Composite Sheet with Heat-Resistant Waste Chips

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Solution Overview

Problem

Home appliances require materials that enhance both aesthetics and eco-friendliness while maintaining mechanical properties such as surface hardness, strength, and thermal resistance.

Innovation Solution

A composite sheet is developed using a thermoplastic matrix and chips formed from highly heat-resistant waste materials, such as artificial marble or super engineering plastics, which are exposed on the surface through etching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If waste materials are used to manufacture composite sheets, then eco-friendliness is improved, but mechanical properties such as surface hardness and strength may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeco-friendlinessVSAvoidmechanical properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite sheet by combining a thermoplastic matrix with heat-resistant waste material chips (such as PEEK, PTFE, PAI, PI, or artificial marble). This composite structure allows the material to inherit the eco-friendliness of recycled waste materials while gaining improved mechanical properties from the synergistic combination of matrix and chips, particularly enhanced surface hardness and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies that the waste material chips must have a melting point of 200°C or higher, which is a critical parameter change that ensures the heat-resistant waste materials can maintain structural integrity and provide mechanical strength in the composite sheet, resolving the contradiction between using waste materials and maintaining mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If chips with large size are used, then heat resistance is improved, but manufacturing precision and surface quality may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat resistanceVSAvoidsurface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent defines a specific size range for the waste material chips (1 mm to 3 cm in average size) and requires a melting point of 200°C or higher. This parameter optimization ensures that chips are large enough to provide heat resistance but small enough to maintain surface quality and manufacturing precision, resolving the contradiction between heat resistance and surface quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Shape

If the surface is etched to expose chips, then aesthetics are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaestheticsVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the natural colors and textures of the exposed waste material chips (such as artificial marble or engineered plastics) on the sheet surface to create aesthetic patterns. The etching process exposes these chips to create a visually appealing surface with varied textures and colors, improving aesthetics while the process remains integrated into the existing manufacturing workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

4Ease of manufacture

If thermoplastic matrix is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but heat resistance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprocessabilityVSAvoidheat resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a thermoplastic matrix with heat-resistant waste material chips having melting points of 200°C or higher. The thermoplastic matrix provides ease of manufacture through conventional processing methods, while the heat-resistant chips embedded within the matrix provide the necessary thermal stability, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and heat resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 sheet improves mechanical properties, enhances aesthetics, and increases eco-friendliness, while providing improved heat resistance and safety in the event of a fire.

Implementation Method 1

The matrix may be a thermoplastic material. The base resin may be a thermoplastic material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermoplastic material properties:

Implementation Method 2

After extruding a mixture containing a base resin constituting the matrix and the chip into a sheet shape, the surface of the extruded sheet may be etched so that at least a portion of the plurality of the chips is exposed.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEtching:

Data Source

PatentEP4549494A1Composite sheet, method for manufacturing same and home appliance including same
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4549494A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4549494A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4549494A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A composite sheet, a method for manufacturing the composite sheet, and a home appliance including the composite sheet are provided. A composite sheet according to an embodiment includes a matrix including a base resin which contains a thermoplastic material; and chips by pulverizing waste materials having irregular shapes and coupled by the matrix and the chips partially exposed to an outer surface of the composite sheet, wherein a range of sizes of the chips has from 1mm to 3cm and a temperature of melting point of the chips has 200°C over.