Biobased Casting Composition Replacing Petrochemicals

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of petrochemical-based polymers in casting compositions for products like kitchen sinks results in unsustainable practices, despite providing good mechanical and thermal properties, due to high crude oil consumption and environmental concerns.

Innovation Solution

A heat-curable biobased casting composition is developed, comprising a mixture of recycled and vegetable or animal-derived monofunctional and polyfunctional acrylic/methacrylic monomers, biobased polymers or copolymers, and inorganic filler particles, replacing petrochemical-based materials with renewable sources to create a biocomposite material with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If petrochemical-based polymers are used in casting compositions, then good mechanical properties and thermal stability are achieved, but sustainability deteriorates due to high crude oil consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical propertiesVSAvoidsustainability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing petrochemical polymers with biobased alternatives (polyols, polyesters from vegetable/animal origin) while adjusting the monomer ratios (10-40 wt% monomers, specific proportions of mono- and polyfunctional types) to achieve comparable mechanical properties without compromising sustainability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite casting composition combining biobased monomers (acrylic and/or methacrylic), biobased polymers, and inorganic filler particles to achieve a material system that delivers both good mechanical properties and improved environmental sustainability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If biobased monomers and polymers are used to improve sustainability, then petrochemical consumption is reduced, but mechanical properties may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesustainabilityVSAvoidmechanical properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple biobased components (monofunctional and polyfunctional acrylic/methacrylic monomers, polyols, polyesters) with inorganic filler particles to create a synergistic composite system where the combination achieves mechanical properties comparable to petrochemical-based formulations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different biobased materials with specific local functions: monofunctional monomers provide base polymerization, polyfunctional monomers enhance crosslinking and mechanical strength, polyols and polyesters contribute to flexibility and durability, while inorganic fillers provide structural reinforcement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If recycled material is used in monomer mixtures to enhance sustainability, then resource conservation improves, but material consistency may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource conservationVSAvoidmaterial consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention controls the composition parameters by specifying that recycled material constitutes 20-80 wt% of the monomer mixture while maintaining defined proportions of mono- and polyfunctional monomers, ensuring consistent polymerization behavior and final material properties despite the use of recycled content

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 biobased casting composition achieves superior mechanical properties, such as impact strength and scratch resistance, while reducing petrochemical material consumption and promoting sustainability, with a high renewable carbon content and improved thermal stability.

Implementation Method 1

fixing the material according to the cavity shape using heat through the thermally induced polymerization of the monofunctional biomonomers with the polyfunctional biomonomers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermally induced polymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

fixing the material according to the cavity shape using heat through the thermally induced polymerization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS12077664B2Heat-curable biobased casting composition, shaped article produced therefrom and process for producing such a shaped article
Publication Date: 2024.09.03 SCHOCK & CO GMBH

AI summary

A heat-curable biobased casting composition, including(a) a mixture of two or more monofunctional acrylic and/or methacrylic monomers, wherein one or more monomers are derived from recycled material and one or more monomers are of vegetable or animal origin,(b) one or more polyfunctional acrylic and/or methacrylic biomonomers of vegetable or animal origin,(c) one or more polymers or copolymers selected from polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyols, polyesters derived from recycled material or of vegetable or animal origin,(d) inorganic filler particles of natural origin,wherein the proportion of the monofunctional acrylic and/or methacrylic monomers and of the polyfunctional acrylic and methacrylic biomonomers is 10-40% by weight, the proportion of the polymer(s) or copolymer(s) is 1-16% by weight and the proportion of the inorganic filler particles is 44-89% by weight.