Simulated plant organ, simulated plant and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

The application relates to a simulated plant organ, a simulated plant and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method of the simulated plant organ comprises the following steps: preparing a multifunctional biaxial stretching polyester film, and processing the multifunctional biaxial stretching polyester film into the simulated plant organ. The manufacturing method provided by the application can improve the manufacturing efficiency of the simulated plant organ or the simulated plant, improve the simulation degree and durability of the simulated plant organ or the simulated plant, and the simulated plant organ or the simulated plant manufactured through the method is more environmentally friendly and safe, and has multiple practical performances.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of simulated plant technology, specifically to a simulated plant organ, a simulated plant, and a method for manufacturing the same. Background Technology

[0002] Artificial plants are replicas of natural plants, designed and manufactured using highly realistic materials. They are popular due to their advantages, such as being unaffected by natural conditions like sunlight, air, and water, and requiring no maintenance. Traditional artificial plants are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). However, PVC artificial plants are prone to deformation and discoloration at high temperatures, and may even cause fires, posing safety risks. Furthermore, the production of PVC requires raw materials such as chlorine and ethylene, making it environmentally unfriendly and potentially releasing harmful substances over time. Moreover, PVC artificial plants can only be painted to achieve the desired colors, which is both costly and results in insufficient realism. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a simulated plant organ or simulated plant and its manufacturing method to improve the realism of simulated plants, reduce costs, and make them more environmentally friendly and safe, while also enabling them to have a variety of practical functions.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a method for manufacturing simulated plant organs, comprising the following steps: preparing a multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film; and processing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film into simulated plant organs.

[0005] In one embodiment, the plant organs include simulated roots, simulated stems, simulated leaves, simulated flowers, simulated fruits, and simulated seeds.

[0006] In one embodiment, after preparing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film, the method further includes: embossing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film to form an uneven embossed texture on the surface of the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film.

[0007] In one embodiment, preparing a multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film includes: preparing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) granules; adding one or more additives to the PET granules to prepare multifunctional PET granules; and processing the multifunctional PET granules into a multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film.

[0008] In one embodiment, preparing polyethylene terephthalate granules includes processing recycled polyethylene terephthalate articles to obtain polyethylene terephthalate granules.

[0009] In one embodiment, the additive comprises one or more additives selected from the following: colorant, light stabilizer, antistatic agent, flame retardant, UV stabilizer, antioxidant, matting agent, brightening agent, foaming agent, color changer, and antibacterial agent.

[0010] In one embodiment, processing a multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film into simulated plant organs includes: cutting the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film into desired shapes to assemble it into simulated plant organs.

[0011] In a second aspect, this application provides simulated plant organs made using the method described in the first aspect.

[0012] In a third aspect, this application also provides a method for manufacturing an artificial plant, characterized by comprising the following steps: manufacturing artificial plant organs according to the method described in the first aspect; and assembling the artificial plant organs into the artificial plant.

[0013] In a fourth aspect, this application also provides a simulated plant made using the method described in the third aspect.

[0014] In a fifth aspect, this application also provides a multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film for making the aforementioned simulated plant organs or simulated plants.

[0015] The method for manufacturing simulated plant organs or simulated plants described in this application not only innovatively utilizes BOPET but also overcomes numerous difficulties to prepare multifunctional BOPET. By preparing multifunctional BOPET and processing it into simulated plant organs, and then into simulated plants, simulated plants with various desired functions can be efficiently simulated while ensuring the realism of the simulated plants. Furthermore, since the BOPET used in this method is more environmentally friendly than the materials used in traditional simulated plants and does not release harmful substances during subsequent use, the simulated plants prepared by this method are also more environmentally friendly and safer. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a method for fabricating simulated plant organs according to one embodiment of this application is shown.

[0017] Figure 2 The illustration shows a comparison of an uneven embossed pattern formed by not embossing BOPET and embossing BOPET according to one embodiment of this application.

