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1999 Progress Report: Solvent-less, Electron Beam-Cured Vinyl Ether Coating Formulations for Flexible Magnetic Media Manufacture

EPA Grant Number: R827121
Title: Solvent-less, Electron Beam-Cured Vinyl Ether Coating Formulations for Flexible Magnetic Media Manufacture
Investigators: Nikles, David E.
Institution: University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa
EPA Project Officer: Shapiro, Paul
Project Period: October 1, 1998 through September 30, 2001
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999
Project Amount: $328,209
RFA: Exploratory Research - Environmental Engineering (1998)
Research Category: Engineering and Environmental Chemistry

Description:

Objective:

Our objective is to eliminate air pollution in coating processes by replacing the organic solvents with a mixture of liquid vinyl ether monomers. The applications are magnetic tape and floppy disk manufacture, which have very exacting requirements for coating uniformity. The vinyl ether monomers will be the solvent for the coating fluid. After coating and electron beam irradiation, the monomers undergo a cationic polymerization to give the binder polymer for the coating.

Progress Summary:

A series of vinyl ether-terminated urethane oligomers were prepared and dissolved in a mixture of n-butyl vinyl ether and triethylene glyocol divinyl ether. The cured films had a tensile strength in the range of 2 to 4 MPa and an elastic modulus of 4 to 170 MPa. A commercial vinyl ether terminated oilgomer, Vectomer? 4020 from Allied-Signal, gave films with tensile properties that more closely matched those of a conventional, solvent-based binder. A new branched, allyl ether-functionalized silane coupling agent was attached to commercial iron particles. Solventless formulations, containing 50 percent by weight of the treated particles, had an elastic modulus of 2000 Pa.

Future Activities:

In the second year of this project, we will focus on the two major technical challenges, vinyl ether formulation chemistry and preparing solventless dispersions. We expect to identify mixtures of vinyl ether monomers and oligomers that meet our target tensile properties and adhesion. We also expect to have identified the means to solve the dispersion and rheology problems.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 18 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

air, VOC, solvents, pollution prevention, green chemistry, clean technologies, environmentally conscious manufacturing, chemistry, engineering, electronics. , Industry Sectors, Toxics, Air, Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, HAPS, air toxics, Chemistry, Manufacturing - NAIC 31-33, cleaner production/pollution prevention, treatment, flexible magnetic media, liquid vinyl ether monomers, cleaner production, Methyl ethyl ketone (2-Butanone), ambient emissions, electron beam radiation, environmentally conscious manufacturing, alternative coatings, emission control technologies, Toluene, organic contaminants, organic solvents, Methyl isobutyl ketone (Hexone), pollution prevention, monomer growth

Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract
2000 Progress Report
2001 Progress Report
Final Report

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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