Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
1 SECOND COMPONENT FOR A MVO-COMPONENT SPRAYABLE METHYL-
2 METHACRYLATE BASED PAINT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THEREOF
3 TECHNICAL FIELD
4 [0001] The following relates to a paint and, more specifically, to a
second component for a two-
component sprayable methyl-methacrylate based paint and method of producing
thereof.
6 BACKGROUND
7 [0002] In order to put markings on roads, streets, pavement, or other
ground surfaces, paint,
8 thermo-set, tape, or thermoplastic can be applied to the surface. With
respect to paint,
9 generally, it comprises three main components: pigments, resins or
binders, and water or
solvents. In some cases, other materials can be included in the paint mix such
as glass beads
11 for retroreflectivity. Pigments are typically ground material that
presents colors or shades when
12 light is reflected off them. Resins or binders are generally used to
adhere the constituents of the
13 paint and bind the paint to the surface. Resins for solvent-based paints
can include, for
14 example, oil (referred to as oil-based paint). Resins for water-based
paints can include, for
example, polyvinyl acetate latex (PVA) or methyl-methacrylate (MMA). The
pigments and resins
16 are mixed with water for water-based paints and with solvents for
solvent-based paints; solvents
17 can be, for example, methanol, methylene chloride, and acetone. Due to
environmental
18 concerns, various jurisdictions are severely restricting the application
of oil-based paints on
19 ground surfaces.
SUMMARY
21 [0003] In an aspect, there is provided a second component for a two-
component sprayable
22 paint, the first component comprising methyl-methacrylate, the second
component comprising a
23 mix of: a catalyst for the methyl-methacrylate; and an acetone-based
paint.
24 [0004] In a particular case, the catalyst is benzoyl-peroxide or
dibenzoyl-peroxide.
[0005] In another case, the acetone-based paint comprises an acrylic copolymer
binder.
26 [0006] In yet another case, the second component comprises between
approximately 90% and
27 20% of catalyst by volume.
28 [0007] In yet another case, the second component comprises between
approximately 80% and
29 30% of catalyst by volume.
[0008] In yet another case, the second component comprises between
approximately 80% and
31 50% of catalyst by volume.
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1 [0009] In yet another case, the second component comprises approximately
80% of catalyst by
2 volume.
3 [0010] In yet another case, the second component comprises approximately
2% of the weight
4 of the two-component sprayable paint.
[0011] In yet another case, there is provided a use of the second component in
a sprayer
6 apparatus for spraying the two-component sprayable paint, the first
component and the second
7 component retrieved from separate containers and combined prior to being
sprayed at a sprayer
8 nozzle of the sprayer apparatus.
9 [0012] In another aspect, there is provided a method for producing a
second component for a
two-component sprayable paint, the first component comprising methyl-
methacrylate, the
11 method comprising: providing a catalyst for the methyl-methacrylate;
providing a diluent
12 comprising an acetone-based paint; mixing the catalyst with the diluent
to produce a second
13 component for a two-component sprayable paint.
14 [0013] In a particular case, the catalyst is benzoyl-peroxide or
dibenzoyl-peroxide.
[0014] In another case, the acetone-based paint comprises an acrylic copolymer
binder.
16 [0015] In yet another case, the catalyst is mixed to the diluent such
that the catalyst is between
17 approximately 90% and 20% of catalyst by volume.
18 [0016] In yet another case, the catalyst is mixed to the diluent such
that the catalyst is between
19 approximately 80% and 30% by volume.
[0017] In yet another case, the catalyst is mixed to the diluent such that the
catalyst is between
21 approximately 80% and 50% by volume.
22 [0018] In yet another case, the catalyst is mixed to the diluent such
that the catalyst is
23 approximately 80% by volume.
24 [0019] In yet another case, the second component is produced such that
the second
component comprises approximately 2% of the weight of the two-component
sprayable paint.
26 [0020] A method for spraying a two-component sprayable paint with a
sprayer apparatus, the
27 method comprising: providing a first component into a first container of
the sprayer apparatus,
28 the first component comprising methyl-methacrylate; providing a second
component into a
29 second container of the sprayer apparatus, the second component
comprising a mix of catalyst
for the methyl-methacrylate and an acetone-based paint; engaging the sprayer
apparatus such
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1 that the first component and second component are retrieved from their
respective containers
2 and combined prior to being sprayed at a sprayer nozzle of the sprayer
apparatus.
3 [0021] In a particular case, the catalyst is benzoyl-peroxide or
dibenzoyl-peroxide.
