Curable Silicone-Acrylate Compositions for Conductive Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional silicone networks exhibit weak mechanical properties, such as low tensile and tear strength, limiting their applications due to incompatibility with carbon-based polymers and antagonistic properties, which restricts the use of siloxane-based materials in certain applications that benefit from their inherent attributes like low-loss and thermal stability.

Innovation Solution

A curable composition comprising an epoxide-functional silicone-acrylate polymer, an aminosiloxane with multiple amine functional groups, and a conductive filler, which forms a conductive layer upon curing, enhancing mechanical properties and compatibility with carbon-based polymers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional silicone networks are used, then thermal stability and low-loss properties are maintained, but mechanical strength is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidmechanical property reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material system combining silicone-acrylate polymer with carbon-based conductive fillers (graphite, carbon black, carbon nanotubes). This composite approach allows the silicone matrix to provide thermal stability and low-loss properties while the carbon-based additives enhance mechanical strength and enable electrical conductivity, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining silicone's inherent stability and improving mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of silicone by introducing acrylate functional groups to create silicone-acrylate polymers. This parameter change in molecular structure enables cross-linking reactions that form three-dimensional networks, significantly improving tensile strength and mechanical reliability while preserving the thermal stability characteristic of silicone materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional silicone networks are used, then thermal stability is maintained, but compatibility with carbon-based polymers is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with carbon-based polymersVSAvoidcompositional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The silicone-acrylate polymer acts as an intermediary material between conventional silicone and carbon-based polymers. The acrylate functional groups provide chemical reactivity that facilitates bonding with carbon-based materials, while the silicone backbone maintains compatibility with existing silicone systems. This intermediary structure enables compositional stability while improving adaptability to carbon-based polymer integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If silicone materials are used in applications requiring high strength, then mechanical properties improve, but inherent silicone attributes like low-loss transmission may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetear strengthVSAvoidsignal loss

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality enhancement by incorporating conductive fillers and modifying specific regions of the silicone matrix with acrylate groups. This localized modification improves mechanical strength and electrical conductivity in specific areas without altering the bulk properties of the silicone material, thereby maintaining low-loss signal transmission characteristics while providing enhanced strength where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 composition achieves improved mechanical properties and compatibility, enabling the use of siloxane-based materials in applications requiring enhanced strength and stability, while maintaining low-loss and thermal stability attributes.

Implementation Method 1

The cured product comprises the reaction product of the silicone-acrylate polymer and the aminosiloxane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a conductive filler... forms a conductive layer upon curing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS20230086610A1Curable silicone-acrylate compositions, conductive materials prepared therewith, and related methods

Publication Date: 2023.03.23 DOW SILICONES CORP

AI summary

A curable composition is disclosed. The curable composition comprises (I) an epoxide-functional silicone-acrylate polymer, (II) an aminosiloxane, and (III) a conductive filler. The epoxide-functional silicone-acrylate polymer comprises acrylate-derived monomeric units comprising siloxane moieties, epoxide-functional moieties, and optionally, hydrocarbyl moieties, and the aminosiloxane comprises an average of at least two amine functional groups per molecule. Methods of preparing the curable composition, and a cured product thereof, are also disclosed. A method of forming a composite article comprising a conductive layer with the curable composition is disclosed is also disclosed. The method comprises disposing the curable composition on a substrate, and curing the curable composition to give a conductive layer on the substrate, thereby forming the composite article.