Polymer mixture containing a prepolymer having isocyanate groups.
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current decorative materials for vehicles and seating furniture, such as artificial leather, are impermeable to moisture and air, leading to an unpleasant user experience and safety concerns, while also being inferior in light fastness, abrasion resistance, and cleaning abilities.
Innovation Solution
A polymer mixture composed of 7-95% aliphatic and/or aromatic isocyanate prepolymer, 5-93% difunctional polyol, 0-50% tri- or higher-functional polyol, 0.01-2% catalyst, 0.5-12% reaction retarder, 0-30% filler, and 1-25% solvent, which enhances water vapor and air permeability while maintaining liquid impermeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If artificial leather is used as decorative material, then light fastness, abrasion resistance and cleaning abilities are improved, but water vapor permeability and air permeability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous polyurethane foam as the carrier material in the composite structure. This foam layer contains interconnected pores that allow water vapor and air to pass through while maintaining the mechanical strength and durability required for decorative applications. The pore structure enables breathability without sacrificing the protective functions of artificial leather.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-layer composite structure combining porous polyurethane foam carrier material with polymeric coating layers. This composite approach allows the foam to provide breathability and the coating layers to provide light fastness, abrasion resistance, and cleaning properties, thus achieving both requirements simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If artificial leather is used as decorative material, then design adjustment and structure creation are improved, but moisture permeability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The porous polyurethane foam carrier material provides inherent moisture vapor permeability while serving as a versatile substrate for creating various designs and structures. The foam's open-cell structure allows moisture transmission regardless of the surface design or coating applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines the breathable foam carrier with functional polymeric layers that can be formulated and applied to achieve specific design requirements, colors, textures, and structural properties while the underlying foam maintains moisture permeability.
3Ease of operation
If textile materials are used as decorative material, then water vapor permeability and air permeability are improved, but light fastness, abrasion resistance and cleaning abilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines textile or fleece carrier materials with polymeric coating layers to create a composite structure. The textile base provides breathability and comfort, while the polymeric coatings impart light fastness, abrasion resistance, and ease of cleaning, thus achieving properties superior to pure textile materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric coatings are applied selectively to the textile carrier material to provide specific functional properties (light fastness, abrasion resistance, cleaning ability) in the regions where these properties are needed, while the textile base maintains its breathability and comfort characteristics.
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 polymer mixture significantly improves water vapor and air permeability, creating a climate-active surface that is abrasion-resistant and dirt-resistant, suitable for vehicle interiors and other applications.
Implementation Method 1
Conditions for the breathability of a material are microporosity with sufficiently small pores and a homogeneous surface (such as Goretex), which at the same time has good hydrodynamic properties with good water absorption and desorption potential. To achieve a good hydrodynamic profile, the pore size must remain below a certain size to create capillary action
Implementation Method 2
7-95% by weight of at least one aliphatic and/or aromatic isocyanate prepolymer with a content of isocyanate groups between 2 and 20% by weight, 5-93% by weight of at least one difunctional polyol
Data Source
AI summary
Polymer mixture comprises 7-95 wt.% of at least one aliphatic and/or aromatic isocyanate-prepolymer with an isocyanate group concentration of 2-20 wt.%; 5-93 wt.% of at least one difunctional polyol; 0-50 wt.% of at least one tri- or poly-functional polyol; 0.01-2 wt.% of at least one catalyst; 0-12 wt.% of at least one reaction retarder; 0-30 wt.% of at least one filler; 1-25 wt.% of at least one solvent; and 0-45 wt.% of further additive. Independent claims are included for: (1) a water-vapor permeable and liquid impermeable layer or film comprising the polymer mixture; (2) a water-vapor permeable and liquid impermeable laminates comprising at least two layers or at least one layer and a carrier material, where the layer is obtained from the polymer mixture; (3) an abrasion resistant and dirt-resistant product comprising the polymer mixture; and (4) a component comprising an abrasion resistant and dirt-resistant product, where on the reverse side of the product contains a device for the evacuation of moisture.