4 [0022] In another case, the acetone-based paint comprises an acrylic
copolymer binder.
[0023] These and other aspects are contemplated and described herein. It will
be appreciated
6 that the foregoing summary sets out representative aspects of systems and
methods to assist
7 skilled readers in understanding the following detailed description.
8 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
9 [0024] The features of the invention will become more apparent in the
following detailed
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:
11 [0025] FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for producing a second
component for a two-
12 component sprayable paint, in accordance with an embodiment; and
13 [0026] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for spraying a two-component
sprayable paint with a
14 sprayer apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
16 [0027] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered
appropriate, reference
17 numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or
analogous elements.
18 In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide
a thorough understanding
19 of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by
those of ordinary skill in
the art that the embodiments described herein may be practised without these
specific details.
21 In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have
not been described
22 in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Also,
the description is not to
23 be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.
24 [0028] Various terms used throughout the present description may be read
and understood as
follows, unless the context indicates otherwise: "or" as used throughout is
inclusive, as though
26 written "and/or"; singular articles and pronouns as used throughout
include their plural forms,
27 and vice versa; similarly, gendered pronouns include their counterpart
pronouns so that
28 pronouns should not be understood as limiting anything described herein
to use,
29 implementation, performance, etc. by a single gender; "exemplary" should
be understood as
"illustrative", "exemplifying" or "serving as an example, instance, or
illustration," and not
31 necessarily as "preferred" over other embodiments; the terms,
"comprises" and "comprising" are
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1 to be construed as being inclusive and open ended, and not exclusive.
Specifically, when used
2 in this specification including claims, the terms, "comprises" and
"comprising" and variations
3 thereof mean the specified features, steps or components are included.
These terms are not to
4 be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or
components; the terms
"about" and "approximately", when used in conjunction with ranges of
dimensions of particles,
6 compositions of mixtures or other physical properties or characteristics,
are meant to cover
7 slight variations that may exist in the upper and lower limits of the
ranges of dimensions so as to
8 not exclude embodiments where on average most of the dimensions are
satisfied but where
9 statistically dimensions may exist outside this region. It is not the
intention to exclude
embodiments such as these from the present disclosure. Further definitions for
terms may be
11 set out herein; these may apply to prior and subsequent instances of
those terms, as will be
12 understood from a reading of the present description.
13 [0029] The following relates to a paint and, more specifically, to a
second component for a two-
14 component sprayable methyl-methacrylate based paint and method of
producing thereof.
[0030] Generally, efficiently applying paint to a road, street, pavement, or
other ground surface
16 involves using an appropriate painting apparatus. Such apparatus can
include, for example,
17 walk behind systems, systems that are pulled on trailers, or systems
that are built on vehicle
18 chassis. In general, these systems apply paint to the ground surface by
spraying the paint on
19 the surface, for example with a dual displacement pump system, or
extruding the paint onto the
surface. In some cases, a stencil can be used to produce an exact shape or
marking.
21 [0031] In the case of oil-based paint, a sprayer apparatus is generally
used as an effective and
22 efficient way to apply paint to the ground surface. However,
increasingly, jurisdictions are
23 restricting or banning the use of oil-based ground surface paints for
environmental concerns. As
24 an alternative to oil-based paints, water-based paints with methyl-
methacrylate (MMA) resin
(referred to herein as "MMA paint") is a durable and popular replacement.
26 [0032] MMA paint is a two-part paint with methyl-methacrylate mixed with
a catalyst, typically
27 benzoyl-peroxide, generally just prior to application of the paint. A
common mixture ratio is 98:2
28 of methyl-methacrylate (MMA) to liquid benzoyl-peroxide (BP0) by weight
(referred to as "98:2
29 MMA paint"). However, other ratios are possible; for example, 50:50 of
MMA to BPO.
[0033] While the properties of MMA paint mean that it has become a popular
replacement to oil-
31 based paint, MMA paint typically does not function well in a sprayer
apparatus.
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1 [0034] In a 98:2 MMA paint sprayer, the liquid BPO is put under pressure,
heat and shear
2 stresses in the dual displacement pump that cause the liquid BPO to
decompose and/or change
3 state from liquid to a solid. Due to the properties of BPO, for example
due to it possibly being a
4 non-Newtonian fluid, this change has been found to cause the BPO pump to
"hard pack" and
become incapable of pumping catalyst into the paint mixture. Thus, resulting
in an inability to
6 apply the paint to the ground surface properly.
