Branched Cyclopentene Copolymer for Hot Flow and Low Heat Buildup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cyclopentene ring-opening copolymers improve hot flowability but compromise low heat buildup as crosslinked rubbers, necessitating a solution that enhances hot flowability without sacrificing low heat buildup.

Innovation Solution

A cyclopentene ring-opening copolymer with a branch structure, where at least four cyclopentene ring-opening polymer chains are linked via a branch-structural unit derived from a polycyclic olefin compound, and at least part of the polymer chains are terminally modified with modifying groups like oxysilyl groups, maintaining low heat buildup while improving hot flowability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a cyclopentene ring-opening copolymer is created by copolymerizing cyclopentene and a compound having a vinyl group to improve hot flowability, then hot flowability is improved, but low heat buildup as a crosslinked rubber is not obtained sufficiently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehot flowabilityVSAvoidlow heat buildup
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a multi-branch structure where at least four polymer chains are linked via a single branch-structural unit derived from polycyclic olefin compound. This localized branching architecture provides sufficient hot flowability through the branch points while maintaining linear main chains that enable effective crosslinking for low heat buildup performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite molecular structure combining linear cyclopentene ring-opening polymer chains with polycyclic olefin-derived branch units. This composite architecture integrates the flow-improving effect of branching with the crosslinking capability of terminal modification, achieving both hot flowability and low heat buildup properties simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Loss of energy

If a cyclopentene ring-opening polymer is used as a straight-chain rubber polymer with no branch in the main chain, then low heat buildup is maintained, but hot flowability is inferior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelow heat buildupVSAvoidhot flowability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the polymer structure into distinct functional regions: linear main chains that maintain low heat buildup through effective crosslinking, and localized branch structures derived from polycyclic olefin compounds that improve hot flowability. The branching ratio is controlled at 0.01 to 4.0 mol% to balance these opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial branching rather than full branching, using a controlled amount of polycyclic olefin compound (0.01 to 4.0 mol%) to introduce sufficient branch points for hot flowability improvement while preserving the majority of the linear chain structure needed for low heat buildup performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 approach results in a cyclopentene ring-opening copolymer that excels in hot flowability while maintaining the low heat buildup of crosslinked rubbers, enhancing their mechanical properties and processability.

Implementation Method 1

A cyclopentene ring-opening polymer is obtained by applying ring-opening metathesis polymerization to cyclopentene

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRing-opening metathesis polymerization: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3604378B1Cyclopentene ring-opening copolymer and method for producing same
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 ZEON CORP
  • EP3604378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3604378B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3604378B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cyclopentene ring-opening copolymer having a branch structure contains a structure in which at least four cyclopentene ring-opening polymer chains are linked via a branch-structural unit. At least part of the cyclopentene ring-opening polymer chains is terminally modified.