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The game between environmental protection and efficiency: What are the surprising secrets of the manufacturing process of copper phthalocyanine?
In the world of modern pigments and dyes, copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) is renowned for its bright blue color and outstanding properties. This synthetic dye is not only used in painting oils, papermaking and plastics, but is also widely used in industrial and art materials, and its manufacturing process hides a thought-provoking story.
Since it was first synthesized in 1927, copper phthalocyanine has been favored by the market for its superior light stability and color intensity.
History Overview
The history of copper phthalocyanine can be traced back many years when people discovered that the coloring byproduct produced by the reaction of phthalic acid with a metal or nitrogen source. The substance was first obtained in 1927 from the reaction of copper(I) cyanide and o-dibromobenzene, and was subsequently further improved and developed by chemists and widely used in the dye and pigment market. In 1935, Britain and Germany launched commercial production, and in 1937 DuPont began producing copper phthalocyanine blue in the United States.
Manufacturing method
There are currently two main methods for industrially manufacturing copper phthalocyanine: the phthalonitrile method and the phthalic anhydride/urea method. These processes can be carried out without solvents (baking processes) or with solvents (solvent processes).
The yield of the solvent process can reach over 95%, while the yield of the baking process is between 70% and 80%. Recent trends have re-endowed the baking process with more economic and ecological value.
Phthalonitrile method
This method mainly involves heating phthalonitrile and copper salt to react. The simplified equation of the reaction process can be expressed as:
4 C6H4(CN)2 + Cu2+ + 2e− → CuPc
Phthalic anhydride/urea method
Another commonly used method is to use phthalic anhydride and urea, the reaction formula is:
4 C6H4(CO)2O + 4 (NH2)2CO + Cu2+ + 2e− → CuPc + 8 H2O + 4 CO2 + 4 NH3
Application Areas
Copper phthalocyanine is not only a brightly colored pigment, but also has important applications in catalysis, electronics and textile dyeing. Among them, metal phthalocyanines are widely used as catalysts for oxygen reduction reactions and have even been considered as promising materials for organic solar cells.
CuPc has been widely studied in molecular electronics, where its stability and growth uniformity make it a leader among organic materials.
The game between environmental protection and efficiency
With environmental protection receiving increasing attention today, traditional manufacturing processes are also facing questions. Although the solvent process has a higher output, its impact on the environment cannot be ignored. With the change in market demand, the solvent-free baking process has begun to regain vitality and has attracted the attention of industry insiders because it is not only economical but also in line with modern environmental protection concepts.
While pursuing economic benefits, how to be environmentally friendly will become a core issue in the industry in the future.
Future Outlook
Looking into the future, the application of copper phthalocyanine will become more and more extensive, and its manufacturing process will need to strike a balance between environmental protection and efficiency. As science and technology advance, new synthesis methods may emerge, making copper phthalocyanine more efficient and environmentally friendly. This means that the pigment industry is moving towards a more sustainable direction.
So, will the future of metallic pigments find the best balance between environmental protection and efficiency?