[0018] Figure 3 A schematic flowchart of the process for preparing a multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film in a method for manufacturing simulated plant organs according to one embodiment of this application is shown.

[0019] Figure 4It shows that according to Figure 3 The multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film prepared by the process shown;

[0020] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating a method for producing an artificial plant according to one embodiment of this application is shown; and

[0021] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of one step in a method for producing an artificial plant according to one embodiment of this application is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the application. However, this application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of this application more thorough and complete.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein in the specification of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application.

[0024] The term "artificial plant" as used in this article refers to decorative products designed and made using highly realistic materials that mimic the shape of plants.

[0025] The term "simulated plant organs" used in this article refers to the simulated roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds of simulated plants, etc. These are semi-finished products of simulated plants. In addition, these simulated plant organs can be combined or assembled as needed, which is also a type of semi-finished product of simulated plants.

[0026] The term "artificial plant component" as used in this article refers to auxiliary components involved in the production of artificial plants, including but not limited to supports, fillers, fasteners, additives, adhesives, etc.

[0027] The term "biaxially oriented polyester film (BOPET)" as used herein refers to a high-quality film made from polyester resin. BOPET as described herein can be produced using any method known to those skilled in the art; for example, in China, it is mainly produced using the following process: PET drying—heating and melting—extrusion casting—longitudinal stretching of the thick sheet—transverse stretching—winding—slitting and packaging—further processing. BOPET itself can have a glossy finish, exhibiting a reflective effect similar to that of real leaves under light.

[0028] As used herein, the term "multifunctional" refers to a biaxially oriented polyester film that possesses multiple different functions or properties through a certain method, such as color development, light stabilization, antistatic properties, flame retardancy, UV resistance, oxidation resistance, matte finish, brightening effect, foaming, color changing, and antibacterial properties. Therefore, multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film refers to a biaxially oriented polyester film possessing, for example, the aforementioned multiple different functions or properties. In this document, unless otherwise stated, references to biaxially oriented polyester film generally refer to multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film.

[0029] As used herein, the term "embossing" refers to the process of changing the thickness of a material under the action of a mold to press out patterns or lettering on the surface of the material. In this application, BOPET may optionally be embossed to form an uneven texture on its surface.

[0030] The term "polyethylene terephthalate granules" used in this article refers to polyethylene terephthalate raw materials, and its form is not limited, but it is preferred to be in the form of granules, pellets, flakes or fragments.

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and some embodiments, further illustrates this application. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the method for creating simulated plant organs may include:

[0033] S10: Preparation of multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film (BOPET); and

[0034] S20: Process multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film into simulated plant organs.

[0035] In S10, a multifunctional BOPET can be designed according to the requirements of the simulated plant organs. Here, multifunctionality can optionally include color development, light stabilization, antistatic properties, flame retardancy, UV resistance, oxidation resistance, matte finish, brightening, antibacterial properties, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the BOPET can be manufactured using methods and tools commonly used in the art, such as a biaxial stretching machine.

[0036] In S20, processing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film into simulated plant organs may include processing BOPET into simulated plant organs using common methods known in the art, including but not limited to cutting, winding, and assembly. For example, in some embodiments, BOPET can be cut into desired shapes to assemble into simulated plant organs. Cutting can be performed using methods known in the art, including but not limited to manual cutting, machine cutting, etc. In some embodiments, the cut BOPET can be assembled into simulated plant organs using methods commonly used in the art.

[0037] As is known in the art, simulated plant organs can include simulated roots, simulated stems, simulated leaves, simulated flowers, simulated fruits, and simulated seeds. In this application, multifunctional BOPET can be optionally processed into one or more of the following simulated roots, simulated stems, simulated leaves, simulated flowers, simulated fruits, and simulated seeds, depending on design requirements. For example, if the required simulated plant organ is a simulated leaf, the cut BOPET can be further assembled with other required simulated plant components, such as leaf veins, to form a simulated leaf. The simulated leaf thus produced is soft in texture, has high tensile strength, and is not easily damaged. Optionally, the leaf shape can be, for example, strip-shaped, elliptical, heart-shaped, needle-shaped, palmate, or combinations thereof.

