Water-Soluble Epilame Coating for Wash-Resistant Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing epilame agents face issues such as insufficient resistance to watchmaking washes, material specificity, lengthy and complex synthesis processes, and environmental pollution from fluorinated solvents, limiting their applicability and sustainability.
Innovation Solution
A copolymer comprising M and N units covalently linked by their main chains, which is water-soluble, allowing for environmentally friendly aqueous application, providing high wash resistance, and universal applicability across various materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional epilame agents are used, then they can form hydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces, but they show insufficient resistance to watchmaking washes and have material specificity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single epilame composition with a graft copolymer that can effectively treat multiple different substrate materials (gold, steel, alloys, ceramics, polymers) with consistent performance, eliminating the need for material-specific formulations while maintaining high wash resistance across all substrates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by creating a graft copolymer that combines a polyether backbone with fluorinated side chains, merging the advantages of both material types: the polyether provides water solubility and flexibility while the fluorinated groups deliver superior oleophobicity and wash resistance
2Ease of operation
If fluorinated solvents are used for application, then the epilame can be applied to substrate surfaces, but environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful fluorinated solvent component from the application process while retaining the essential epilame functionality, by designing a water-soluble graft copolymer that can be applied using environmentally friendly aqueous solutions instead of polluting fluorinated solvents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical structure of the epilame agent to be water-soluble through the polyether backbone, fundamentally changing the solvent parameter from fluorinated to aqueous, thereby eliminating environmental pollution while maintaining application effectiveness
3Reliability
If perfluorohexanoic acid and related substances are used, then epilaming properties are achieved, but regulatory pressure increases due to environmental concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic perfluorohexanoic acid substance from the formulation and replaces it with a graft copolymer structure that achieves equivalent or superior epilaming performance without triggering regulatory concerns, by using a different chemical approach with fluorinated side chains on a polyether backbone
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by creating a hybrid molecular structure that combines fluorinated groups (for epilaming performance) with polyether chains (for environmental compatibility), achieving a balance between performance reliability and regulatory acceptance
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 copolymer offers excellent wash resistance, reduces environmental impact by eliminating fluorinated solvents, and ensures precise concentration control, making it suitable for diverse substrates like metals and polymers.
Implementation Method 1
an epilame agent aims to prevent the spreading of oils or lubricants on the components of a watch or jewelry piece by forming a hydrophobic and oleophobic surface
Implementation Method 2
forming a hydrophobic and oleophobic surface that allows the lubricant to remain in a predetermined area
Implementation Method 3
M units and N units are associated by covalent bonds by their main chains
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a substrate comprising a surface at least a part of which is coated with an epilame agent, characterized in that said epilame agent comprises at least one compound in the form of a copolymer comprising M units and N units, associated by covalent bonds by their main chains, where M is N is where R1 and R2, identical or different, are H, a C1-C10 alkyl group, a C2-C10 alkenyl group; X and Y, identical or different, are spacer arms consisting of a heteroatom or a hydrocarbon chain containing at least one heteroatom, linear or branched, comprising at least one carbon atom; B, identical or different, constitutes a polyether group; L, identical or different, is a halogenated C1-C6 carbon group or a halogenated ether group according to formula (I) where Q is a halogen atom;P, identical or different, is a C1-C10 alkyl group or a C2-C10 alkenyl group comprising at least one halogen atom and being linear or branched; p is chosen from 1 to 4; and n is chosen from 1 to 20, and in which the copolymer is soluble in water. The invention also relates to a method for deburring such a substrate, as well as a watch or jewelry component comprising an element containing such a substrate.