Vinyl Alcohol Polymer High-Speed Coatability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vinyl alcohol-based polymers used in paper coatings face challenges with high-speed coatability, water resistance, and adhesiveness to release layers, particularly when used in high-shear applications, leading to issues like coating stripe formation and reduced barrier performance.

Innovation Solution

A vinyl alcohol-based polymer with a saponification degree of 70 mol% or more, containing ethylenic double bonds, is used in an aqueous solution with specific viscosity and molecular weight ranges to enhance coatability, water resistance, and adhesiveness, characterized by a molar ratio of ethylenic double bonds to vinyl alcohol and vinyl acetate units between 0.05/100 to 2/100, and satisfying certain viscosity and molecular weight formulas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a silyl group-containing vinyl alcohol-based polymer is used to improve barrier performance, then barrier performance is improved, but adhesiveness to silicone layer is insufficient and viscosity is equivalent to or higher than common PVA, leading to poor high-speed coatability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarrier performanceVSAvoidadhesiveness to silicone layer
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of vinyl alcohol-based polymer by introducing ethylenic double bonds at specific positions (0.05-2 per 100 vinyl alcohol units) and controlling saponification degree (70-95 mol%), which changes the polymer's chemical parameters to simultaneously achieve good adhesiveness to silicone layers and maintained barrier performance, while reducing viscosity for high-speed coating

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a vinyl alcohol-based polymer with double bond introduced by acetalization is used to improve adhesiveness, then adhesiveness is improved, but viscosity is equivalent to or higher than common PVA, leading to poor high-speed coatability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesiveness to silicone layerVSAvoidhigh-speed coatability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the concentration of ethylenic double bonds within a specific range (0.05-2 per 100 vinyl alcohol units) and maintains saponification degree between 70-95 mol%, which optimizes the balance between adhesiveness and viscosity. This parameter optimization allows the polymer to provide good adhesiveness while maintaining low enough viscosity for high-speed coating operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If a vinyl alcohol-based polymer prepared by polymerizing vinyl ester at higher temperature is used to improve high-speed coatability, then high-speed coatability is improved, but water resistance is lower than common PVA

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-speed coatabilityVSAvoidwater resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes saponification degree to 70-95 mol% and controls ethylenic double bond content at 0.05-2 per 100 vinyl alcohol units, which modifies the polymer structure to maintain water resistance while improving high-speed coatability. The specific parameter ranges prevent excessive chain scission that would compromise water resistance while still providing sufficient chain mobility for high-speed coating

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If coating speed is increased to improve productivity, then productivity is improved, but viscosity of aqueous solution must be reduced, creating a contradiction with maintaining barrier performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating speedVSAvoidbarrier performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the molecular structure of vinyl alcohol-based polymer by introducing ethylenic double bonds and controlling saponification degree, which changes the polymer's rheological properties to achieve lower viscosity while maintaining barrier performance. This structural modification allows the coating solution to flow more easily at high speeds while the polymer chains still provide effective barrier properties when deposited

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 provides excellent high-speed coatability, improved water resistance, and enhanced adhesiveness to release layers, ensuring uniform coating and barrier performance while maintaining low viscosity for efficient application.

Implementation Method 1

an aqueous solution comprising a vinyl alcohol-based polymer having an ethylenic double bond with a saponification degree of 70 mol% or more... a limiting viscosity [η] and a weight-average molecular weight Mw of a vinyl ester-based polymer which is produced by esterifying the vinyl alcohol-based polymer satisfy the following formulas (1) and (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscosity control:

Implementation Method 2

a vinyl alcohol-based polymer... containing ethylenic double bonds... enhanced adhesiveness to release layers... a molar ratio of the ethylenic double bond to the total of vinyl alcohol units and vinyl acetate units is 0.05/100 to 2/100

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

a vinyl alcohol-based polymer with a saponification degree of 70 mol% or more... prepared by polymerizing a vinyl ester at a temperature higher by 2 to 80 °C than a boiling point of a reaction solution and saponifying the vinyl ester-based polymer obtained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSaponification: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 4

improved water resistance, and enhanced adhesiveness to release layers, ensuring uniform coating and barrier performance... high barrier performance is required... the PVA in the release paper serves as a barrier for preventing an expensive silicone from permeating a substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBarrier formation:

Data Source

PatentEP3208286B1Vinyl alcohol polymer and use thereof
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 KURARAY CO LTD
  • EP3208286B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3208286B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3208286B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a vinyl alcohol-based polymer having an ethylenic double bond with a saponification degree of 70 mol% or more, wherein the vinyl alcohol-based polymer is water-soluble; a molar ratio of the ethylenic double bond to the total of vinyl alcohol units and vinyl acetate units is 0.05/100 to 2/100; and a limiting viscosity [η] and a weight-average molecular weight Mw of a vinyl ester-based polymer which is produced by esterifying the vinyl alcohol-based polymer satisfy the following formulas (1) and (2). 4.7≤logMw≤6.3 0.60<logη+3.75/logMw<0.69