[0038] In some embodiments, BOPET is processed into a simulated plant organ, that is, BOPET is processed into separate roots, stems, leaves, etc. However, sometimes, depending on design requirements and processing flow, in some embodiments, the simulated plant organ processed from the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film in S20 may also be a single piece. For example, interconnected leaves and stems can be produced on the same piece of BOPET, that is, the cutting is designed so that the cut BOPET can be assembled into a stem with leaves after certain processing, such as a branch with leaves. This can reduce processing steps and save costs, and reduce defects in the simulated plant.

[0039] For example, in the production of a simulated tree, BOPET can be cut into strips to form simulated leaves. The design involves producing interconnected leaves and stems on the same piece of BOPET, meaning the leaf and stem portions are not separated during cutting (e.g., ...). Figure 6 (As shown), and then wrap it around a fixed object such as wire to form a branch with leaves.

[0040] In some embodiments, to increase leaf thickness and make the finished tree appear denser and more aesthetically pleasing, two or more sheets of biaxially oriented polyester film can be placed in parallel operating positions using, for example, a stretching machine. These sheets are then cut to a certain extent and wound onto two wires. The two wound branches are then wrapped together to form a single, denser branch. In this document, this method of integrating multiple BOPET sheets is referred to as the "multi-winding" mode, while the method of making a single BOPET sheet into a branch is referred to as the "single-winding" mode. In some embodiments, the branches can be made using single-winding or multi-winding modes, such as double-winding, triple-winding, etc., as needed. In some embodiments, the thickness of the finished single BOPET sheet can be from 10 μm to 200 μm, for example, 50 μm, 70 μm, or 100 μm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the single BOPET sheet can be, for example, above 65 μm, which makes the simulated tree with the aforementioned "double-winding" mode not only dense and aesthetically pleasing but also closer to a real tree.

[0041] This method for manufacturing simulated plant organs efficiently simulates various plant organs by processing multifunctional BOPET into simulated plant organs, ensuring the realism of the simulated plants. Since the BOPET used in this method is more environmentally friendly than the materials used in traditional simulated plants and does not release harmful substances during subsequent use, the simulated plants prepared by this method are also more environmentally friendly and safer. More importantly, by replacing traditional PVC or BOPET with multifunctional BOPET, the resulting simulated plants can possess multiple functions, enabling wide application in various scenarios.

[0042] In some embodiments, after preparing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film, the process further includes embossing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film to form an uneven texture on its surface. In some embodiments, tools such as embossing molds and embossing rollers can be used to apply pressure to the BOPET surface, causing plastic deformation and creating textures or patterns. These textures and patterns also alter the way light is reflected and scattered. Specifically, the uneven surface structure formed by embossing causes diffuse reflection of light on the BOPET surface, reducing the proportion of specular reflection and thus lowering the gloss. Therefore, embossing of different depths and sizes can be embossed as needed, resulting in simulated plant organs with different gloss levels and embossing sizes to simulate plant organs at different growth stages, further improving the realism of the simulated plants and enhancing their visual appeal. For example, an uneven texture can be formed on the surface of the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film by embossing with an embossing roller. The shape of the embossing can be designed according to needs, including but not limited to circles, squares, rectangles, quadrilaterals, triangles, ellipses, stripes, and combinations thereof. Partial or complete embossing can be performed on the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film, depending on the design requirements. For example, partial embossing can be performed on the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film, with the embossed portion subsequently processed into simulated leaves and the unembossed portion into simulated stems. For instance, by attaching simulated leaves of different gloss levels to the simulated stems according to the plant's growth patterns, the realism of the simulated plant can be effectively improved. Different gloss levels can be selected for different plant organs, meaning different plant organs can have different gloss levels. For example, the gloss level of the simulated leaves can be brighter than that of the simulated stems to more closely resemble a real plant visually. Figure 2 The illustration shows a comparison between embossing BOPET without imprinting and embossing BOPET to create an uneven texture, according to one embodiment of this application. In this embodiment, the texture or pattern on the BOPET surface is a dense array of intersecting stripes. These intersecting stripes reduce the gloss of the BOPET to a level close to that of real plant organs, avoiding excessive reflectivity that could affect the simulation.

