Rutile Titanium Oxide Organosol Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Titanium oxide organosols with rutile-type titanium oxide in water-insoluble solvents face challenges in achieving high transparency, high refractive index, and viscosity stability, due to low dispersibility of titanium oxide particles in such solvents.

Innovation Solution

Surface treatment of rutile-type titanium oxide with hydrous oxides of Zr, Ce, or Sn, combined with a silane coupling agent and a basic additive, results in a stable dispersion with high Ti content and controlled metal species ratio, achieving a high refractive index and low viscosity in a water-insoluble solvent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If rutile-type titanium oxide is used in water-insoluble solvent to achieve high refractive index, then refractive index is improved, but dispersibility of titanium oxide particles deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefractive indexVSAvoiddispersibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a silane coupling agent as an intermediary substance that chemically bonds to both the titanium oxide particle surface and the water-insoluble solvent molecules. This mediator enables stable dispersion of rutile-type titanium oxide particles in the non-aqueous solvent, resolving the incompatibility between high refractive index material and water-insoluble solvent system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the surface properties of titanium oxide particles by controlling the surface treatment conditions and metal species composition. By adjusting parameters such as metal species type (Zr, Ce, Sn, Fe), surface treatment concentration, and pH conditions, the patent optimizes both dispersibility and refractive index properties of the particle-solvent system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If high concentration of titanium oxide particles is used to increase refractive index, then refractive index is improved, but viscosity stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefractive indexVSAvoidviscosity stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The silane coupling agent acts as a steric barrier and chemical bridge that prevents particle aggregation at high concentrations. This intermediary substance maintains stable dispersion even when titanium oxide particle concentration is increased to achieve high refractive index, thereby preserving viscosity stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite particle structure by combining rutile-type titanium oxide with metal hydrous oxides (Zr, Ce, Sn, Fe) on the particle surface. This composite structure optimizes both optical properties (refractive index) and rheological properties (viscosity stability) simultaneously, allowing high particle concentration without sacrificing stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If surface treatment with metal hydrous oxide is applied to improve dispersibility, then dispersibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedispersibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs surface treatment with metal hydrous oxides as a preliminary step before incorporating the particles into the water-insoluble solvent system. By pre-modifying the particle surface properties, the patent simplifies subsequent processing and ensures stable dispersion without requiring complex multi-step procedures during final formulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes specific parameter ranges for metal species composition (20-50 mass% metal oxide content) and surface treatment conditions that optimize dispersibility while maintaining manufacturing simplicity. These parameter specifications provide clear guidelines for production while avoiding overly complex process requirements.

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 solution provides a stable, high-transparency, high-refractive-index titanium oxide organosol with excellent viscosity stability, enabling the formation of coatings with enhanced hardness and reduced film thickness, suitable for optical elements.

Implementation Method 1

treating the surface of rutile-type titanium oxide with a hydrous oxide of at least one metal species

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface treatment: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

deflocculating rutile-type titanium oxide particles that have been subjected to the surface treatment in the presence of a silane coupling agent and a basic additive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeflocculation: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 3

an organosol that has a high transparency and a high refractive index

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS20230074916A1Rutile-type titanium oxide organosol, method for producing rutile-type titanium oxide organosol, high refractive index coating-forming composition using said rutile-type titanium oxide organosol, and optical element
Publication Date: 2023.03.09 TAYCA CORP

AI summary

There has been demand for a titanium oxide organosol that has a high transparency and a high refractive index and that also exhibits an excellent viscosity stability over time. The rutile-type titanium oxide organosol according to the present invention comprises a silane coupling agent, a basic additive acting as a deflocculant, a water-insoluble solvent, and rutile-type titanium oxide particles that have been surface-treated with a hydrous oxide of at least one metal species selected from Zr, Ce, Sn, and Fe, the rutile-type titanium oxide organosol being characterized in that the Ti ratio contained in the colloidal particles in the rutile-type titanium oxide organosol is at least 60 mass% when calculated as the oxide, and the ratio of metal species at the colloidal particle surface derived from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is 20-50 mass%.