Vehicle Glass Coating Resists Mudcracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The automotive industry faces challenges in developing coatings that provide sound and vibration dampening, aesthetic appeal, and resistance to environmental and physical stressors, while also preventing 'mudcracking' and ensuring a smooth appearance.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the application of specific coating compositions, such as polyurea, epoxy-based, and aqueous dispersion of polymeric microparticles, which include functional materials like nitrile, amide, and carbamate components, along with ground vulcanized rubber particles, to vehicle substrates, providing sound dampening and aesthetic textures while resisting contraction forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If a coating contains volatile components that evaporate during drying, then the coating can be applied and dried quickly, but the coating contracts and may develop mudcracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying timeVSAvoidsurface smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the coating by incorporating polymers with specific glass transition temperatures (Tg) and molecular weights. By selecting polymers with Tg above 5°C and controlling the ratio of functional materials (nitrile, amide, carbamate), the coating achieves rapid drying while maintaining cohesive strength to prevent mudcracking during volume contraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite coating system combining multiple polymer types with different properties: nitrile-functional polymers for adhesion and flexibility, amide-functional polymers for cohesive strength, and carbamate-functional polymers for durability. This composite structure allows the coating to contract uniformly during drying without developing surface defects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional asphalt- or rubber-based patches are used for sound dampening, then noise reduction is achieved, but labor costs and part inventory complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise transmissionVSAvoidapplication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a universal sprayable coating composition that simultaneously provides sound dampening, aesthetic appearance, and surface protection. This single multi-functional coating replaces multiple separate components (asphalt patches, rubber dampeners, and cosmetic coatings), simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing part inventory while maintaining noise reduction effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical application methods (hand-applied precut patches) with a sprayable coating system that can be automatically applied. This substitution of mechanical assembly with a fluid delivery system reduces labor requirements and enables more consistent application across complex vehicle surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If hardware-mounted appliqués are used for vehicle identification, then branding is achieved, but resistance to environmental and physical stressors is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebranding capabilityVSAvoidresistance to stressors

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the branding function with the protective coating system by incorporating pigments and texturing agents directly into the sprayable coating composition. This integration eliminates separate appliqué components and their associated mounting hardware, creating a unified system that is inherently more resistant to environmental degradation and physical damage since there are no joints or attachment points to fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution effectively inhibits sound transmission, enhances durability, and maintains a smooth appearance by preventing 'mudcracking', offering economic benefits through labor and cost savings, and improved resistance to environmental and physical stressors.

Implementation Method 1

Generally, any coating that contains a volatile component such as water must undergo a decrease in volume as the volatile component evaporates from the surface of the coating.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

The present invention is directed to the use of a coating to provide a sound and/or vibration dampening effect when applied to a substrate.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound dampening: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS7658967B2Methods for applying sound dampening and/or aesthetic coatings and articles made thereby

Publication Date: 2010.02.09 PITTSBURGH GLASS WORKS LLC

AI summary

A method for providing a coated vehicle transparency, includes the steps of: (a) providing a vehicle transparency having a vision area and a non-vision area; and (b) applying a sound dampening coating composition to at least a portion of the non-vision area of the transparency. The coating composition can an aqueous dispersion of polymeric microparticles prepared from components including: (i) a functional material selected from (a) a nitrile functional material, (b) an amide functional material, and (c) a carbamate functional material; (ii) a polyoxyalkylene acrylate; and (iii) a filler material.