Titanium-Amine Curing Catalyst for Stable Moisture-Cured Polymers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing curing catalysts for silicone-based and modified silicone-based rubber compositions, such as tin carboxylate compounds, alkyltin salt compounds, titanium acid ester compounds, and quaternary ammonium salts, pose safety concerns and variability in curing rates due to moisture and humidity, leading to unstable curing processes.
Innovation Solution
A curing catalyst comprising a complex of a titanium compound, ammonium hydroxide, and an amine compound is used to enhance the curing rate and stability of polymers with reactive hydrolyzable silicon-containing groups, providing a safe and practical curing solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tin carboxylate compounds or alkyltin salt compounds are used as curing catalysts, then the curing rate is accelerated, but toxicity and environmental pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces persistent toxic tin-based catalysts with zinc oxide, a safer but slower-acting catalyst, and compensates for the reduced catalytic activity by introducing organic amine accelerators. This substitution prioritizes environmental safety and health over maximum curing speed, aligning with the principle of replacing harmful substances with safer alternatives even if performance requires compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite catalytic system combining zinc oxide (safe base catalyst) with organic amine compounds (accelerators). This composite approach allows the system to achieve both safety (from zinc oxide) and adequate curing rate (enhanced by amine synergists), resolving the contradiction between toxicity reduction and maintaining productivity.
2Productivity
If titanium acid ester compounds are used as curing catalysts, then the curing process is accelerated, but the curing rate becomes unstable due to moisture and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces moisture-sensitive titanium acid ester catalysts with zinc oxide, which is inherently stable and insensitive to humidity. Although zinc oxide alone has lower catalytic activity, its stability and resistance to environmental moisture provide reliable and consistent curing performance across varying humidity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the catalytic system by changing from titanium-based to zinc-based catalysts, fundamentally altering the chemical parameters of the system. This parameter change eliminates moisture sensitivity while maintaining acceptable curing rates through the addition of amine accelerators, achieving both reliability and productivity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If carboxylic acid and amine combined catalyst is used, then toxicity is reduced, but the curing rate becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite catalytic system combining zinc oxide (safe base catalyst) with organic amine compounds (accelerators). This composite approach allows the system to achieve both safety (from zinc oxide) and adequate curing rate (enhanced by amine synergists), resolving the contradiction between toxicity reduction and maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic amine compounds act as intermediary accelerators that bridge the gap between the safe but slow zinc oxide catalyst and the required curing rate. These amines enhance the catalytic activity of zinc oxide without introducing the toxicity problems associated with tin-based catalysts, serving as a mediating substance that achieves both safety and performance.
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 catalyst achieves a high and stable curing rate without the use of toxic substances, ensuring safety and low environmental impact while maintaining the integrity of the cured product.
Implementation Method 1
A curing catalyst used for curing a polymer (A) having a reactive hydrolyzable silicon-containing group, the curing catalyst (B) containing a complex of a titanium compound (B1) and an ammonium hydroxide (B2), and an amine compound (B3)
Implementation Method 2
the reaction mechanism of the process in which the silicone-based rubber and the modified silicone-based rubber become a cured product is based on a condensation reaction or an addition reaction of a reactive hydrolyzable silicon-containing group in the presence of water
Implementation Method 3
the curing catalyst (B) containing a complex of a titanium compound (B1) and an ammonium hydroxide (B2), and an amine compound (B3)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a curing catalyst having a high safety and a practical curing rate.According to the present invention, provided is a curing catalyst [B] used for curing a polymer [A] having a reactive hydrolyzable silicon-containing group, whereinthe curing catalyst [B] contains a complex of a titanium compound [B1] and an ammonium hydroxide [B2], and an amine compound [B3],the titanium compound [B1] is represented by Chemical Formula (1),the ammonium hydroxide [B2] is represented by Chemical Formula (2), andthe amine compound [B3] is represented by Chemical Formula (3), Chemical Formula (4), or Chemical Formula (5).