Conductive Elastomer Composition Low-Temperature Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive rubber compositions face challenges in achieving high conductivity while maintaining flexibility and wear resistance at low temperatures, leading to potential performance issues in applications like pressure-sensitive switches due to the use of highly crystalline resins that hinder filler dispersibility and cohesion of conductivity agents.
Innovation Solution
An elastomer composition combining styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer and propylene-based elastomer with a low-crystalline propylene component, along with a conductivity imparting agent and process oil, to enhance filler acceptability and dispersibility, thereby improving heat resistance, flexibility, and wear resistance at low temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mixture amount of carbon black is increased to obtain high conductivity, then conductivity is improved, but flexibility at low temperature becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite elastomer system combining SEBS block copolymer (providing flexibility and low-temperature performance) with polypropylene resin (providing structural support and heat resistance). This composite structure allows high carbon black content for conductivity while maintaining flexibility through the SEBS matrix that prevents excessive stiffening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameter ranges: SEBS content at 40-80 parts, polypropylene at 20-60 parts, and carbon black at 30-80 parts per 100 parts elastomer. These parameter adjustments balance conductivity enhancement with flexibility maintenance by controlling the ratio of rigid to flexible components in the composite.
2Temperature
If a highly crystalline resin is used to adjust hardness and heat resistance, then heat resistance is improved, but filler dispersibility and cohesion of conductivity agents deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines highly crystalline polypropylene (for heat resistance) with SEBS block copolymer (for filler dispersibility). The SEBS component acts as a dispersing matrix that accommodates carbon black particles, while the polypropylene provides the required thermal stability, thus resolving the contradiction between heat resistance and filler dispersibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The SEBS block copolymer serves as an intermediary material between the highly crystalline polypropylene and the carbon black filler. It facilitates better dispersion of the conductivity agent by providing a more compatible matrix, while the polypropylene maintains the overall heat resistance of the composition.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an elastomer composition having both of a flexibility and a wear resistance at a low temperature, while having a high conductivity, and containing an elastomer component (A) including styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (a1) and propylene-based elastomer (a2); and containing 10 pts.mass or more and 100 pts.mass or less of a conductivity imparting agent (B), and 10 pts.mass or more and 300 pts.mass of less of a process oil (C) based on 100 pts.mass of the elastomer component (A).