[0043] In some embodiments, the step of embossing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film may be omitted. That is, in some embodiments, for example, embossing on the surface of the simulated leaf may not be formed to change the overall gloss of the simulated leaf, and this application does not limit this.

[0044] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, step S10, preparing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film, may include the following steps:

[0045] S11: Prepare polyethylene terephthalate (PET) granules;

[0046] S12: To prepare multifunctional polyethylene terephthalate granules by adding one or more additives to polyethylene terephthalate granules; and

[0047] S13: Process multifunctional polyethylene terephthalate granules into multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester films.

[0048] In step S11, the recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products can be processed to obtain PET granules. This processing can be carried out using methods well-known in the art, as long as PET granules can be obtained. For example, recycled PET plastic products (e.g., plastic water bottles) can be crushed to obtain PET granules. Specifically, after recycling used PET plastic water bottles, they are crushed into PET granules using, for example, a crusher. In this application, the recycling rate of PET plastic products can reach 100%, meaning that the crushed PET granules can be used entirely as raw materials without the need to add or supplement other substances as main raw materials. This process meets GRS standard certification requirements. PET plastic water bottles are used in large quantities, have wide availability, are renewable, and the PET used in their bottles has high purity, reducing purification costs and making them more environmentally friendly. In an alternative embodiment, PET granules can also be purchased directly; this application does not limit this.

[0049] In S12, one or more additives are added to the PET granules to prepare multifunctional polyethylene terephthalate granules, i.e., secondary granulation is performed. Specifically, in some embodiments, one or more additives can be mixed with PET granules in different proportions to produce multifunctional PET granules. Then, in S13, the multifunctional PET granules are used to prepare multifunctional BOPET.

[0050] The additives that can be used include, but are not limited to, colorants, light stabilizers, antistatic agents, flame retardants, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, matting agents, brightening agents, foaming agents, color-changing agents, and antibacterial agents, as well as combinations thereof. Those skilled in the art can adjust the type, content, and combination of the above additives according to actual needs. Normally, additives commonly used in the art are applicable to this invention. In some embodiments, the amount of each additive added can be 1wt%-25wt% of the entire composition (i.e., the combination of additives and PET pellets), for example, 1wt%-20wt%, 1wt%-15wt%, 1wt%-10wt%, 1wt%-5wt%, or 1wt%-3wt%. Normally, the above-mentioned additives commonly used in the art are applicable to this invention.

[0051] For example, in some embodiments, color powder can be added to PET granules to produce BOPET with the color of that color powder, such as green, yellow, brown, or white, and to give the BOPET surface a glossy effect with high gloss. By directly preparing BOPET by adding color powder to PET granules, subsequent cutting can be performed without additional coloring to obtain simulated plant organs and finished simulated plants. This can significantly reduce production costs and improve production efficiency. Furthermore, simulated plants produced in this way already exhibit the corresponding color, such as green, red, or brown, eliminating concerns about color fading and ensuring high durability. The color powder concentration can be adjusted according to actual needs. In actual production, when it is necessary to produce simulated plants or simulated plant organs with brighter colors and higher color saturation, the color powder concentration can be increased to make the surface color of the resulting BOPET brighter and more saturated. For example, by changing the color powder concentration, simulated leaves with different brightness and color saturation can be produced to simulate leaves of different species and at different growth stages. Furthermore, these artificial leaves can be fixed to the artificial tree trunk according to the growth pattern of trees, which can further improve the realism of the artificial tree.

