# US 10,370,562 B2 · Matrices and sealants which are based on sulfur-containing polymers and which comprise a photoinitiator, curing and coating methods, and use of said matrices and sealants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,562 B2 - Document ID: US10370562B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/391,590 - Filed: 2013-04-09 - Published: 2015-03-05 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-12 - Assignees: Chemetall GmbH - Applicants: Chemetall GmbH - Inventors: Miroslav Kralev; Björn Sievers; Peter Bons; Francisco Diez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370562B2 ## CPC - C09D 181/04: Polysulfides - B05D 3/06: by exposure to radiation (B05D3/02 takes precedence {; plasma treatment B05D3/141}) - B05D 7/24: for applying particular liquids or other fluent materials - C08L 81/00: Compositions of macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing sulfur with or without nitrogen, oxygen or carbon only; Compositions of polysulfones; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers - C08L 81/04: Polysulfides - C09D 181/00: Coating compositions based on macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming in the main chain of the macromolecule a linkage containing sulfur, with or without nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only; Coating compositions based on polysulfones; Coating compositions based on derivatives of such polymers - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) ## Abstract A method for curing a mixture of a matrix and a curing agent based on sulfur-containing polymers on command and so rapidly that a tack-free surface results. A method for coating a substrate with the composition and of curing a sealant is also provided. The matrix and curing agent containing sulfur-containing polymers. The mixture is an uncured mixture with an isocyanate content, and the matrix is uncured and contains a mercaptan-terminated base polymer based on at least one polyether, polythioether, polysulfide or copolymers thereof. The uncured matrix, the curing agent, or both contain at least one photoinitiator based on sterically-inhibited tertiary amines. The mixture cures in the temperature range of −10 to +70° C. after the high-energy actinic radiation is applied. Corresponding matrices A, mixtures B, curing agents, sealant systems, and substrates, e.g., aircraft are contemplated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for coating a substrate with a mixture B or with a curing sealant produced therefrom, wherein the mixture B and the sealant contain sulfur-based polymers, wherein the mixture B comprises an uncured mixture of a matrix A which is uncured and contains a mercapto-terminated polymer based on polythioether, polysulfide, copolymers thereof, and/or mixtures thereof, wherein the mercapto-terminated polymer has a mercaptan content, based on the reactive SH groups to the total weight of the polymer, in the range of 0.8 to 8 wt %, and a curing agent that contains isocyanate having an average functionality in the range of from 1.5 to 3.2; wherein the uncured matrix A, the curing agent or both further comprise at least one photoinitiator, which includes an α-aminoketone; wherein the at least one photoinitiator splits off at least one free radical per molecule based on tertiary amine on exposure to high-energy actinic radiation, and an active catalyst is formed from the amine by uptake of hydrogen and acts as a catalyst for curing the sealant; and wherein the matrix A and the sealant are free of (meth)acrylate-based compounds and polymers; the method comprising exposing mixture B to high-energy actinic radiation at a temperature in the range from −10 to +70° C., where mixture B becomes a sealant when curing starts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the curing takes place on demand, that the mixture B begins to cure more rapidly due to high-energy actinic radiation only on demand, and that curing proceeds to form a tack-free surface of the sealant in a tack-free time of 0.05 to 5 minutes, measured from when curing starts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the photoinitiator releases and/or forms an amine on exposure to high-energy actinic radiation, and that the amine thereby released and/or formed catalyzes a reaction between mercapto-terminated based polymer and isocyanate-based curing agent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the photoinitiator triggers and/or accelerates a reaction of isocyanate groups with mercapto groups when mixture B is exposed to a high-energy actinic radiation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the matrix A, the curing agent, the mixture B and/or the sealant further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of photosensitizers, fillers, lightweight fillers, thixotropy agents, plasticizers, adhesion promoters, antiaging agents, water scavengers, flame retardants, crosslinking agents and organic solvents. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein when including fillers and/or additional additives to matrix A and/or mixture B, the fillers and/or additional additives are permeable to the selected radiation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the curing agent contains sulfur-based prepolymers with a polymer backbone based on polythioether, polysulfide, copolymers containing an amount of polythioether and/or polysulfide and/or mixtures thereof, wherein the prepolymers are isocyanate-terminated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a processing time according to DIN 65262-1 is in the range of 0.5 to 5 minutes after initiating the high-energy actinic radiation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is an aircraft component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a construction element, an aircraft, a space vehicle, an automobile, a rail vehicles, a ship, equipment, a machine, a building, furniture, and an electronic device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, which method also comprises joining elements, or sealing and/or filling hollow spaces and/or intermediate spaces of elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is a monomer, oligomer and/or prepolymer based on hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate and/or toluene diisocyanate, or a polyisocyanate which is at least one hexamethylene polyisocyanate, at least one isophorone polyisocyanate, at least one toluene polyisocyanate and/or at least one diphenylmethane polyisocyanate.