7 [0035] In some circumstances, as long at the liquid BP() is moving
through the pump, it may
8 remain liquid and not hard pack. However, as soon as the sprayer does not
call for any more
9 spray, the BP() pump will typically stop and thus the liquid BPO stops
moving. It has been
determined that, generally, within 7 seconds of having been stopped, the
liquid BPO can begin
11 to hard pack making the sprayer in operable. In practice, this is not
acceptable and causes
12 enormous inefficiencies. For example, every time an operator of the
sprayer comes to the end
13 of a parking line and has to stop spraying until they go to a next
parking line, the sprayer is likely
14 to become inoperable due to hard packing. Then the operator would likely
have to take the BPO
pump apart, thoroughly clean the pump, and rebuild it. Obviously, this can
cause massive
16 delays, downtime, inefficiencies, and sunken costs.
17 [0036] In an attempt to alleviate the hard packing problem, the
Applicant experimented with a
18 number of different approaches. For example, an approach of pressure
relief for the BPO pump
19 was devised between stops and starts of the sprayer apparatus. In this
approach, pressure in
the BPO pump is released immediately after spraying has stopped; typically,
within the seven
21 seconds it generally takes for hard packing to occur. Pressure would be
released completely
22 from the BP() pump and then pressure would have to be built back up when
ready to paint the
23 next ground surface section. This repetitive process of releasing and
rebuilding pressure in the
24 BPO pump to avoid the hard packing problem is tremendously inefficient.
This approach was
found to cause large delays, untypical operator fatigue, inconsistency of the
BPO and MMA mix
26 resulting in poor cure of paint, and increased wear and tear on the
sprayer.
27 [0037] In another approach, the Applicant experimented with packing dry
ice around sections of
28 the BPO pump to lower the temperature of the liquid BP() enough that it
would not hard pack.
29 While this alleviated the need to release and build-up pressure of the
BPO pump, it was
determined to be nonetheless cumbersome and inefficient. Generally, in this
approach dry ice
31 has to be purchased every single day that the sprayer is used. Dry ice
is particularly dangerous
32 if it comes in to contact with bare skin of the operator. Additionally,
if the operator forgets to
33 replenish the dry ice around the BPO pump during operation, the liquid
BPO would hard pack
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1 and the BP() pump would have to be taken apart, cleaned and rebuilt. This
approach was
2 determined to be inefficient, unreliable, and not sufficiently mistake-
proof.
3 [0038] In embodiments of the present disclosure, a reliable and efficient
MMA paint composition
4 was determined to overcome the hard packing problem. In an embodiment,
methyl-methacrylate
based paint comprises a first component comprising methyl-methacrylate (MMA)
and a second
6 component comprising benzoyl-peroxide (BPO) and an acetone-based paint.
In a particular
7 case, the acetone-based paint having an acrylic copolymer binder.
8 [0039] It is contemplated that the ratio between the benzoyl-peroxide
(BPO) and the acetone-
9 based paint in the second component can have any suitable value;
affecting the cure time
accordingly. In a preferable case, the ratio of BPO by volume in the second
component is
11 between 90% and 20%; even more preferably, the second component has more
BPO by
12 volume than acetone-based paint. In a most-preferable case, for the
second component, BPO
13 can be mixed with the acetone-based paint having an acrylic binder in a
ratio of approximately
14 80:20 of BPO to acetone-based paint by volume. At this ratio, depending
on the circumstances
of application, the cure time when combined with the first component is
approximately five
16 minutes. In another exemplary case, for the second component, BP() can
be mixed with the
17 acetone-based paint having an acrylic binder in a ratio of approximately
30:70 of BPO to
18 acetone-based paint by volume. At this ratio, depending on the
circumstances of application, the
19 cure time when combined with the first component is approximately forty
minutes.
[0040] The MMA paint of the present embodiments can be a 98:2 MMA paint,
having a ratio of
21 98:2 of the first component to the second component by weight.
Generally, in this case, the
22 BP() is liquid and mixed with the MMA just prior to spraying. Thus,
generally providing safer
23 circumstances of use. In further embodiments, other ratios of MMA paint
can be used.
24 [0041] In a further case, the acetone-based paint can have further
constituents mixed in. In an
example, the acetone-based paint can be approximately, by weight, 0.9%
ethylbenzene, 5%
26 xylene, 24% acetone, 0.3% quartz, 50% calcium carbonate, and 4% titanium
dioxide.
27 [0042] Advantageously, the Applicant experimentally determined that by
mixing the liquid BPO
28 with acetone-based paint, the liquid BPO sufficiently changes its
chemical makeup to
29 adequately stop the hard packing. Additionally, the second component
approximately maintains
its full catalytic properties to ensure a proper and reliable cure of the MMA
paint when combined
31 with the first component.