[0052] In other embodiments, flame retardants can be added to PET granules to give the BOPET a flame-blocking effect, thereby making the simulated plant products made from the BOPET flame-retardant. In some embodiments, halogen-free flame retardants are used. According to their composition, flame retardants can be divided into two main categories: halogenated flame retardants and halogen-free flame retardants. Because halogenated flame retardants release large amounts of smoke and harmful gases when exposed to fire, they pose a significant threat to human health and the environment. Due to concerns about human health and environmental protection, halogen-free flame retardants have attracted increasing attention due to their high efficiency, environmental friendliness, and safety. Halogen-free flame retardants are mainly classified into phosphorus-based flame retardants (e.g., ammonium polyphosphate, red phosphorus, and melamine salts; phosphate-based, phosphazene, and phosphaphenanthrene compounds), nitrogen-based flame retardants (e.g., melamine and its derivatives, dicyandiamide and its derivatives, etc.), silicon-based flame retardants (e.g., silicone), inorganic metal flame retardants (e.g., magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, hydrotalcite, etc.), and bio-based flame retardants (e.g., vegetable oils with different phosphorus groups introduced into the main chain). The type and content of halogen-free flame retardants can be selected according to needs. Under normal circumstances, commonly used halogen-free flame retardant additives in this field are applicable to this invention.

[0053] In some embodiments, a matting agent can be added to PET granules to produce matte BOPET, wherein the addition of the matting agent gives the BOPET surface a matte effect with low gloss. The matting agent includes fully matte and semi-matte agents; the matteness of fully matte agents is, for example, between 5 GU and 15 GU, and the matteness of semi-matte agents is, for example, between 15 GU and 30 GU. Fully matte and / or semi-matte agents can be selected according to actual needs. The matting agent can provide a matte or low-gloss effect, changing the gloss of the BOPET surface, thereby obtaining the desired gloss level of BOPET. Printing a transparent matting agent can make the color and gloss of the BOPET closer to that of real plants, improving the realism of the simulated plants produced by this method. Some matting agents can be, for example, epoxy resin matting agents, ND-110 matting agents, L-1030 / 1031 matting agents, metallic soaps, waxes, etc.

[0054] In some implementations, UV stabilizers can be added to PET pellets to produce BOPET with UV protection. The addition of UV stabilizers enables the resulting BOPET to resist ultraviolet light, preventing or delaying discoloration. Common UV stabilizers include inorganic UV stabilizers, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide; and organic UV stabilizers, such as UV absorber UV-531 and UV-protective finishing agent HTUV100.

[0055] In other embodiments, multiple additives can be used simultaneously. For example, using pigments and matting agents, the resulting BOPET can exhibit the color of the pigment, such as green, yellow, brown, or white, while having a matte finish with low gloss. As another example, pigments, matting agents, flame retardants, and UV protectants can be used simultaneously, giving the resulting BOPET color, matte finish, flame retardancy, and UV protection, thus enabling the simulated plant organs and plants made from it to possess corresponding functions. Depending on the desired design, any additives or combinations thereof can be added, where appropriate, to achieve the desired functionality.

[0056] Regarding step S13, specifically, functional PET granules can be melted first to obtain polyester resin blocks, and then the polyester resin blocks can be dried, melted, extruded, cast, and stretched longitudinally and transversely to produce BOPET.

[0057] On the other hand, since PET granules are refined and polymerized from petroleum, they contain antimony. Although antimony compounds have flame-retardant properties, antimony is toxic and can damage human organs, even inducing cancer. In this application, the PET granules used to make BOPET replace antimony with titanium through a chemical method. Titanium has low toxicity to the human body, therefore the simulated plants produced are safer.

[0058] The above implementation methods can be combined in any way without mutual exclusion.

