METHOD FOR GENERATING A COMPOSITION FOR PAINTS,VARNISHES, PRINTING INKS, GRINDING RESINS, PIGMENT CONCENTRATES OR OTHER COATING SUBSTANCES

Abstract

The method includes inputting a specification of a desired combination of a first component and a second component of a composition, wherein the components are a solid and a dispersant, via a user interface of a computer system; carrying out a database query with the desired combination of the first component and the second component as the search criterion, wherein in the case where the database query supplies a known composition that meets the search criterion, the known composition is output, wherein in the opposite case, a further database query of a composition including the first component and the second component, serving as the search criterion, is carried out to find a candidate composition that includes one of the two components as well as a substitute component instead of the other component; and carrying out further steps for generating the formulation and outputting the composition.

Claims

1. A method for generating a composition for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances, the composition for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances comprising solids and dispersants, the composition being generated by a computer system, the computer system having access to a database, in which known compositions are stored and in which respective measuring points of the particular composition for a solids content and a dispersant concentration are stored for combinations of a solid and a dispersant of known compositions, a rheological property and a coloristic property being stored for each measuring point of the particular composition, comprising the following steps: a. inputting a specification of a desired combination of a first component and a second component of a composition, the components being a solid and a dispersant, via a user interface of the computer system; b. carrying out a database query with the desired combination of the first component and the second component as the search criterion, (1) in the case where the database query supplies a known composition that meets the search criterion, the known composition being output; (2) in the opposite case, a further database query of a composition comprising the first component and the second component, serving as the search criterion, being carried out to find a candidate composition that comprises one of the two components as well as a substitute component instead of the other component, i. a database query being carried to find a first known comparison composition that comprises the other of the two components as well as a third component; ii. a database query being carried to find a second known comparison composition that comprises a substitute component, instead of the other component, as well as the third component; iii. comparing the first and second known comparison compositions by examining a similarity criterion with respect to the measuring points of the first and second known comparison compositions stored in the database, in the case where the first and second known comparison compositions are assessed as being sufficiently similar iv. the composition being generated, the substitute component being replaced with the other of the two components in the candidate composition, and v. the generated composition being output.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in step b., a plurality of candidate compositions are found, and steps i. to iii. are repeated until it is established for at least one of the plurality of candidate compositions that the similarity criterion is met, and step iv. is carried out for this candidate composition.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in step b., a plurality of candidate compositions are found, and steps i. to iii. are repeated multiple times until it is established for a plurality of candidate compositions that the similarity criterion is met, comprising the further step of sorting the candidate compositions, the candidate compositions being sorted using a degree of similarity as the sorting criterion, the candidate composition that have the highest degree of similarity being selected, and step iv. being carried out for this candidate composition.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a first distance of the extreme values of the rheological property and a second distance of the extreme values of the coloristic property, in each case in relation to a dispersant concentration and a solids content, between the first and second known comparison compositions are considered in the degree of similarity.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein measuring points of different storage time periods are stored for the formulations stored in the database, step being carried out for measuring points of different storage time periods to ascertain the first and second distances for each of the storage time periods.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the degree of similarity results from a combination of the first and second distances of the extreme values.

7. The method according to claim 5, comprising the further step of inputting a specification of at least one of the dimensions of the measuring points, the selected dimension being overweight in the combination.