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1 [0043] Thus, it was determined that when using the MMA paint composition
of the present
2 embodiments in a sprayer apparatus, the hard packing problem can be
overcome.
3 Advantageously, this can allow for a consistent, reliable, and efficient
spray of MMA paint with a
4 sprayer apparatus. This can result in much lees operator fatigue, more
people can be operators
without as much training, and sprayers using MMA paint can have wider
application.
6 [0044] Turning to FIG. 1, a method 100 of producing a sprayable methyl-
methacrylate based
7 paint is shown, in accordance with an embodiment. At block 102, providing
a first component
8 comprising methyl-methacrylate (MMA). In some cases, the first component
can already be
9 provided. At block 104, providing a catalyst for the methyl-methacrylate.
At block 106, providing
a diluent comprising an acetone-based paint. At block 108, mixing the catalyst
and the diluent to
11 produce a second component. At block 110, combining the first component
and the second
12 component as a sprayable paint prior to spraying of the sprayable paint.
13 [0045] In an embodiment, for use in a sprayer apparatus, the first
component can be loaded
14 into a material container tank of the sprayer and the second component
can be loaded in the
catalyst tank of the sprayer. The two components can be atomized and combined
at or before
16 the spray nozzle during operation of the sprayer.
17 [0046] Turning to FIG. 2, a method 200 for spraying a two-component
sprayable paint with a
18 sprayer apparatus is shown. At block 202, providing a first component
into a first container of
19 the sprayer apparatus, the first component comprising methyl-
methacrylate. At block 204,
providing a second component into a second container of the sprayer apparatus,
the second
21 component comprising a mix of catalyst for the methyl-methacrylate and
an acetone-based
22 paint. At block 206, engaging the sprayer apparatus such that the first
component and second
23 component are retrieved from their respective containers and combined
prior to being sprayed
24 at a sprayer nozzle of the sprayer apparatus. In a particular case, the
catalyst is benzoyl-
peroxide or dibenzoyl-peroxide. In another particular case, the acetone-based
paint comprises
26 an acrylic copolymer binder.
27 [0047] While the catalyst in the embodiments described herein is benzoyl-
peroxide, other
28 similar catalysts are contemplated; for example, dibenzoyl-peroxide,
methyl-ethyl-ketone-
29 peroxide, or the like.
[0048] In an example of the advantages of the embodiments described herein,
various
31 government, including Canada, are recognizing the detrimental
environmental impact of painting
32 ground surfaces with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and prohibited
their use accordingly.
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1 For example, Canada has prohibited road surface paint with VOCs having a
release rate of
2 higher than 450 grams-per-litre. In effect, this means that many
environmentally negative oil-
3 based traffic paints can no longer be used. Thus, for road painting,
environmentally safe options
4 are typically either water-based paint or methyl-methacrylate (MMA) based
paint. However,
water-based paint can have insufficient durability and required substantial
repainting as a result.
6 In contrast, MMA paint is typically much more durable and has a VOC
rating of, for example,
7 only 50 grams per litre. Thus, MMA paint is much more environmentally
beneficial as not only is
8 it releasing a third as many VOCs, but such release is typically required
less times in a given
9 period of time.
[0049] However, as described herein, MMA paint can have adoption issues
because it is not
11 easily applied to road surfaces due to the hard-packing issue.
Advantageously, the present
12 embodiments provide a solution to allow for wider adoption of MMA paint
by allowing it to be
13 sprayed in a sprayer apparatus. Thus, helping to resolve or mitigate
environmental impacts of
14 harmful oil-based paint or repetitive releasing of VOCs from non-durable
water-based paint.
[0050] As an example, a traffic arrow on a roadway spray painted with water-
based or acetone-
16 based paint will typically need to be repainted at least six times in a
3-year period. If that arrow
17 takes approximately 2 liters of paint, there will be 150 x 2 x 6 = 1800
grams of VOCs released
18 into the environment during that timespan. In contrast, using the
present invention, it can be
19 spray painted typically once in the 3 year period. Thus, if 50 grams per
litre of VOCs are
released, there will be 50 grams x 2 litres x once per year = 100 VOCs
released, instead of
21 1800. Extrapolated widely to large scale road surface paintings, this
provides a potentially
22 massive beneficial environmental impact.
23 [0051] Although the invention has been described with reference to
certain specific
24 embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those
skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims
appended hereto.
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