[0059] The aforementioned method for manufacturing simulated plant organs involves preparing multifunctional BOPET, which in turn produces multifunctional simulated plant organs. On one hand, simulated plant organs made of multifunctional BOPET exhibit stronger tensile and impact resistance, as well as higher durability. Furthermore, by adding various additives to the PET granules, the performance of BOPET can be further improved. For example, adding colorants, matting agents, halogen-free flame retardants, and UV stabilizers allows the simulated plants made from multifunctional BOPET to possess corresponding properties, enabling applications in a wider range of scenarios. On the other hand, multifunctional BOPET is molded in a single process, reducing secondary processing, lowering the utilization rate of materials and personnel resources, improving production efficiency, and reducing production costs.

[0060] It should be understood that although the steps in the flowcharts of the above embodiments are shown sequentially according to the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and they can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some steps in the flowcharts of the above embodiments may include multiple steps or multiple stages. These steps or stages are not necessarily completed at the same time, but can be executed at different times. The execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be performed alternately or in turn with other steps or at least some of the steps or stages in other steps.

[0061] This application also provides a simulated plant organ, which is manufactured using the above-described method. The simulated plant organ provided according to the embodiments of this application has stronger tensile and impact resistance, as well as high durability and resistance to damage. Furthermore, by adding various additives to the PET granules, the performance of BOPET can be further improved. For example, adding colorants, matting agents, halogen-free flame retardants, UV stabilizers, etc., allows the simulated plant organ made from multifunctional BOPET to also possess corresponding properties, enabling its application in more scenarios.

[0062] like Figure 5 As shown, this application also provides a method for making simulated plants, which may include the following steps:

[0063] S10: Preparation of multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film (BOPET);

[0064] S20: Processing multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film into simulated plant organs; and

[0065] S30: Assemble simulated plant organs into simulated plants.

[0066] The relevant content in S10 and S20 is the same as the above content, and will not be repeated here.

[0067] In S30, simulated plant organs can be assembled into a simulated plant, i.e., a finished simulated plant, by any suitable means. Simulated plant components can be used to better complete the assembly, including but not limited to supports, fillers, fasteners, additives, etc. Supports and fillers can be any object used to support and fill the plant organs, such as internal materials for the simulated plant stem, and can include foam, plastic, metal, fiber, etc. Fasteners are used to better secure the plant organs, such as connecting simulated leaves and stems together, and can include plastic, metal, fiber, etc. Additives can be any suitable aids added to achieve a certain function or effect, including but not limited to adhesives, fragrances, glitter, etc.

[0068] For example, in making a simulated tree, BOPET can be cut into strips to form simulated leaves. The design involves producing interconnected leaves and stems on the same piece of BOPET, meaning the leaf and stem portions are not separated during cutting. These strips are then wrapped around a fixed object, such as wire, to form branches with leaves. Suitable materials are then used for the trunk and base, and finally, they are assembled to form a finished simulated tree.

[0069] As described above, in some embodiments, to increase leaf thickness and make the finished tree appear denser and more aesthetically pleasing, the branches can be fabricated using multiple winding patterns, such as double winding, triple winding, etc. In some embodiments, the thickness of a single BOPET sheet can range from 10 μm to 200 μm, for example, 50 μm, 70 μm, or 100 μm. In some embodiments, the thickness of a single BOPET sheet can be, for example, above 65 μm, which makes the simulated tree with the aforementioned "double winding" pattern not only dense and aesthetically pleasing but also closer to a real tree.

[0070] Similarly, this method shares the same advantages as the methods described above. Simulated plant organs prepared from multifunctional BOPET exhibit stronger tensile and impact resistance, as well as higher durability. Furthermore, by adding various additives to the PET granules, the performance of BOPET can be further improved. For example, adding color powder, matting agents, halogen-free flame retardants, UV stabilizers, etc., enables simulated plants made from multifunctional BOPET to possess corresponding properties, facilitating applications in a wider range of scenarios. On the other hand, multifunctional BOPET is molded in one step, reducing secondary processing, lowering the utilization rate of materials and personnel resources, improving production efficiency, and reducing production costs.