8. A method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of inputting the specification for a value range of the measuring points, in step b. iii. the measuring points only being evaluated in the specified value range.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the degree of similarity corresponds to the comparison of the curves of the measuring points, wherein the comparison is carried out by the method of least squares, the squares of the differences, a variance analysis, a string comparison of measuring point ranges or a correlation.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step b. i., the first known comparison composition comprises further components, in addition to the other of the two components and the third component; in step b. .ii, the second known comparison composition comprises one, more or all of the further components, in addition to the third component and the substitute component.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the further components are selected from the group consisting of pigments, fillers, colorants, optical brighteners, ceramic materials, magnetic materials, nanodisperse solids, metals, biocides, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, binders, solvents, wetting agents, auxiliary leveling agent, hardening agents, and defoamers.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the solid is an inorganic pigment, an organic pigment, or a carbon black pigment.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dispersant is a chemically amphiphilic, ionic, non-ionic or low molecular weight compound and/or high molecular weight compound.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the case where the one of the two components of the candidate composition is the solid, the solid is an inorganic pigment, an organic pigment or a carbon black pigment, the third component accordingly likewise is an inorganic pigment, an organic pigment or a carbon black pigment; and in the case where the one of the two components of the candidate composition is the dispersant, the dispersant is a simple, low molecular weight compound and/or a complex, high molecular weight compound, the third component accordingly likewise is a simple, low molecular weight compound or a complex, high molecular weight compound.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring points of the first and second known comparison compositions stored in the database were obtained by a preceding examination of the rheological property and the coloristic property in relation to a dispersant concentration and a solids content using an apparatus for carrying out a production process of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances, and an examination of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the computer system communicates via a communication interface with the database and/or an apparatus for carrying out a production process of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances and an examination of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances, the communication interface being implemented by USB, Ethernet, WLAN, LAN, Bluetooth or another network interface.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein, after step b. or after step b. v, the generated composition is output to the user interface of the computer system.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein, after step b. or after step b. v, the generated composition is output to a processor, the processor controlling an apparatus for carrying out a production process of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances and an examination of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances, the apparatus comprising at least two processing stations, the at least two processing stations being connected to one another via a transport system on which self-propelled transport vehicles can travel between the processing stations for transporting the components of the formulation and/or the produced formulation, the processor activating the apparatus for producing the generated composition, the production of the generated composition and an examination of the rheological property and of the coloristic property, in relation to the dispersant concentration and the solids content of the formulation, taking place in the at least two processing stations, whereupon the results of the examination of the rheological property and of the coloristic property in relation to the dispersant concentration and the solids content of the formulation are output to the user interface and/or the results of the examination of the rheological property and of the coloristic property in relation to the dispersant concentration and the solids content of the formulation are stored in the database.

19. A computer system for generating a composition for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances, comprising a database and a user interface, the computer system being configured to carry out a method according to claim 1.

20. A non-transitory digital storage medium, including instructions executable by a processor to carry out a method according to claim 1.

21. A system, comprising: an apparatus for carrying out a production process of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances and an examination of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances, the apparatus comprising at least two processing stations, the at least two processing stations being connected to one another via a transport system on which self-propelled transport vehicles can travel between the processing stations for transporting the components of the formulation and/or the produced formulation, both the production of the formulation and an examination of the rheological property and of a coloristic property in relation to a dispersant concentration and a solids content of each formulation taking place in the at least two processing stations; and a computer system according to claim 19.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail in an exemplary manner in the following figures:

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for generating a composition for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances, the composition for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances comprising solids and dispersants;

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a system comprising a computer system, a database, and a HTE installation; and

[0086] FIGS. 3A-3C show three diagrams for compositions, each comprising ferric oxide red pigments and dispersants, measuring values for the viscosity and the color strength being provided for compositions that comprise the same dispersant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0087] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for generating a composition for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances.

[0088] The method can be executed by a computer system, for example a control computer, a notebook, a standard computer, a tablet computer, or a smart phone.

[0089] The method can typically be used in the context of a chemical laboratory. A series of individual analytical devices and a high throughput environment (HTE) apparatus, this being an apparatus for carrying out a production process of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances and an examination of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances, are present in the laboratory. The HTE apparatus includes a plurality of units and modules, which are able to analyze and measure different chemical or physical parameters of substances and substance mixtures and which can combine and synthesize a plurality of different chemical products, based on a recipe or formulation input by a user.

[0090] The computer system has access to a database, in which known compositions or formulations are stored and in which respective measuring points of the particular formulation for a solids content and a dispersant concentration are stored for combinations of a solid and a dispersant of known formulations. A rheological property and a coloristic property are stored for each measuring point of the particular formulation.

