Abrasive Fillers Replace Cryolite for EU Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Abrasive products containing cryolite exceed EU HSE regulations, necessitating the development of alternatives or reduced cryolite usage without compromising performance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating non-cryolite fillers such as sodium oxalate, sodium borate, sodium polyphosphate, opal glass, hexafluorophosphates, hexafluoroferrates, and hexafluorozirconates into abrasive products to enhance performance while meeting environmental regulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cryolite is used as a filler in abrasive products, then grinding performance is improved, but environmental compliance deteriorates due to exceeding EU HSE regulations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding performanceVSAvoidenvironmental compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the filler material by replacing cryolite with alternative substances such as sodium oxalate, sodium borate, sodium polyphosphate, opal glass, and hexafluorophosphates. This substitution maintains the functional performance of the abrasive product while eliminating the harmful environmental effects associated with cryolite, thereby resolving the contradiction between grinding performance and environmental compliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite filler systems that combine multiple alternative materials (e.g., sodium oxalate with opal glass, or hexafluorophosphates with sodium borate) to achieve the desired grinding performance that previously required cryolite. These composite materials provide synergistic effects that maintain productivity while ensuring environmental safety and regulatory compliance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cryolite content is reduced to meet HSE regulations, then environmental compliance is improved, but grinding performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental complianceVSAvoidgrinding performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the filler composition from cryolite-based to alternative substances, optimizing their concentrations and combinations to achieve full grinding performance without relying on cryolite. This parameter optimization ensures that environmental compliance is maintained while productivity is preserved or even enhanced

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary substances such as opal glass and various sodium salts that act as performance enhancers and compensators. These intermediaries help maintain the grinding performance that would otherwise be lost when reducing or eliminating cryolite, thereby bridging the gap between environmental compliance and productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2200780B1Abrasive products including active fillers
Publication Date: 2011.05.04 SAINT GOBAIN ABRASIVES INC
  • EP2200780B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2200780B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An abrasive product comprises an abrasive component and a bond component. In one embodiment, the bond component includes a binder and a filler component that includes a cryolite and at least one member selected from the group consisting of sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4), sodium borate (Na2B4O7 10H2O), sodium polyphosphate (NaPO3), opal glass, a hexafluorophosphate, a hexafluoroferrate, a hexafluorozirconate and ammonium tetrafluoroborate. In another embodiment, the bond component includes a binder and a filler component that includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of a hexafluoroferrate, a hexafluorophosphate and a hexafluorozirconate. Alternatively, an abrasive product comprises an abrasive component and a filler component that includes at least one member selected from the group a hexafluoroferrate and a hexafluorozirconate. The abrasive component includes at least one of abrasive particles and agglomerates of abrasive particles.