Vegetable Oil Polyol Synthesis via Bodying and Moiety Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a process to convert vegetable oils into polyols of higher molecular weight than those described in the prior art, which are suitable for use in urethane formulations.

Innovation Solution

A process involving bodying unsaturated vegetable oils at elevated temperatures to increase viscosity, followed by reacting carbon-carbon π-bonds with monomers containing oxygen moieties, such as acetol or allyl alcohol, to attach alcohol and epoxy moieties, resulting in polyols with higher molecular weights and improved properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional polyol synthesis methods are used, then production cost is reduced and feedstock availability is improved, but molecular weight and performance properties are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemolecular weightVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first bodying the vegetable oil at elevated temperatures (200-400°C) to increase viscosity and molecular weight before subsequent chemical reactions. This pre-treatment step creates a more suitable substrate for later epoxy and alcohol moiety attachment, enabling higher final molecular weights than direct conversion methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by systematically varying reaction conditions including temperature (200-400°C bodying, 100-200°C reaction), time (1-24 hours), and stoichiometric ratios of reactants. These parameter optimizations enable control over molecular weight and polyol properties while maintaining manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If bodying temperature is increased to increase molecular weight, then polyol performance is improved, but energy consumption and risk of degradation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemolecular weightVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies continuity of useful action by maintaining controlled bodying temperatures (200-400°C) for extended periods (1-24 hours) with continuous stirring and inert atmosphere protection. This continuous controlled heating achieves high molecular weights while preventing degradation through sustained optimal conditions rather than brief high-temperature spikes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an inert atmosphere (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) during bodying and subsequent reactions to prevent oxidation and degradation of the polyol at elevated temperatures. This protective environment allows sustained high-temperature processing to achieve desired molecular weights without energy-wasting rework from degradation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Adaptability or versatility

If epoxy and alcohol moieties are attached to increase polyol functionality, then urethane formulation performance is improved, but reaction complexity and process steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolyol functionalityVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functional group attachments by reacting the bodied vegetable oil with both epoxy-containing compounds (glycidol, glycerol glycidyl ether) and alcohol-containing compounds (allyl alcohol, acetol) in sequential or combined steps. This integration creates polyols with multiple functional moieties (hydroxyl, epoxy, carboxyl) that enhance urethane formulation performance while consolidating process steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the polyol synthesis into distinct stages: (1) bodying vegetable oil to increase molecular weight, (2) attaching epoxy moieties, (3) attaching alcohol moieties, and (4) optional neutralization. This segmentation allows optimization of each step independently while maintaining overall process manageability and achieving high functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 process produces polyols with increased hydroxyl equivalent weights and molecular weights, enabling the creation of high-performance urethane formulations with improved properties, including the ability to outperform petroleum-based polyols in certain applications.

Implementation Method 1

bodying unsaturated vegetable oils at elevated temperatures to increase viscosity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

reacting carbon-carbon π-bonds with monomers containing oxygen moieties, such as acetol or allyl alcohol, to attach alcohol and epoxy moieties

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS8178593B2Urethane formulation

Publication Date: 2012.05.15 THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

AI summary

The invention provides B-sides of urethane formulations, wherein the B-sides comprise both alcohol and epoxy moieties. Also provided are urethane formulations comprising the B-side of the invention, as well as A-sides comprising isocyanate molecules.