Siliceous Substrate Coating for Oily Contamination Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Siliceous substrates, particularly glass, face challenges in easily removing oily contamination due to their surface chemistry, which affects their aesthetic appearance and attracts additional dirt, and existing coatings do not effectively address this issue.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous coating composition comprising polyacrylic acid with a weight average molecular weight greater than 100,000 g/mol, organic tetrafunctional alkoxysilane, and phosphoric acid, forming a hydrophilic and durable interpenetrating network that enhances easy-to-clean properties, especially against oily contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional cleaning compositions are used on siliceous substrates, then limescale and soap scum are removed, but oily contamination remains difficult to remove

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidoily contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the coating composition by incorporating specific surfactants and adjusting the pH to acidic range (2-4), which enables effective removal of oily contamination while maintaining ease of application and manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite coating composition combining polyacrylic acid, surfactants, and acidic components that work synergistically to provide both cleaning effectiveness and oily contamination removal capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If hydrophilic polymer coatings are applied to prevent fogging, then visual characteristics are maintained, but the coatings do not provide easy-to-clean properties against oily contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantifogging propertyVSAvoideasy-to-clean property
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single coating composition that simultaneously provides antifogging properties through hydrophilic polymers and easy-to-clean properties through surfactants and acidic components, eliminating the need for separate coatings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating composition is designed to perform multiple functions: preventing fogging, removing oily contamination, and providing durable easy-to-clean properties, making it a universal solution for siliceous substrate protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If existing protective coatings are applied to siliceous substrates, then fogging protection is achieved, but mechanical durability under wet conditions is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefogging protectionVSAvoidmechanical durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the molecular weight of polyacrylic acid (100,000-1,000,000 g/mol) and adjusts the pH to 2-4, which enhances both the fogging protection and mechanical durability of the coating under wet conditions

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 composition provides excellent easy-to-clean properties, maintaining hydrophilicity and mechanical durability even under wet conditions, effectively removing oily contaminants and resisting water immersion, making it suitable for various siliceous substrates.

Implementation Method 1

The silane sol is obtained by hydrolysis and condensation of a blend of trialkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

The silane sol is obtained by hydrolysis and condensation of a blend of trialkoxysilane and tetraalkoxysilane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

aqueous coating composition for imparting easy-to-clean properties to a siliceous substrate... maintaining hydrophilicity... effectively removing oily contaminants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophilicity: Hydrophile

Data Source

PatentEP3357880B1Protective coating composition for siliceous substrates
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an aqueous coating composition for imparting easy-to-clean properties to a siliceous substrate, comprising: a) a polyacrylic acid having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) greater than 100.000 g/mol; b) an organic tetrafunctional alkoxysilane; c) phosphoric acid; and d) at least 70 wt% of water, based on the weight of the overall coating composition. In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of imparting easy-to-clean properties to a siliceous substrate, which comprises the steps of: a) providing a siliceous substrate; b) applying a coating composition according to any of claims 1 to 22 to the siliceous substrate thereby forming a layer of the coating composition adjacent to the siliceous substrate; and c) drying and/or curing the layer of the coating composition thereby forming a coating layer adjacent to the siliceous substrate. According to still another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a coated article comprising a siliceous substrate and a coating layer adjacent to the siliceous substrate, wherein the coating layer comprises a layer of the coating composition as described above which has been dried and/or cured onto the siliceous substrate.