Ethylenically Unsaturated Silane Compounds for Optical-Fiber Coating Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adhesion promoters for radiation-curable optical fiber coatings, particularly those containing silane groups, face synthesis challenges such as fast and uncontrolled reactions with isocyanate-functional compounds, sluggish reactions with thiol-functional silanes, and environmental concerns with tin catalysts, leading to inefficient and undesirable color changes.
Innovation Solution
Development of ethylenically unsaturated compounds with specific structural moieties that include silane groups, designed to be inert towards isocyanate groups at low temperatures, allowing for controlled reactions and improved adhesion, suitable for optical fiber coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If amino-functional silane is reacted with isocyanate-functional compound, then adhesion promoter is formed, but the reaction is extremely fast and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an organobismuth catalyst as an intermediary substance to mediate the reaction between amino-functional silane and isocyanate-functional compound. This catalyst provides controlled catalysis, transforming the uncontrolled extremely fast reaction into a manageable process with appropriate reaction rate and minimal color change.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the reaction parameters by using organobismuth catalysts instead of traditional tin catalysts. This parameter change (catalyst type) fundamentally alters the reaction characteristics, achieving both acceptable reaction speed and minimal color change while maintaining environmental friendliness.
2Ease of manufacture
If thiol-functional silane is reacted with isocyanate-functional compound, then adhesion promoter is formed, but the reaction is sluggish and requires significant catalyzation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the catalyst parameter from traditional tin catalysts to organobismuth catalysts. This parameter change optimizes the reaction rate for thiol-functional silane reactions, providing sufficient catalysis to overcome the sluggish reaction while maintaining environmental friendliness and minimizing color change.
3Productivity
If tin catalysts are used for silane reaction, then reaction catalysis is provided, but environmental concerns and undesirable color changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces persistent tin catalysts with organobismuth catalysts that are more environmentally friendly. Although organobismuth catalysts may have different stability characteristics, they provide the necessary catalysis while reducing environmental impact and minimizing undesirable color changes in the final product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of using catalysts (environmental pollution and color change) into a benefit by selecting organobismuth catalysts that provide effective catalysis while being environmentally friendly and producing minimal color change. The harmful effects of traditional catalysts are transformed into advantages through careful catalyst selection.
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 new compounds enable efficient synthesis and enhanced adhesion performance, overcoming the drawbacks of existing adhesion promoters by providing stable and environmentally friendly adhesion in optical fiber coatings.
Implementation Method 1
the adhesion promoter may contain reactive groups that allow it to be covalently bonded to the polymer matrix of the coating. In an optical fiber primary coating formulation, for example, the reactive urethane oligomer may itself contain hydrolysable silane groups
Implementation Method 2
the adhesion promoter provides a link between the polymer primary coating and the surface of the optical glass fiber
Implementation Method 3
radiation curable optical fiber coatings are the cured product of a composition containing a mixture of one or more components possessing one or more ethylenically unsaturated bonds which, under the influence of irradiation, undergo crosslinking by free-radical polymerization
Data Source
AI summary
Compounds that contain an ethylenically unsaturated group, a silane group, and an aspartate and/or hydantoin group are described. Also disclosed are methods for producing and using such compounds, such as their use in coating compositions, such as coating compositions suitable for application to optical glass fiber substrates.