Thiol Composition Stability for Optical Materials

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thiol compounds used in optical materials are difficult to store stably due to their high reactivity, leading to reduced purity and white turbidity during long-term storage, which results in defective products.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a polythiol and a thiol compound in specific ratios, along with a polymerizable compound and a polymerization catalyst, is used to create an optical material that maintains stability and transparency while providing excellent weather resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a thiol compound is used to improve weather resistance and refractive index, then the optical material achieves good physical properties, but the thiol compound becomes unstable during long-term storage and causes white turbidity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweather resistanceVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the thiol compound by introducing specific substituents (aromatic rings, alkyl groups) at controlled positions. This structural modification reduces the reactivity and improves storage stability while maintaining the weather resistance and refractive index benefits of the thiol compound.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite thiol compound that combines the stabilizing effect of aromatic structures with the functional properties of thiol groups. This composite structure provides both storage stability and the desired optical properties, resolving the contradiction between stability and performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Loss of time

If a thiol compound is stored for a long period, then it has time to be processed and used, but the purity is reduced and white turbidity is caused

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage timeVSAvoidpurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary stabilization by incorporating protective structural features (aromatic rings, specific substituents) into the thiol compound before storage. This preliminary structural preparation prevents degradation during storage, allowing long-term storage without purity loss or white turbidity formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the thiol compound purity is reduced during storage, then storage time is extended, but the optical material becomes defective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage durationVSAvoidproduct quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies molecular parameters by adding stabilizing groups to the thiol compound structure. These structural changes make the compound resistant to oxidation and degradation, enabling long-term storage while maintaining the high purity and quality required for defect-free optical materials.

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 composition allows for stable storage and production of optical materials with good transparency and weather resistance, reducing the risk of white turbidity and defective products.

Implementation Method 1

a polymerizable compound (C) which is a compound having a polymerizable unsaturated bond

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP3266809B1Novel thiol compound composition for optical material
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 MITSUBISHI GAS CHEM CO INC

AI summary

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a polythiol composition, which comprises a polythiol (A) represented by formula (1) and a thiol compound (B) represented by formula (2). (In formula (1), p and q each independently represent an integer of 1 to 3.) (In formula (2), p and q each independently represent an integer of 1 to 3.)