Treated Pigment for Plastic Cleanability Without Chaulking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing titanium dioxide pigments used in plastics for cleanability often lead to erosion of the plastic article over time due to sunlight exposure, known as chaulking, which is undesirable for maintaining the integrity of the material.
Innovation Solution
A treated pigment comprising an inorganic oxide, such as titanium dioxide, combined with an organic compound having a fluoroalkyl group and a hydrocarbon group, and optionally an organic surface treatment material, which enhances cleanability without causing erosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If titanium dioxide pigment is used to impart cleanability to plastic articles, then cleanability is improved, but the plastic article is slowly eroded away due to chaulking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining titanium dioxide pigment with fluorinated compounds and other additives to create a treated pigment composition. This composite approach allows the pigment to provide cleanability through sunlight degradation of soils while the fluorinated compounds form a protective layer that prevents erosion of the underlying plastic substrate, thus resolving the contradiction between cleanability and material integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The fluorinated compounds act as an intermediary substance between the titanium dioxide pigment and the plastic substrate. This intermediary layer enables the pigment to perform its cleanability function while protecting the plastic from direct exposure to degrading agents, thereby preventing chaulking and maintaining material integrity over time
2Productivity
If titanium dioxide pigment causes breakdown by sunlight for cleanability, then soil removal is enhanced, but the article surface is eroded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of sunlight exposure into a beneficial function. The titanium dioxide pigment utilizes sunlight to break down soils and contaminants on the plastic surface (photocatalytic action), while the fluorinated protective layer simultaneously protects the plastic from sunlight-induced degradation, thus converting what would be a harmful exposure into a useful cleaning mechanism without material loss
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 treated pigment significantly improves the cleanability of plastic articles by allowing faster removal of soils without eroding the material, maintaining its integrity and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
an organic compound comprising a fluoroalkyl group and a hydrocarbon group... significantly improves the cleanability of plastic articles by allowing faster removal of soils without eroding the material
Data Source
AI summary
A treated pigment comprising: (a) an inorganic pigment; (b) an organic compound comprises a fluoroalkyl group and a hydrocarbon group and having the structure: RH-L-RF, wherein RF is a fluorochemical component containing at least one Zerewitinoff hydrogen; RH is an aliphatic group of 1-30 carbons, cycloaliphatic group of 3-30 carbons, an aromatic group of 6-30 carbons, or a group having the structure: R′—(OCH2CHR″)x′—(OCH2CH2)y′—O—, wherein R′ is H or an aliphatic group of 1-20 carbons, R″ is H or methyl; and x′ and y′ are the same or different integers ranging from 0-20 except that the sum of x′ and y′ is at least 1 when R′ is H; and L is selected from the group CO, isocyanate, and a mixture of polyisocyanates containing at least three isocyanate groups per RH-L-RF structure. Plastic articles containing a pigment and the organic compound have improved cleanability with all the other needed properties and without the negative property of chaulking.