Single-Component Putty Color Change for UV Curing Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing single-component putties for vehicle body repair lack a reliable method to determine when the coating is fully hardened, often requiring excessive UV exposure to ensure completeness, leading to potential localized under-curing issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of 1,4-(a-isopropylamino) anthraquinone (C22H22NR2O2) as a blue pigment in the putty composition, which changes color upon UV exposure, indicating complete hardening by returning to its original shade, allowing visual assessment of uniform curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV exposure time is extended to ensure complete hardening, then the reliability of curing is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to excessive exposure time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a color-changing indicator system where the putty contains pigments that change color during UV curing. The putty transitions from blue to green to yellow as curing progresses, providing real-time visual feedback. This allows operators to stop UV exposure precisely when curing is complete, eliminating the need for excessive exposure time while ensuring complete hardening, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity
2Productivity
If UV exposure time is reduced to improve productivity, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential under-curing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a visual feedback mechanism through color-changing pigments that provide real-time information about curing status. The indicator system gives continuous feedback during UV exposure, allowing operators to monitor the curing process and stop at the optimal moment. This feedback loop ensures complete curing even with reduced exposure time, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability
3Manufacturing precision
If uniform UV exposure is ensured to improve manufacturing precision, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service principles where the putty itself provides the monitoring function through embedded color-changing pigments. The material automatically indicates its own curing status without requiring external sensors, cameras, or complex control systems. This simple visual indicator system achieves uniform curing monitoring while avoiding increased device complexity, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity
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
Facilitates efficient UV exposure time reduction without compromising quality, ensuring complete hardening through visual color transition, thereby preventing localized under-curing.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporation of 1,4-(a-isopropylamino) anthraquinone (C22H22NR2O2) as a blue pigment in the putty composition, which changes color upon UV exposure, indicating complete hardening by returning to its original shade
Implementation Method 2
These putties consist of a putty mass incorporating photoinitiators that trigger the polymerization process. The putty is applied to the levelled surface and subsequently exposed to UV light of the appropriate wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a single-component putty comprising a putty mass and photoinitiators is characterized by the incorporation of 1,4-(α-isopropylamino)anthraquinone (C22H22NR2O2) as a blue pigment. The pigment, which interacts with the photoinitiators upon exposure to UV radiation, is added in a concentration ranging from 0.005% to 0.1% by weight relative to the putty mass. The constituents are thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous mixture exhibiting the desired colour is obtained. The method for controlling the hardening of a single-component putty coating produced according to claim 1 is characterized by exposing the coating to UV radiation until it returns to an initial colour matching that specified on the packaging and in the technical data sheet.