Solid Polymeric Colorant Powders for High Strength Coloring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Polymeric colorants used in thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers often have limited color strength due to long polymeric chains, resulting in weak coloration, and are typically in sticky liquid or viscous paste forms, making them difficult to handle and apply in solid or powder applications.
Innovation Solution
Converting liquid and paste polymeric colorants into free-flowing powders by combining them with solid absorbent materials and processing additives, creating a composition that maintains high color strength and is non-staining and non-bleeding, suitable for various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymeric chains are made very long to ensure stability, then the polymeric colorant becomes non-staining and durable, but the color strength becomes weak
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the polymeric colorant from liquid/paste to solid powder form. This is achieved by controlling the polymerization process to create solidifiable polymeric colorants that maintain the beneficial properties of long polymeric chains (non-staining, durable) while achieving high color strength through the solid powder formulation.
2Strength
If polymeric colorants are used in liquid or paste form to maintain high color strength, then the color strength is high, but the materials become sticky and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by converting the polymeric colorant from liquid/paste phase to solid powder phase. This phase change eliminates the sticky and difficult handling characteristics while preserving the high color strength property. The solidifiable nature allows the colorant to be processed and applied as a free-flowing powder.
3Ease of operation
If liquid polymeric colorants are diluted with solvents to improve handleability, then the handling becomes easier, but challenges arise in physical properties for end-use applications
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of diluting the polymeric colorant with solvents to improve handling (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by concentrating the colorant into a solid powder form without solvents. This inversion eliminates the handling difficulties of viscous liquids while avoiding the physical property challenges associated with solvent-based formulations.
4Shape
If solid polymeric colorants are made by traditional methods, then solid forms are achieved, but the color strength is reduced or the colorants become non-soluble and cannot be released to color other articles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes multiple parameters simultaneously: the physical state (to solid), the solubility characteristics (to maintain water solubility), and the color strength (to high levels). The solidifiable polymeric colorants are designed to form free-flowing powders that dissolve in water to release the color, combining the advantages of solid handling with the color release capability of soluble colorants.
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 resulting free-flowing polymeric colorant powders retain significant color strength, are easy to handle, and can be used in a wide range of applications, including personal care products, detergents, and industrial formulations, without the challenges of solvent use and handling issues.
Implementation Method 1
converting liquid and paste polymeric colorants into free-flowing powders by combining them with solid absorbent materials
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to solid forms of polymeric colorants and the methods and processes for manufacturing the solid colorants. These solid polymeric colorants may be provided in the form of a free-flowing powder and may be useful for coloring solid pucks, tablets, powder detergents, soaps, fertilizers, personal care products, adhesives, sealants, thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, and the like.