[0091] The rheological property can be the viscosity, and the coloristic property can be the color strength. Both the rheological property and the coloristic property can have been ascertained by way of the HTE installation.

[0092] In a first step 10, a user, for example a researcher, who wants to develop new compositions or formulations inputs a specification of a desired combination of a first component and of a second component of a composition via a user interface 101 of the computer system 100.

[0093] It is provided for the method according to the invention that the first component and the second component are a solid and a dispersant.

[0094] In a next step 11, a database query is carried out with the desired combination of the first component and the second component as the search criterion.

[0095] If the database query supplies a known composition or formulation that meets the search criterion, the known composition or formulation is output in a further step 13.

[0096] If the database query does not supply a known composition or formulation that meets the search criterion, another database query of a composition or formulation comprising the first component and the second component as the search criterion is carried out in a further step 14, to find a candidate composition or candidate formulation that comprises one of the two components as well as a substitute component instead of the other component.

[0097] For this purpose, a database query is carried out in a further step 15 to find a first known comparison composition or comparison formulation that comprises the other of the two components as well as a third component.

[0098] Moreover, a database query is carried in a further step 16 to find a second known comparison composition or comparison formulation that comprises a substitute component, instead of the other component, as well as the third component.

[0099] After steps 15 and 16, a comparison of the first and second known comparison compositions or comparison formulations is carried out in a further step 17 by examining a similarity criterion, for example a predefined threshold value, with respect to the measuring points of the first and second known comparison compositions or comparison formulations stored in the database, wherein, in the case where the first and second known comparison compositions are assessed as being sufficiently similar, the composition or formulation is generated in a subsequent step 19, wherein the substitute component is replaced with the other of the two components in the candidate composition or candidate formulation, and the generated composition or formulation is output, see step 13.

[0100] In the case where the first and second known comparison compositions or comparison formulations are assessed as not being sufficiently similar, steps 14 to 18 are carried out again.

[0101] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a system comprising a computer system 100, a database 200, and an apparatus for carrying out a production process of a composition for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances and an examination of a composition for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances (HTE apparatus) 500.

[0102] The essential functions of the components of the system and the components thereof were already described with respect to FIG. 1. The computer system 100 can be a notebook, a standard computer, a tablet computer, or a smart phone, for example, which is operated by a user 007. The user 007 enters, for example, the input of a specification of a desired combination of a composition or formulation via the interface 101 of the computer system (see also step 10 in FIG. 1). The compositions described hereafter can also be formulations.

[0103] The computer system 100 has access to a database, in which known compositions are stored and in which respective measuring points of the particular composition for a solids content and a dispersant concentration are stored for combinations of a solid and a dispersant of known compositions.

[0104] In addition, the computer system 100 comprises a processor 102 including an application program as well as a driver for controlling a processor 520 of the HTE apparatus 500. As is shown, the HTE apparatus 500 comprises a plurality of units and modules 506 to 514, which are able to analyze and measure different chemical or physical parameters of substances and substance mixtures. For example, the unit 506 is an analytical device that is able to adjust and determine the viscosity. For example, the unit 508 is an analytical device that is able to ascertain color values based on an integrated spectrophotometer (using a so-called L*a*b value).

[0105] In addition, the computer system 100 comprises a main memory 103 in which the candidate composition K0 and further candidate compositions K1 to Kn, where n≥2 can apply, and the comparison compositions Comp I, Comp II can be stored.

[0106] As is shown, the computer system 100 can both store data, for example compositions and/or measuring values and properties of components, on the database 200 and retrieve data from the database 200. The computer system 100 can likewise transmit data, for example requests, to the HTE apparatus 500 and receive the results. The results can thereupon be forwarded to the database system 200 and/or (via the interface 101) to the user 007. In addition, it is provided that the results that were ascertained by way of the HTE apparatus 500 can be directly entered into the database 200.

[0107] FIG. 3 shows three diagrams (FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C) for compositions that each comprise ferric oxide red pigments and dispersants.

