Plasticized Cellulose Ester Composition with Inorganic Rheological Modifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current alternatives to polyvinylchloride (PVC) in applications requiring flexibility, toughness, and visual transparency, such as resilient flooring, face challenges in achieving high melt strength, shear thinning, low haze, and color, while being environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A plasticized cellulose ester composition incorporating an inorganic rheological modifier with a refractive index close to that of the cellulose ester, enhancing melt strength and shear thinning properties, and including additives for improved processing and optical clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If cellulose esters are used as PVC alternatives, then environmental friendliness is improved, but melt strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system combining cellulose ester base polymer with specific plasticizers and processing aids. This composite approach allows the environmentally friendly cellulose ester to achieve PVC-comparable melt strength through synergistic interactions between components, particularly using plasticizers that enhance both flexibility and thermal properties during processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically adjusts compositional parameters including plasticizer type and concentration, processing aid selection, and molecular weight characteristics of cellulose ester. By optimizing these parameters, the formulation achieves sufficient melt strength for calendering and extrusion while maintaining the environmental benefits of cellulose-based materials.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cellulose esters are used as PVC alternatives, then environmental friendliness is improved, but shear thinning characteristics are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies rheological parameters by selecting plasticizers with specific molecular structures and concentrations that enhance shear thinning behavior. The formulation adjusts viscosity-shear rate relationships to match PVC processing characteristics, enabling effective calendering and extrusion operations while maintaining environmental sustainability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces processing aids as intermediary substances that mediate between the cellulose ester polymer matrix and processing conditions. These additives facilitate shear thinning during manufacturing operations, improving ease of manufacture without compromising the environmental friendliness of the base cellulose ester material.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cellulose esters are used as PVC alternatives, then environmental friendliness is improved, but optical clarity (low haze and color) is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality control by carefully selecting and optimizing individual formulation components that specifically impact optical properties. The plasticizer and processing aid selection focuses on molecules with refractive indices matched to cellulose ester, ensuring low haze and excellent light transmission in the final flooring product while maintaining environmental benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes compositional parameters including plasticizer concentration, molecular weight, and chemical structure to achieve superior optical clarity. By adjusting these parameters, the formulation produces flooring with low haze and minimal coloration, matching the visual quality expectations for residential applications while remaining environmentally sustainable.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If cellulose esters are used as PVC alternatives, then environmental friendliness is improved, but processability is challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite formulation combining cellulose ester with specifically selected plasticizers and processing aids that collectively improve processability. This composite system enables effective calendering, extrusion, and forming operations while maintaining the environmental sustainability of cellulose-based materials, overcoming the processing difficulties of pure cellulose ester.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces processing aids as intermediary substances that facilitate manufacturing operations. These additives mediate between the cellulose ester polymer and processing equipment conditions, improving flow characteristics, mold release, and overall processability without compromising environmental friendliness or requiring significant equipment modifications.
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 composition exhibits significantly improved melt strength and shear thinning characteristics, maintaining low haze and color, and high light transmission, making it suitable for applications like resilient flooring while being environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
Another characteristic known in the art to be generally relevant to and desirable for processability of a formulation or composition is referred to as 'shear thinning'. Shear thinning is generally defined as a change in the viscosity of a fluid when placed under increasing shear strain forces, more particularly the decrease in complex viscosity of a given sample measured from lower shear rates to relatively higher shear rates.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a plasticized cellulose ester composition. The plasticized cellulose ester composition of the present invention includes a plasticized cellulose ester and an effective amount of an inorganic rheological modifier having a refractive index that differs from the refractive index of said plasticized cellulose ester an amount no more than 0.03 refractive index units. Related articles are also described.