[0071] In addition, this application also provides a simulated plant, which is used Figure 5 It was made using the method shown.

[0072] In some implementations, the artificial plant can have multiple winding patterns, such as a double winding pattern. The thickness of a single BOPET sheet can be, for example, above 65 μm, which makes the artificial tree with the aforementioned "double winding" pattern not only lush and beautiful, but also closer to a real tree.

[0073] In some embodiments, the surface of the artificial plant is formed with intersecting stripes. Specifically, the intersecting stripes are formed on the surface by embossing with an embossing roller, which can appropriately reduce the gloss of BOPET and make it look closer to a real artificial plant.

[0074] Simulated plants made from multifunctional BOPET have stronger tensile and impact resistance, as well as high durability. Furthermore, by adding various additives to PET granules, the performance of BOPET can be further improved. For example, adding colorants, matting agents, halogen-free flame retardants, UV stabilizers, etc., enables simulated plants made from multifunctional BOPET to have corresponding properties, thus enabling their application in more scenarios.

[0075] Furthermore, this application also provides a multifunctional BOPET for making the aforementioned simulated plant organs or simulated plants. In some embodiments, the multifunctional BOPET may contain one or more additives selected from the following: colorants, light stabilizers, antistatic agents, flame retardants, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, matting agents, brightening agents, foaming agents, color-changing agents, and antibacterial agents.

[0076] Example

[0077] To more clearly describe and understand the methods and products of this application, the following uses an artificial tree as an example of an artificial plant to further illustrate and describe the details of this application.

[0078] The materials and instruments involved in this embodiment are all common materials and instruments in the field, and the materials can be prepared by oneself or purchased from the market.

[0079] Example 1: Preparation of multifunctional BOPET

[0080] Example 1.1: Preparation of PET granules

[0081] Transparent PET plastic water bottles are recycled, cleaned, and then crushed using a crusher to produce PET granules. In this embodiment, the recycling rate of PET plastic products can reach 100%, meaning that the crushed PET granules can be used entirely as raw materials without the need to add or supplement other substances as main raw materials. This process meets GRS standard certification requirements.

[0082] Example 1.2: Secondary granulation of PET

[0083] Using the PET granules prepared in Example 1.1, the PET granules, green color powder, halogen-free flame retardant, semi-matte matting agent and UV inhibitor are mixed together in a granulator. After being stirred at a certain temperature for a certain time to achieve uniform mixing (the stirring time and temperature need to be adjusted as needed), multifunctional PET granules are produced.

[0084] Example 1.3: Preparation of multifunctional BOPET

[0085] The multifunctional PET granules prepared in Example 1.2 were placed in a large hopper for drying, then extruded into sheets using an extruder. The sheets were then stretched longitudinally and laterally, subsequently wound up, slit, and packaged for further processing. Figure 4 As shown, a green, multifunctional BOPET is obtained. This multifunctional BOPET has the functions of color development, flame retardancy, matte finish, and UV protection. In this embodiment, three thicknesses of single-layer BOPET were fabricated, with thicknesses of 50μm, 70μm, and 100μm, respectively.

[0086] Example 2: Processing BOPET into simulated plant organs

[0087] In this embodiment, a double-winding method is used to create simulated plant organs. Two pieces of multifunctional BOPET obtained in Example 1.3 are placed in a parallel operating position using a stretching machine. Then, according to design requirements, the two pieces of BOPET are simultaneously cut separately. The specific cutting method and dimensions can be adjusted as needed. In this embodiment, the simulated leaves and branches are designed to be made as a single piece, such as... Figure 6 As shown, cut along the white lines to obtain strip-shaped leaves on both sides and the stem part in the middle that has not been cut.

