Solvent-Free Self-Emulsifying Chlorinated Polypropylene

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene production technologies face challenges such as high environmental pollution, health risks, and high costs due to the use of organic solvents and high-speed stirring requirements, which limit their scalability and adhesion performance on non-polar plastics like polypropylene.

Innovation Solution

A solvent-free preparation method for self-emulsifying water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene involving the mixing of chlorinated polypropylene with an acrylic acid/ester mixture and isocyanate-terminated carboxyl hyperbranched polyester adduct, followed by gradual temperature increases and neutralization with deionized water, eliminating the need for organic solvents and high-speed stirring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional solvent-based chlorinated polypropylene is used, then good adhesion on non-polar plastics is achieved, but severe environmental pollution and health risks occur due to organic solvent volatilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental pollutionVSAvoidadhesion performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the solvent system from organic solvents to water-based system. By introducing hydrophilic groups through chemical modification and using water as the continuous phase, the formulation transitions from oil-based to water-based while maintaining adhesion through molecular design rather than solvent volatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene by combining hydrophobic chlorinated polypropylene chains with hydrophilic modifiers (such as carboxylic acids, esters, or polyethylene glycol chains). This composite structure enables the material to interface with both polar water and non-polar plastic substrates, resolving the adhesion-pollution contradiction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If water-soluble epoxy resins, acrylic resins, polyurethane resins, or urea-formaldehyde resins are used, then environmental pollution is reduced, but adhesion on non-polar plastics deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental pollutionVSAvoidadhesion on non-polar plastics
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality modification by introducing specific functional groups at strategic positions on the polypropylene chain. The hydrophobic chlorinated polypropylene backbone maintains compatibility with non-polar substrates, while localized hydrophilic segments (carboxyl, hydroxyl, or ether groups) provide water solubility and adhesion promotion at the interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene acts as an intermediary substance between water-based environments and non-polar plastic surfaces. Its dual-character structure (hydrophobic backbone + hydrophilic functional groups) allows it to bridge the incompatibility between polar water and non-polar plastics, enabling adhesion without requiring the plastic substrate itself to be modified

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If foreign water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene production technology is used, then water-solubility is achieved, but production cost increases and scalability is limited due to high-speed stirring requirements and low solid content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater-solubilityVSAvoidproduction cost and scalability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs self-emulsification mechanisms where the modified chlorinated polypropylene molecules spontaneously form stable water-dispersible structures without requiring external high-speed emulsification equipment. The molecular structure itself (with appropriate hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) enables self-assembly into stable colloidal dispersions, eliminating the need for expensive high-speed stirrers and reducing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the solid content parameter to achieve high-concentration formulations (30-60% or higher) through controlled modification degrees and efficient purification processes. This contrasts with foreign technologies that are limited to low solid content (≤30%), thereby reducing transportation and application costs while maintaining water-solubility through molecular design rather than mechanical emulsification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If domestic water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene is prepared using acrylic acid and acrylate grafting, then water-solubility is achieved, but organic solvents must be added in large amounts and the process becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater-solubilityVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for organic solvents from the modification process by using water-compatible reagents and conditions. The grafting or modification reactions are conducted in water or water-compatible media, and the resulting products are directly water-soluble without requiring subsequent solvent removal steps, thereby simplifying the overall process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary structural design of the chlorinated polypropylene to incorporate water-solubilizing functional groups before the final product formation. This preliminary modification ensures that the product is inherently water-soluble from the outset, eliminating the need for complex post-processing steps such as solvent removal and re-emulsification that would otherwise be required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

5Reliability

If water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene is prepared with organic solvents and additional emulsifiers, then water-solubility is achieved, but product stability deteriorates and environmental pollution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater-solubilityVSAvoidproduct stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, problematic additional emulsifiers with the inherently water-soluble modified chlorinated polypropylene itself. The molecular modification embeds the emulsifying capability within the polymer structure, eliminating the need for separate emulsifier additives that would otherwise be required to maintain water-dispersibility. This self-sufficient approach improves both stability and environmental performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

This method produces a stable, low-VOC, high-solid-content water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene with improved adhesion and flexibility, reducing production costs and environmental impact while avoiding the use of organic solvents and emulsifiers, making it suitable for large-scale industrial applications.

Implementation Method 1

adding an isocyanate-terminated carboxyl hyperbranched polyester adduct to the solution of step (2) at 30-80° C., and stirring the reaction for 0.5-3 hours at the temperature; (4) adding an amine neutralizer into the solution under a condition of 50-80° C. to neutralize the solution to a pH of 6.8-7.5, and then gradually adding deionized water, and emulsifying for 0.5-3 hours under a condition of 50-80° C. and 300-600 rpm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelf-emulsification: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

adding an amine neutralizer into the solution under a condition of 50-80° C. to neutralize the solution to a pH of 6.8-7.5

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNeutralization reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 3

gradually adding an initiator and the remaining acrylic acid/ester mixture to the solution of step (1) at 60-90° C., and after the addition is completed, and stirring for reaction at 70-140° C. for 0.5-2 hours

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGraft polymerization: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS20240109995A1Preparation methods of solvent-free self-emulsifying water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene
Publication Date: 2024.04.04 WUHAN HYPERBRANCHED POLYMER RESINS SCI& TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A preparation method of solvent-free self-emulsifying water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene is provided. By uniformly mixing chlorinated polypropylene, an acrylic acid/ester mixture and a cosolvent, initiating the chlorinated polypropylene to generate free radicals by using an initiator, further initiating free radical polymerization of the acrylic acid/ester mixture, then adding an isocyanate-terminal carboxyl hyperbranched polyester adduct, reacting, then neutralizing with amine, emulsifying, and diluting with deionized water, the solvent-free self-emulsifying water-soluble chlorinated polypropylene with a solid content of 30-45% may be obtained. The process of the present invention is simple, and easy to industrialize, and the product has the advantages of low VOC content, no organic solvent, water dilution, excellent stability, etc., and is expected to be widely used in the fields of water-soluble paints, surface modification of non-polar or low-polar plastics and the like.