Artificial leather with cool surface feature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial leathers tend to retain heat, which is undesirable in certain applications such as baby mats and automotive seating, particularly in summer months, while maintaining desirable physical and tactile properties.
Innovation Solution
An artificial leather composition comprising a backing layer and a top layer with specific proportions of solid polyurethane and acrylate elastomers and encapsulated phase change materials with a melting or glass transition temperature of 20 to 37°C, which reduces heat retention and provides a cool touch feel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If artificial leather uses conventional polymer coatings to achieve desirable physical and tactile properties, then softness and surface smoothness are improved, but heat retention ability increases making it uncomfortably warm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates encapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) into the artificial leather coating. These PCMs undergo phase transitions (melting/freezing) at specific temperatures to absorb or release heat, actively regulating the thermal properties of the material. When the artificial leather becomes warm, the PCM melts and absorbs excess heat; when it cools, the PCM freezes and releases stored heat, thereby reducing heat retention while maintaining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining polymer coatings (for softness and surface properties) with encapsulated phase change materials (for thermal regulation). This composite structure integrates two functional components: the polymer provides tactile comfort while the PCM provides active thermal management, resolving the contradiction between softness and heat retention.
2Ease of operation
If artificial leather uses polymer coatings to achieve excellent surface smoothness and softness, then tactile properties are improved, but abrasion resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent formulates a composite coating system where polymer materials provide surface smoothness and softness, while the encapsulated phase change materials contribute to structural integrity and abrasion resistance. The synergistic combination allows the coating to maintain tactile comfort while enhancing durability through the reinforced composite structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional components at different scales: the polymer matrix provides local softness and smoothness at the surface level, while the dispersed encapsulated PCMs provide localized reinforcement and thermal regulation. This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous achievement of softness and abrasion resistance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The artificial leather exhibits reduced heat retention, maintaining softness and abrasion resistance with a desirable cool touch, while retaining excellent surface smoothness and physical properties.
Implementation Method 1
embedded particles of an encapsulated phase change material that has a melting or glass transition temperature of 20 to 37° C.
Implementation Method 2
encapsulated phase change material that has a melting or glass transition temperature of 20 to 37° C.
Data Source
AI summary
Artificial leathers have a top layer that contains a solid, water-insoluble polyurethane elastomer, a solid, water-insoluble acrylate elastomer, and embedded particles of an encapsulated phase change material. The top layer imparts a desirable “cool touch” feature to the artificial leather, while also imparting other important physical and tactile properties such as a soft and smooth feel. An artificial leather comprises a backing layer and a top layer bonded directly or indirectly to the backing layer. The top layer comprises, by total weight of the top layer: (i) 25 to 75 weight percent of a solid, water-insoluble polyurethane elastomer; (ii) 10 to 40 weight percent of a solid, water-insoluble acrylate elastomer; and (iii) 1.5 to 30 weight percent of embedded particles of an encapsulated phase change material. The encapsulated phase change material (iii) has a melting or glass transition temperature of 20 to 37° C.