Curable Vinyl Ester Compositions for Balanced Toughness and Thermal Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vinyl ester resin-based composite materials face challenges in achieving a balance between toughness, high-temperature resistance, and humidity resistance, often degrading one property when improving another, and have high viscosity issues that complicate industrial-scale use, particularly in injection operations.

Innovation Solution

A curable composition combining a polymerizable vinyl ester compound, sulfonated polyaromatic thermoplastic polymer, and specific non-vinyl ester polymerizable compounds, such as those with isocyanurate and carbopolycyclic groups, which includes bisphenolic A units, novolac units, and N-vinyl lactam, formulated to provide a balanced performance in toughness, high-temperature resistance, and humidity sensitivity, with a viscosity suitable for industrial use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If sulfonated polyaromatic thermoplastic polymer is incorporated to improve toughness, then toughness increases, but resistance to high temperatures and humidity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetoughnessVSAvoidresistance to high temperatures and humidity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the polymer system by introducing specific functional groups (isocyanurate and carbopolycyclic) that modify the polymerization behavior and crosslinking density, achieving a balance between toughness and environmental resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite chemical system combining vinyl ester resin with specific non-vinyl ester polymerizable compounds (isocyanurate and carbopolycyclic groups) that work synergistically to achieve both improved toughness and maintained environmental resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If curable composition is heated to reduce viscosity for injection, then viscosity decreases, but energy consumption and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviscosity for injectionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by adding specific polymerizable compounds that reduce the activation energy required for polymerization, allowing the resin to achieve suitable viscosity at lower temperatures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The non-vinyl ester polymerizable compounds act as intermediaries that facilitate the polymerization process at lower temperatures, mediating between the vinyl ester monomers and the final polymer network

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 composition results in materials with improved toughness, resistance to high temperatures, and moderate humidity sensitivity, with a viscosity suitable for industrial-scale implementation, including injection molding techniques, while maintaining balanced properties.

Implementation Method 1

monomers, oligomers and/or prepolymers capable of leading by polymerization/crosslinking to the formation of an infusible and insoluble material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

a first non-vinyl ester polymerizable compound, or compound 1, which comprises at least one isocyanurate group carrying at least two (meth)acrylate groups; and a second non-vinyl ester polymerizable compound, or compound 2, which comprises at least one carbopolycyclic or heteropolycyclic group carrying at least two (meth)acrylate groups

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP2788396B1Curable compositions that can be used to obtain materials having an optimised performance, and materials obtained from said compositions
Publication Date: 2015.10.07 AIRBUS DEFENCE & SPACE SAS
  • EP2788396B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP2788396B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2788396B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

The invention relates to a curable composition containing a vinyl ester polymerisable resin, together with a sulfonated poly-aromatic thermoplastic polymer and an N-vinyl lactame. The composition is characterised in that it also comprises: a first non-vinyl-ester polymerisable compound comprising at least one isocyanurate group bearing two (meth)acrylate groups, and a second non-vinyl-ester polymerisable compound comprising at least one carbopolycyclic or heteropolycyclic group bearing at least two (meth)acrylate groups. The invention also relates to a material obtained by curing said composition. The invention is suitable for composite materials and adhesives.