[0088] After cutting, wrap each of the two BOPET pieces around a central stem section of two wires. Then, twist the two wrapped branches together to form a single, denser branch. Use wires of appropriate length and diameter according to the desired design. This results in a green, leafy branch. Multiple branches can be prepared as needed.

[0089] Example 3: Assembly of artificial plants

[0090] Based on design requirements and considering the actual shape and characteristics of trees, the multiple branches obtained in Example 2 were assembled together. The assembled simulated tree can be used as a Christmas tree, for example. Samples 1 (50 μm thick), 2 (70 μm thick), and 3 (100 μm thick) of the finished tree were selected for subsequent performance testing.

[0091] Comparative Example 1: Simulated tree made of BOPET without additives

[0092] The same method was used to manufacture the finished simulated tree of Example 3 again, except that no colorant, flame retardant, UV stabilizer and matte agent were added during the preparation of BOPET.

[0093] Example 4: Performance Testing

[0094] Samples of the simulated trees obtained in Example 3 and Comparative Example 1 were subjected to various performance tests. Each sample was tested in three parallel tests. The test standards or test conditions and results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0095] Test environment: Indoor temperature 25±5℃; relative humidity 50%+ / -20%; illumination: 500-1000Lux;

[0096] Visual inspection conditions: The inspector should have good eyesight and the eyes should be 30-40cm away from the sample during the inspection;

[0097] Visual inspection time: 8-15 seconds for the appearance inspection of each sample.

[0098] Table 1

[0099]

[0100]

[0101] As can be seen from the table above, artificial trees with various additives have a variety of excellent properties, such as matte finish, good flame retardancy, excellent UV aging resistance, high and low temperature resistance, strong adhesion, good elasticity, and good folding performance. These excellent properties can make the artificial plants more widely used in various fields.

[0102] Therefore, it can be seen that the simulated plant organs or simulated plants produced by the method of this application not only overcome the problems of unfidelity, discoloration, deformation and environmental unfriendliness of traditional PVC materials by using multifunctional BOPET, but also endow simulated plant organs or simulated plants with multifunctionality, such as UV resistance, matte finish and flame retardancy, so that they can better meet people's special needs and be more widely used in various applications.

[0103] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0104] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of several implementations of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing simulated plant organs, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Preparation of multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester films; and The multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film is processed into simulated plant organs.

2. The method for fabricating simulated plant organs according to claim 1, characterized in that, The simulated plant organs include simulated roots, simulated stems, simulated leaves, simulated flowers, simulated fruits, and simulated seeds.

3. The method for fabricating simulated plant organs according to claim 1, characterized in that, After preparing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film, the following steps are also included: The multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film is embossed to form an uneven texture on its surface.

4. The method for fabricating simulated plant organs according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preparation of multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester films includes: Prepare polyethylene terephthalate granules; One or more additives are added to the polyethylene terephthalate granules to prepare multifunctional polyethylene terephthalate granules; and The multifunctional polyethylene terephthalate granules are processed into the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film.

5. The method for fabricating simulated plant organs according to claim 4, characterized in that, Preparing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) granules includes: Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products are processed to obtain PET granules.

6. The method for fabricating simulated plant organs according to claim 4, characterized in that, The one or more additives mentioned are selected from: colorants, light stabilizers, antistatic agents, flame retardants, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, matting agents, brightening agents, foaming agents, color-changing agents, antibacterial agents, and combinations thereof.

7. The method for fabricating simulated plant organs according to claim 1, characterized in that, Processing the multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film into simulated plant organs includes: The multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film is cut into the desired shape to assemble simulated plant organs.

8. A simulated plant organ, characterized in that, The simulated plant organs are manufactured using the method described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method for producing simulated plants, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The method for producing simulated plant organs according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and The simulated plant organs are assembled into the simulated plant.

10. A simulated plant, characterized in that, The simulated plant is made using the method described in claim 9.

11. A multifunctional biaxially oriented polyester film for manufacturing simulated plant organs according to claim 8 or simulated plants according to claim 10.

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