Biobased Plasticizer Slurry for Low-Contamination Ceramic Green Sheets

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of fossil-based plasticizers in the production of ceramic green sheets for electronic components is limited by their finite availability, environmental impact, and the presence of impurities such as heavy metals, which can cause short circuits and emissions, necessitating a shift to biobased alternatives.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of biobased aliphatic carboxylic acids and/or their esters as plasticizers in slurry compositions for ceramic green sheets, ensuring a biobased carbon content of 1 to 100% and minimizing heavy metal contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fossil-based plasticizers are used in slurry compositions, then the production of ceramic green sheets is currently feasible, but the availability is limited due to finite fossil resources and rising prices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of plasticizerVSAvoidfinite fossil resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of plasticizer origin from fossil-based to biobased materials. This substitution addresses the availability issue by transitioning to renewable resources that can be continuously produced, eliminating the constraint of finite fossil reserves while maintaining the plasticizer's functional properties in ceramic green sheet production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs biobased materials that can be sustainably replenished, effectively creating a renewable resource system. Unlike exhaustible fossil resources, biobased plasticizers can be continuously produced from agricultural or biological sources, ensuring long-term availability without depleting natural reserves

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If fossil-based plasticizers are used, then production can proceed currently, but greenhouse gas emissions increase due to transport and production

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capabilityVSAvoidgreenhouse gas emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a regional production approach where biobased plasticizers are manufactured locally from available biological resources rather than being transported from distant fossil fuel sources. This self-service model reduces transportation distances and associated greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining production capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the previously harmful reliance on transported fossil materials into a beneficial local production system. By utilizing locally available biobased resources, the system transforms the harm of long-distance transportation emissions into the benefit of regional sustainability and reduced carbon footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If biobased plasticizers are used, then sustainability is improved, but heavy metal impurities from plant residues may cause short circuits in electronic applications

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesustainabilityVSAvoidheavy metal contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies extraction and purification processes to remove heavy metal impurities from biobased plasticizer materials. By selectively extracting and eliminating harmful heavy metal contaminants while retaining the beneficial biobased components, the system achieves both sustainability and electronic component reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces purification intermediaries or processing steps that facilitate the separation of heavy metals from biobased materials. These intermediary processes act as mediators between the raw biobased materials and the final plasticizer product, ensuring removal of contaminants that would otherwise cause short circuits in electronic applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If biobased plasticizers are used, then regional availability is improved, but additional purification steps are required to remove heavy metal impurities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveregional production capabilityVSAvoidpurification process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary selection and pre-treatment of biobased raw materials to minimize heavy metal content before the main plasticizer production process. By performing preliminary actions to select cleaner feedstocks and conduct initial purification, the system reduces the complexity of subsequent purification steps while maintaining regional production capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4653409A1A slurry composition comprising biobased plasticizers

Publication Date: 2025.11.26 KURARAY EURO GMBH

AI summary

The present invention relates to a slurry composition comprising at least one polyvinyl acetal, at least one inorganic powder and at least one aliphatic carboxylic acid and/or at least one aliphatic carboxylic acid ester, characterized in that the aliphatic carboxylic acid and/or the aliphatic carboxylic acid ester comprises a biobased carbon content measured according to ASTM D6866 - 22 from 1 to 100%. The slurry is used to make a multilayer ceramic capacitor.