[0108] FIG. 3A shows measuring values for the color strength and the viscosity of compositions that comprise a dispersant 1 and ferric oxide red pigments in relation to different or varying dispersant concentrations, at a fixed content of ferric oxide red pigments, in the form of curves.

[0109] FIG. 3B shows measuring values for the color strength and the viscosity of compositions that comprise a dispersant 2 and ferric oxide red pigments in relation to different or varying dispersant concentrations, at a fixed content of ferric oxide red pigments, in the form of curves.

[0110] FIG. 3C shows measuring values for the color strength and the viscosity of compositions that comprise a dispersant 3 and ferric oxide red pigments in relation to different or varying dispersant concentrations, at a fixed content of ferric oxide red pigments, in the form of curves.

[0111] The dispersants 1, 2 and 3 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C are different aqueous solutions of a copolymer comprising pigment-affinic groups. The dispersants 1, 2 and 3 differ from one another either in the copolymer, in the appearance thereof (clear, cloudy or color), the acid number [mg KOH/g], the viscosity [mPa.Math.s at 25° C.], the flash point [° C.] and/or the melting point [° C.]. In FIGS. 3A to 3C, measuring values of the viscosity and of the color strength are shown for compositions having varying dispersant contents, wherein the dispersant content varies between 1% and 30% in relation to a fixed content of ferric oxide red pigments (65% here). The remainder of the composition consists of the further composition, here additives, defoamers, water, and biocides.

[0112] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C additionally show the measuring values for the color strength and the viscosity of each of the compositions (comprising the same dispersant, but in varying contents) after different storage time periods. The different storage time periods are: i) after production (see measuring points denoted by the cross symbol for the color strength, and measuring points denoted by the square symbol for the viscosity); ii) after storage of the composition for two weeks at 50° C. (see measuring points denoted by the triangle symbol for the color strength, and measuring points denoted by the star symbol for the viscosity); and iii) after storage of the composition for four weeks at 50° C. (see measurement points denoted by the diamond symbol for the color strength, and measurement points denoted by the circle symbol for the viscosity).

[0113] The measuring values for the color strength and the viscosity were measured by an apparatus for carrying out a production process of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances and an examination of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances (HTE apparatus made by Chemspeed Technologies AG, described in WO 2017/072351 A2) and stored in the database. The storage stability measurements were measured based on the inhomogeneity or settling tendency, wherein a plate/spindle measures the normal force during a downward movement, thereby detecting inhomogeneities, such as syneresis or sediment. The viscosity measurements of the compositions, including viscosity adjustment by dilution, were likewise carried out by the HTE apparatus by determining the viscosity of the compositions in a transport vehicle (vessel made of glass) by way of a blade agitator. The color values of the compositions were likewise measured by the HTE apparatus, based on an integrated spectrophotometer (so-called L*a*b value).

[0114] For the method according to the invention, it may be provided, for example, that the first known comparison composition (see FIG. 1, step 15) is one or more of the compositions from FIG. 3A. The ferric oxide red pigment would thus be the third component, and the dispersant 1 would be the other of the two components. It may furthermore be provided that the second known comparison composition (see FIG. 1, step 16) is one or more of the compositions from FIG. 3B. The ferric oxide red pigment would thus be the third component, and the dispersant 2 would be the substitute component.

[0115] According to the method according to the invention, a comparison is then carried out between the first and second known comparison compositions by examining a similarity criterion, for example a previously established threshold value, with respect to the measuring points of the first and second known comparison compositions stored in the database.

[0116] For example, a first distance of the extreme values of the viscosity and/or a second distance of the extreme values of the color strength, in each case in relation to a dispersant concentration and a solids content, between the first (FIG. 3A) and the second (FIG. 3B) known comparison compositions can be considered in the degree of similarity.

