Waterborne Electrodepositable Coating for Heat-Sensitive Substrates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coating compositions for electrodeposition and radiation curing face challenges with poor solubility in water, leading to dispersibility issues and inadequate adhesion on heat-sensitive materials, particularly metalized plastics, and require tedious selection of photo initiators for effective curing.

Innovation Solution

A radiation curable electrodepositable coating composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of a partially neutralized (meth)acrylic modified amine epoxy adduct and an ethylenically unsaturated compound, with optional photo initiators, which improves dispersibility and reduces dependence on initiators for curing, allowing for low temperature application on heat-sensitive materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If coating compositions with radiation curable oligomers and monomers are used for UV curing, then curing speed is improved and low temperature application is enabled, but adhesion to base material deteriorates and film becomes fragile

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecuring speedVSAvoidadhesion to base material
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite coating composition containing both radiation curable components (oligomers and monomers for UV curing) and thermosetting components (polyisocyanates or amino resins for high temperature curing). This composite formulation enables the coating to achieve both fast initial curing at low temperature and strong adhesion through subsequent high temperature crosslinking, resolving the contradiction between curing speed and adhesion strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If energy curable components are added to achieve both electrodepositability and radiation curability, then versatility is improved, but solubility in water deteriorates and dispersibility becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedual curabilityVSAvoidwater dispersibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameter of pH by using partially neutralized polyepoxy resins with carboxylic acid groups. This partial neutralization creates an amphoteric resin that can disperse in water while maintaining compatibility with both electrodepositability and radiation curability requirements, thus achieving dual functionality without sacrificing water dispersibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If carefully selected species of photo initiators are used to prevent poor solubility, then dispersibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to tedious selection process

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedispersibilityVSAvoidphoto initiator selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the photo initiator from the essential components list by demonstrating that the coating composition can achieve effective curing without relying on carefully selected photo initiators. The partially neutralized polyepoxy resin system enables curing through its inherent chemical reactivity, eliminating the need for complex photo initiator selection and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Strength

If thermosetting coating compositions are used for electrodeposition, then adhesion is improved, but application to heat-sensitive materials is limited due to high curing temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadhesionVSAvoidcuring temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies a preliminary low temperature radiation curing step that forms an initial coating layer with adequate adhesion, followed by an optional high temperature thermosetting step that enhances crosslinking. This two-stage approach allows heat-sensitive materials to receive the benefits of thermosetting curing without being exposed to high temperatures that would damage them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 achieves high reactivity, low tackiness, excellent adhesion, and high gloss, with improved corrosion resistance and compatibility, enabling effective coating of heat-sensitive materials like plastics without the need for critical photo initiator selection.

Implementation Method 1

the reactive monomer is used for diluting other components in place of an organic solvent and thus becomes part of the cross-linked polymer network after radical polymerization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFree radical polymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

cured coating film produced from this type of coating material... after radical polymerization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS10253206B2Waterborne curing compositions for electrodeposition and radiation curing
Publication Date: 2019.04.09 ALLNEX BELGIUM SA

AI summary

The present invention relates to waterborne curing compositions for electrodeposition and radiation curing and processes to obtain such compositions. The compositions are characterized in that an ethylenically unsaturated compound (b), is dispersed in an aqueous solution by an at least partially neutralized (meth)acrylic modified amine epoxy adduct. The compositions of the invention are particularly suitable for coating metallic materials and temperature sensitive materials such as electrically conductive plastic materials.