Solvent Composition for Multilayer Coating Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current paint stripping products without methylene chloride often have inferior performance and introduce other health and environmental hazards, requiring longer dwell times and multiple applications, and fail to effectively remove multilayer coatings without damaging substrates.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising 30 to 90 volume percent of a first solvent selected from methyl acetate, dimethyl carbonate, or acetone, combined with 0 to 60 volume percent of a second solvent such as thiophene or 1,3-dioxolane, and up to 20 volume percent of a third solvent like dimethyl sulfoxide, which sums to at least 90 volume percent, providing improved solvency and safety profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If methylene chloride is used as a paint stripping agent, then effective removal of multilayer coatings is achieved, but severe health hazards and carcinogenic effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating removal effectivenessVSAvoidhealth hazards and carcinogenicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes methylene chloride from the paint stripping composition while replacing it with a blend of safer solvents including alcohols, esters, ketones, and hydrocarbons. This extraction eliminates the carcinogenic component while maintaining the functional capability to remove multilayer coatings through the combined action of multiple alternative solvents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite solvent system comprising multiple types of solvents (alcohols, esters, ketones, hydrocarbons) working together. This composite approach compensates for the individual limitations of each solvent type while achieving the collective performance needed to effectively strip multilayer coatings without relying on methylene chloride.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If methylene chloride-free alternatives are used, then health and environmental safety is improved, but paint stripping performance deteriorates significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehealth and environmental safetyVSAvoidpaint stripping performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple solvent types into a single composition formula, combining alcohols, esters, ketones, and hydrocarbons in specific proportions. This merging creates a synergistic effect where the combination of solvents achieves paint stripping performance comparable to methylene chloride, while each individual solvent contributes its unique solvating properties to tackle different coating types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of each solvent component within specific ranges to achieve effective coating removal. By carefully adjusting the proportions of each solvent type and optimizing the overall formulation parameters, the composition achieves high-performance paint stripping capability while maintaining safety improvements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If non-methylene chloride compositions are used, then hazardous ingredient content is reduced, but required dwell time increases and multiple applications are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehazardous ingredient contentVSAvoiddwell time and number of applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of each solvent component within specific ranges to achieve effective coating removal. By carefully adjusting the proportions of each solvent type and optimizing the overall formulation parameters, the composition achieves high-performance paint stripping capability while maintaining safety improvements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite solvent system comprising multiple types of solvents (alcohols, esters, ketones, hydrocarbons) working together. This composite approach compensates for the individual limitations of each solvent type while achieving the collective performance needed to effectively strip multilayer coatings without relying on methylene chloride.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Object-generated harmful factors

If alternative solvents like NMP are used to replace methylene chloride, then VOC content is reduced, but new environmental and health hazards are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVOC contentVSAvoidenvironmental and health hazards
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes problematic solvents including NMP from the formulation, replacing them with a safer combination of solvents such as alcohols, esters, ketones, and hydrocarbons. This extraction eliminates both the high VOC content and the association with NMP-related health and environmental hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs solvents that are readily biodegradable and have favorable environmental profiles, replacing persistent and hazardous solvents like NMP. The selected solvent components are chosen for their ability to perform the stripping function while breaking down more quickly in the environment, reducing long-term ecological impact.

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

The composition effectively removes various coatings from different surfaces with a reasonable dwell time, minimizing substrate damage and achieving high substrate exposure, while being significantly less toxic and having low volatile organic compound content.

Implementation Method 1

can have desirable Hansen Solubility Parameters in order to dissolve the variety of coatings that can be encountered

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

Effective paint stripping compositions can further exhibit adequate penetration into the coating to reach the substrate surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution:

Data Source

PatentUS12157833B2Composition and method for removing a coating from a surface
Publication Date: 2024.12.03 UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS

AI summary

A composition includes a first solvent selected from methyl acetate, dimethyl carbonate, acetone, or a combination thereof, a second solvent selected from thiophene, 1,3-dioxolane, thioacetic acid, or a combination thereof, and, optionally, a third solvent selected from dimethyl sulfoxide, methyl glyoxal, propylene carbonate, gamma butyrolactone, ethylene carbonate, 2-chloro-1-propanol, methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, or a combination thereof. The respective amounts of each solvent are further described herein, and the total amounts of the first solvent, the second solvent, and the third solvent sum to at least 90 volume percent of the total volume of the composition. The composition can be particularly useful for removal of a coating from a surface. Accordingly, a method of removing a coating from a surface is also disclosed.