Biodegradable Racquet String Composite Material

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional synthetic strings, such as those used in racquets and fishing lines, are non-biodegradable and take approximately 400 to 500 years to degrade, leading to significant plastic waste and durability issues under constant and periodic tension.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a biodegradable additive into the petroleum-based materials used for synthetic strings, such as nylon, polyester, or polyurethane, which reduces the degradation time to around 3 to 5 years and enhances durability and playability by blending the additive with the material during the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional synthetic materials (nylon, polyester, polyurethane) are used for racquet strings, then durability and tensile strength are maintained, but the strings take 400-500 years to degrade and generate significant plastic waste

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidplastic waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines conventional synthetic materials (nylon, polyester, or polyurethane) with biodegradable additives to create a composite string material. This composite structure maintains the mechanical properties and durability of the synthetic base material while introducing biodegradability through the additive component, allowing the string to degrade within 3-5 years instead of 400-500 years.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the synthetic material by incorporating biodegradable additives at specific concentrations (0.2% to 4% by weight). This parameter change transforms the material from completely non-biodegradable to biodegradable within a controlled timeframe, while maintaining the mechanical performance required for racquet string application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If biodegradable additives are incorporated into synthetic string materials, then degradation time is reduced to 3-5 years, but the material composition and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegradation timeVSAvoidmaterial composition

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the complexity by specifying precise parameter ranges for the biodegradable additive content (0.2% to 4% by weight). This parameter control ensures that the material composition remains manageable and manufacturable while achieving the desired degradation timeframe of 3-5 years.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The biodegradable additive is incorporated into the synthetic material matrix to create localized biodegradation zones. This allows the material to maintain its overall structural integrity and mechanical properties while enabling controlled degradation through the distributed additive particles, simplifying the overall material design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If biodegradable additives are blended with petroleum-based materials during manufacturing, then environmental sustainability is improved, but the manufacturing process requires additional blending steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental sustainabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the biodegradable additive with the petroleum-based synthetic material in a single blending and extrusion process. This merging approach integrates the biodegradability function into the existing manufacturing workflow without requiring completely separate processing steps, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while improving environmental sustainability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 biodegradable additive increases the tensile strength and durability of the synthetic strings, reducing the frequency of replacements and plastic waste, while also shortening the degradation time, resulting in a more sustainable and effective string for racquet sports and other applications.

Implementation Method 1

a biodegradable additive blended with the petroleum based material... reduces the degradation time to around 3 to 5 years

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

a biodegradable additive blended with the petroleum based material... increases the tensile strength and durability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectComposite materials: Composite Materials

Data Source

PatentUS20230285810A1Biodegradable racquet string

Publication Date: 2023.09.14 BURBARY RYAN

AI summary

Biodegradable strings, for example, for use in racquet sports, fishing line, and trimming line, are described. The biodegradable string includes a petroleum based material and a biodegradable additive blended with the petroleum based material. The petroleum based material may be nylon, polyester, or polyurethane, and the biodegradable additive may be less than 5% of the racquet string by weight. The biodegradable string may include one or more filaments containing the biodegradable additive. The biodegradable string may be of a round, hexagonal, heptagonal, or octagonal shape, and may be capable of withstanding high tension.