Thixotropic (Meth)Acrylate Composition Without Corrosive Lithium Salts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing (meth)acrylate-functionalized compound compositions face issues with sedimentation of fillers leading to inhomogeneities and require special equipment due to high vapor pressure, while existing thixotropic additives like diurea-diurethane compounds with lithium salts cause corrosion and toxicity, necessitating a safer and effective alternative.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a (meth)acrylate-functionalized compound and a diurea-diurethane thixotropic additive with minimal salts and surfactants, allowing for stable viscosity increase and thixotropic properties without high-temperature activation, packaged in separate cartridges for safe handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing thixotropic additives containing lithium salts are used to increase viscosity, then rheological performance is improved, but corrosion and toxicity problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviscosity enhancementVSAvoidcorrosion and toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful lithium salt component from the thixotropic additive system while retaining the beneficial diurea-diurethane thickening mechanism. The composition specifies using diurea-diurethane compounds without lithium salts or with minimal salt content (less than 0.1 mol of salt per urea group), thereby eliminating corrosion and toxicity issues while maintaining viscosity enhancement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs alternative thixotropic additives based on diurea-diurethane compounds that are inherently safer and do not require the harmful lithium salt component. These alternative additives achieve the same rheological modification function without the long-term harmful effects of corrosion and toxicity associated with lithium salts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If (meth)acrylate-functionalized compounds are used to achieve polymerization, then reactivity is improved, but high vapor pressure causes evaporation and concentration changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolymerization reactivityVSAvoidmonomer evaporation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical parameters of the system by incorporating thixotropic additives that increase viscosity. This viscosity increase reduces the vapor pressure and evaporation rate of the (meth)acrylate-functionalized compounds while maintaining their polymerization reactivity. The composition achieves a balance where the monomers remain sufficiently reactive for polymerization but have reduced volatility due to the thickened matrix

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If rheology additives requiring heating and high shear are used to activate thixotropic properties, then viscosity control is improved, but self-heating and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviscosity controlVSAvoidactivation energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs diurea-diurethane compounds that provide thixotropic properties without requiring external activation through heating or high shear. These compounds naturally exhibit the desired rheological modification at ambient conditions, eliminating the need for energy-intensive activation steps and self-heating phenomena associated with traditional rheology additives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 provides stable, non-toxic, and efficient viscosity enhancement and thixotropic properties, ensuring homogeneous materials and safe application without corrosion, while maintaining rheological performance comparable to prior art additives.

Implementation Method 1

a thixotropic additive comprising a diurea-diurethane compound

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThixotropy: Thixotropy

Implementation Method 2

the phenomenon of sedimentation of the fillers in a composition based on (meth)acrylate-functionalized compounds leads to inhomogeneities in the properties of the material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnti-sedimentation: Suspension

Data Source

PatentUS20250361405A1Composition based on a polymerizable component and a thixotropic additive

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 ARKEMA FRANCE SA

AI summary

The present invention relates to a composition based on a polymerizable component and on a thixotropic additive and also to a two-component system containing said composition and to a process for preparing a crosslinked product from said composition. The invention also relates to the use of an additive for increasing the viscosity and/or imparting thixotropic properties to a polymerizable component.