Composite Adsorbent Material for Humidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adsorbent materials for humidity control and heat exchange face challenges such as difficulty in shaping, low mechanical strength, and limited thermal stability, which restrict their industrial applications due to the presence of toxic components and brittleness.
Innovation Solution
A composite material comprising a moisture adsorbent like zeolite or silica gel combined with a permeable polymer matrix made from cellulose acetate or non-crosslinked siloxane/silane elastomers, providing enhanced mechanical resistance and thermal stability up to 240°C, allowing for effective humidity control and heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If thermoplastic polymer blend with plasticizers and wax is used as matrix, then rheological properties are improved for shaping and gas/water vapor permeability is provided, but operating temperature is limited to 100°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polymer matrix from thermoplastic blend to thermosetting polymer, fundamentally altering the material's thermal behavior. This parameter change enables the matrix to maintain structural integrity at temperatures up to 200°C while preserving shaping capability through proper formulation and processing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining polymer matrix with moisture adsorbent particles. This composite structure provides both the mechanical/thermal stability of the polymer and the functional sorption properties of the adsorbent, achieving multiple performance targets simultaneously.
2Strength
If epoxy-based polymer is used as matrix, then mechanical strength is improved, but toxicity from bisphenol and brittleness from repeated thermal cycling occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful epoxy component from the material system. By replacing epoxy with alternative polymer matrices, the solution removes the source of toxicity and brittleness while maintaining the essential mechanical strength and thermal stability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs polymer matrices that can be easily replaced or degraded if needed, avoiding the use of persistent toxic substances like epoxy. The chosen polymers provide sufficient service life for the application while being environmentally benign and non-persistent.
3Reliability
If adsorbent material is used alone, then sorbent properties are maintained, but difficulty in shaping and low mechanical strength lead to deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system combining polymer matrix with moisture adsorbent particles. This composite structure provides both the mechanical/thermal stability of the polymer and the functional sorption properties of the adsorbent, achieving multiple performance targets simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer matrix acts as an intermediary carrier that holds the adsorbent particles together, providing mechanical strength and shaping capability while allowing the adsorbent to maintain its sorption function. The matrix mediates between the conflicting requirements of structural integrity and functional performance.
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 composite material maintains the sorbent properties of the adsorbent while offering high mechanical resistance and thermal stability, enabling long-lasting industrial applications in humidity control and heat exchange devices, with the permeable polymer matrix ensuring vapor permeability and resistance to thermal cycling.
Implementation Method 1
the adsorbent material either absorbs moisture through an exothermic reaction that releases heat
Implementation Method 2
absorbs moisture through an exothermic reaction that releases heat
Implementation Method 3
it desorbs the moisture it contains through an endothermic reaction that consumes heat
Implementation Method 4
desorbs the moisture it contains through an endothermic reaction that consumes heat
Implementation Method 5
the matrix of a permeable polymer... has a water vapor permeability greater than 6000 bars
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Adsorbent composite material (4) intended for humidity control devices, heat exchange or heat storage devices, the adsorbent composite material (4) comprising: - a moisture adsorbent (1), selected from the group comprising a zeolite, a silica gel, an activated carbon, an activated alumina and/or a combination thereof, and - a matrix (3) of a permeable polymer, said permeable polymer being obtained from a polymer (2) selected from cellulose acetate or a non-crosslinked elastomer, such as a siloxane and/or a silanized elastomer, so that the matrix (3) of a permeable polymer is stable up to 240°C and has a water vapor permeability greater than 6000 bars.