Cellulose Fiber Thermoplastic Fastening Component

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a limit to improving the properties of fastening components using conventional reinforcing fibers like glass or carbon fibers, and existing methods fail to effectively allocate unique characteristics to fastening components.

Innovation Solution

A fastening component is created using a mixture of microfibrillated cellulose fibers dispersed in a thermoplastic resin with a melting point between 150 and 200°C, where the cellulose fibers constitute 20-60% of the mixture, and an inorganic pigment is added to enhance strength and formability, with specific melt viscosity ranges and polyamide resin used to balance strength and moldability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional reinforcing fibers (glass fiber or carbon fiber) are added to improve strength, then the strength of fastening components is improved, but the property improvement reaches a limit and cannot allocate unique characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of fastening componentVSAvoidproperty allocation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from conventional glass/carbon fibers to cellulose fibers, and optimizes the fiber content parameter to 20-60 mass% to achieve both sufficient strength and unique environmental characteristics that conventional fibers cannot provide

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system combining thermoplastic resin with cellulose fibers, where the composite achieves both mechanical strength requirements and additional environmental benefits such as recyclability and biodegradability that single materials cannot provide

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cellulose fibers are added to thermoplastic resin, then environmental friendliness and recyclability are improved, but the mixture may have poor formability due to high fiber content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidformability of mixture

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the cellulose fiber content parameter to a specific range of 20-60 mass%, which balances environmental benefits with manufacturing formability. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient fiber content for environmental performance while maintaining low enough fiber content to preserve moldability and processing characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent selects specific types of cellulose fibers and optimizes their distribution within the thermoplastic resin matrix to ensure uniform dispersion and appropriate local properties that maintain overall formability while achieving environmental goals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If high fiber content is used to improve strength, then strength is improved, but the melt viscosity increases and moldability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of fastening componentVSAvoidmoldability of mixture

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the fiber content parameter within the range of 20-60 mass% and controls the melt viscosity parameters to balance strength improvement with maintainable moldability. This parameter optimization prevents excessive viscosity increase that would occur with higher fiber contents while ensuring sufficient fiber reinforcement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 fastening component with improved strength, bending elastic modulus, and formability, while also being recyclable and environmentally friendly, achieving properties beyond conventional fastening components.

Implementation Method 1

the thermoplastic resin has a melting point of between 150 and 200° C.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

a process to introduce cellulose fiber cotton and thermoplastic resin into a mixer that is provided with a rotational blade for mixing them, thereby melting the thermoplastic resin by the generated friction heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction heating: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9505915B2Fastening component and method for manufacturing the fastening component

Publication Date: 2016.11.29 YKK CORP

AI summary

A fastening component is a molded article of a mixture in which microfibrillated cellulose fibers are dispersed in a thermoplastic resin, wherein the thermoplastic resin has a melting point of between 150 and 200° C., and wherein when the total mass % of the thermoplastic resin and the cellulose fibers is set to be 100 mass %, the mass % of the cellulose fibers included in the mixture is greater than 20 mass % and less than 60 mass %. When the total mass % of the thermoplastic resin and the cellulose fibers is set to be 100%, the mass % of the cellulose fibers included in the mixture is preferably equal to or greater than 30 mass % and equal to or less than 50 mass %.