceVSAvoidheat resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the epoxy resin system by selecting specific epoxy resins with epoxy equivalent weights of 600-800 g/eq and controlling the curing agent ratio (D2/D1 between 1.0-3.7), which optimizes the crosslinking structure to achieve both flexibility for crack resistance and thermal stability for heat resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite curing system by combining two types of curing agents (D1 and D2) with different chemical characteristics, where D1 provides baseline curing and D2 enhances plasticity and crack resistance, resulting in a synergistic effect that maintains both heat resistance and bending flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the coating material is applied in powder state and heated to melt, then coating is achieved, but sagging occurs reducing workability

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveworkabilityVSAvoidsagging
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molecular weight and epoxy equivalent weight parameters of the base resin to control the melting behavior and viscosity characteristics, ensuring the coating material maintains appropriate flow properties during application and curing without excessive sagging

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the coating film is formed on bus bar, then insulation is provided, but plasticity for bending is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveplasticityVSAvoidcrack resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the epoxy equivalent weight parameter to a specific range (600-800 g/eq) that balances the crosslinking density and molecular chain flexibility, providing sufficient plasticity for bending applications while maintaining the protective and insulating properties required for bus bar applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 coating material achieves high plasticity and heat resistance, preventing cracks at low temperatures and during thermal aging, while maintaining workability and preventing sagging, thus ensuring effective bending processing and long-term thermal stability.

Implementation Method 1

a compound (D) for activating (C), wherein (D1) and (D2) are included as (D)... (D1) an imidazole compound... (D2) an amine-epoxy adduct-type compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCuring reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

it is applied in a powder (solid) state to a surface of an object to be coated and, then, heated to melt (liquidate) the powder and, furthermore, heated to form a film (solidate)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentUS11608448B2Thermosetting powder coating material, coating film using the coating material, and coated body comprising the coating film
Publication Date: 2023.03.21 SOMAR CORP

AI summary

There is provided a thermosetting powder coating material capable of forming a cured product having excellent workability at coating and high plasticity as well as heat resistance, resulting in heat resistance and crack resistance at bending processing. (A) denotes a bisphenol type epoxy resin having epoxy equivalent weight of 600 to 800 g/eq (not including 800 g/eq), (B) a rubber-modified epoxy resin, (C) a bisphenol type phenyl resin curing agent (D) a compound for activating (C), (D1) an imidazole compound and (D2) an amine-epoxy adduct type compound. The thermosetting powder coating material is composed of a finely pulverized composition. The composition comprises (A), (C) and (D) but does not comprise (B). (D) comprises (D1) and (D2), and a weight ratio of (D2) with respect to (D1) is 1.0 or more and 3.7 or less when (D1) is 1.