Aliphatic Polyester Resin Composition for Biodegradable Molded Articles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current biodegradable resin products, such as those based on polyhydroxyalkanoates and polylactic acid, have low biodegradability at room temperature and in marine environments, leading to inadequate environmental impact mitigation and poor mechanical properties.

Innovation Solution

A molded article and tubular article composed of an aliphatic polyester-based resin composition containing a polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer with 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate units, combined with an inorganic filler like silica or calcium carbonate, which enhances biodegradability, mechanical properties, and barrier properties against water vapor and oxygen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If biodegradable resins such as polyhydroxyalkanoates and polylactic acid are used, then environmental biodegradability is improved, but biodegradability at room temperature and in marine environments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental biodegradabilityVSAvoidbiodegradability at room temperature and in marine environments

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the polyhydroxyalkanoate by introducing 3-hydroxyhexanoate units alongside 3-hydroxybutyrate units. This compositional parameter change enables the resin to achieve high biodegradability at room temperature (60% or more after 100 days) and in marine environments while maintaining its biodegradable nature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system combining polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers with specific inorganic fillers (silica, calcium carbonate) in defined ratios. This composite approach enhances both the biodegradability at room temperature and mechanical properties simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between environmental friendliness and performance reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If biodegradable resins are used, then environmental impact is reduced, but mechanical properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidmechanical properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops composite materials combining polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers with inorganic fillers (silica or calcium carbonate) in specific ratios. This composite structure enhances mechanical properties including impact resistance and heat resistance while maintaining the biodegradable nature of the material, thus reducing environmental impact without sacrificing strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the compositional parameters of the resin, specifically controlling the ratio of 3-hydroxybutyrate to 3-hydroxyhexanoate units and the content of inorganic fillers. These parameter changes result in improved mechanical properties while preserving environmental biodegradability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If polyhydroxyalkanoate homopolymer resins are used, then biodegradability is improved, but moldability and mechanical properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebiodegradabilityVSAvoidmoldability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the polymer structure from homopolymer to copolymer by incorporating 3-hydroxyhexanoate units alongside 3-hydroxybutyrate units. This structural parameter change improves moldability and mechanical properties while maintaining high biodegradability at room temperature and in marine environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite materials by combining polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers with inorganic fillers in defined ratios. This composite approach enhances moldability and mechanical properties during manufacturing while preserving the biodegradable characteristics of the material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3778771B1Molded article, sheet, and container, and tubular body, straw, swab, and balloon stick

Publication Date: 2023.07.19 MITSUBISHI CHEM CORP

AI summary

A molded article contains an aliphatic polyester-based resin composition. The aliphatic polyester-based resin composition contains an aliphatic polyester-based resin (A) containing a repeat unit derived from an aliphatic diol and a repeat unit derived from an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid as main structural units, a polyhydroxyalkanoate (B), and an inorganic filler (C). The polyhydroxyalkanoate (B) contains a 3-hydroxybutyrate unit and a 3-hydroxyhexanoate unit as main structural units. The mass ratio of the aliphatic polyester-based resin (A) to the polyhydroxyalkanoate (B) is 40/60 to 10/90. The amount of the inorganic filler (C) relative to the total amount of the aliphatic polyester-based resin (A), the polyhydroxyalkanoate (B), and the inorganic filler (C) is 15 to 50% by mass.