Biodegradable Composite Screw for Rust-Free Non-Conductive Fastening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional screws made of metals suffer from corrosion, electric conductivity, and environmental pollution due to non-degradability, while those made of plastics lack natural degradation and contribute to pollution.

Innovation Solution

The environmentally friendly screw is manufactured from biodegradable materials, such as biodegradable plastics mixed with natural materials like bamboo powder, sugar cane, potato, wheat, cassava, and corn starch, or polylactide (PLA) resin with bamboo fiber, ensuring biodegradability and non-conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional screws are made of metals, then strength and durability are improved, but corrosion resistance deteriorates and environmental harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew strengthVSAvoidcorrosion and environmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining biodegradable plastic base material with natural fiber reinforcements (such as wood fiber, bamboo fiber, or plant fiber). This composite structure provides both the mechanical strength needed for screw functionality and the biodegradability required for environmental friendliness, resolving the contradiction between strength and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Weight of moving object

If conventional screws are made of plastics, then weight is reduced and corrosion resistance is improved, but natural degradation capability is lost and environmental pollution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew weightVSAvoidenvironmental pollution due to non-degradability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the plastic material by using biodegradable polymers (such as PLA, PBAT, or PHB) instead of conventional non-biodegradable plastics. This parameter change enables the screw to maintain lightweight properties while gaining natural degradation capability through microbial action, thus resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and environmental pollution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If biodegradable materials are used in screws, then environmental friendliness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to material composition requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental pollutionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into a single material system by incorporating natural fibers directly into the biodegradable plastic matrix during the extrusion and molding process. This consolidation approach allows the screw to achieve both structural integrity and biodegradability through a unified manufacturing process, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the advanced material requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250354578A1Environmentally friendly screw
Publication Date: 2025.11.20 HSU YU CHENG
  • US20250354578A1 patent drawing
  • US20250354578A1 patent drawing
  • US20250354578A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An environmentally friendly screw is provided. The environmentally friendly screw includes a head portion and a threaded portion integrally connected. The head portion and the threaded portion are made from biodegradable materials by an injection molding device. The environmentally friendly screw is provided with a parting line located at a longitudinal section in an axial direction of the environmentally friendly screw. The environmentally friendly screw has advantages of biodegradability or biocompostability, light weight, low cost, and no conductivity.