[0117] As is apparent from FIG. 3A compared to FIG. 3B, the color strength for all measured compositions is at the maximum thereof (indicated by M1 in FIG. 3A, and indicated by M3 in FIG. 3B), here at approximately 100%, for the compositions having a dispersant content of 16% to 19%. Since the maxima M1, M2 of the color strength between FIGS. 3A and 3B for the dispersant content are not spaced apart from one another, or are not spaced far apart from one another (see distance A1), it can be provided that the first (FIG. 3A) and the second (FIG. 3B) known comparison compositions are assessed as being sufficiently similar. In this way, the distance of the maxima can be, for example, at approximately 2% of the dispersant concentration here. For example, the comparison compositions are assessed as being similar when the similarity criterion, serving as a threshold value, specifies that the distance should be less than 3% of the dispersant concentration. As is shown, it is likewise apparent from FIGS. 3A and 3B that the intersecting points of the storage time period curves, by comparison, are likewise not spaced far apart (<3% of the dispersant concentration) from one another for the compositions of FIGS. 3A and 3B. In this way, these intersecting points can likewise be considered as the distance in the degree of similarity, whereby it may be provided that the first (FIG. 3A) and the second (FIG. 3B) known comparison compositions are assessed as being sufficiently similar. The degree of similarity can likewise correspond to the comparison of the curves of the measuring points, wherein the comparison is carried out by the method of least squares, the squares of the differences, a variance analysis, a string comparison of measuring point ranges or a correlation. As is shown here for the compositions comprising different dispersants in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the curves of the measuring values of the compositions after production behave very similarly, and can thus be assessed as being sufficiently similar.

[0118] Since the first and second known comparison compositions were assessed as being sufficiently similar, according to the claimed method the composition can be generated, wherein the substitute component (dispersant 2) is replaced with the other of the two components (dispersant 1) in the candidate composition, whereupon the generated composition is output.

[0119] For the method according to the invention, it may furthermore be provided, for example, that the first known comparison composition (see FIG. 1, step 15) is one or more of the compositions from FIG. 3A. The ferric oxide red pigment would thus be the third component, and the dispersant 1 would be the other of the two components, and the second known comparison composition (see FIG. 1, step 165) would be one or more of the compositions from FIG. 3C. The ferric oxide red pigment would thus be the third component, and the dispersant 3 would be the substitute component.

[0120] As is apparent from FIG. 3C, the color strength is at the maximum M3 thereof, here at approximately 100%, for the compositions having a dispersant content of approximately 13%, wherein the viscosity [mPas} is at the minimum thereof at a dispersant content of approximately 15 to 23%. Since at least the maxima M1 and M2 of the color strength from FIGS. 3A and 3B are spaced (rather) far apart from the maximum of the color strength M3 for FIG. 3C (the distance is approximately 5% of the dispersant concentration), it may be provided that the first (FIG. 3A) and the second (FIG. 3C) known comparison compositions are assessed as not being sufficiently similar. It is likewise apparent from FIGS. 3A and 3C that the intersecting points of the storage time period curves, at least for the color strength, by comparison are likewise spaced (rather) far apart from one another. In this way, these intersecting points can likewise be considered as the distance in the degree of similarity, whereby it may be provided in this case that the first (FIG. 3A) and the second (FIG. 3C) known comparison compositions are assessed as not being sufficiently similar.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0121] 10-19 steps [0122] 007 user [0123] 100 computer system [0124] 101 interface [0125] 102 processor [0126] 103 main memory [0127] 200 database [0128] 500 apparatus for carrying out a production process and an examination of a formulation for paints, varnishes, printing inks, grinding resins, pigment concentrates or other coating substances (HTE apparatus) [0129] 506 analytical device [0130] 508 analytical device [0131] 510 mixer [0132] 512 synthesis unit [0133] 514 synthesis unit [0134] 520 processor

[0135] M1 maximum of the color strength for the composition in FIG. 3A [0136] M2 maximum of the color strength for the composition in FIG. 3B [0137] M3 maximum of the color strength for the composition in FIG. 3C [0138] A1 distance between M1 and M2 when comparing FIGS. 3A and 3B [0139] A2 distance between M2 and M3 when comparing FIGS. 3B and 3C