Cooling Medium Pipe Resin Composition Balancing Barrier and Flexibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing resin materials for cooling medium transportation hoses in automobiles lack flexibility and extrusion processability while maintaining high barrier properties.

Innovation Solution

A thermoplastic resin composition comprising a matrix of high-melting point and low-oxygen permeable resins with a dispersed domain of isobutylene-based block copolymer and functionalized olefin- or styrene-based polymers, achieving an oxygen permeability coefficient of 0.02 cm3·mm/(m2·day·mmHg) and a melt viscosity of 300 Pa·s at 250°C and 243.2 s−1.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If resin materials high in barrier properties are used for cooling medium transportation hoses, then weight reduction can be realized, but flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose weightVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite material system consisting of a thermoplastic resin matrix (providing barrier properties and weight reduction) combined with dispersed rubber particles (providing flexibility). This composite structure allows the hose to achieve both weight reduction and maintained flexibility simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between using high-barrier resin materials and maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Weight of moving object

If resin materials high in barrier properties are used for cooling medium transportation hoses, then weight reduction can be realized, but extrusion processability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose weightVSAvoidextrusion processability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material system where the thermoplastic resin matrix provides barrier properties and weight reduction, while the dispersed rubber particles act as modifiers that improve extrusion processability. The rubber dispersion facilitates smoother extrusion flow and reduces processing difficulties, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving weight reduction through resin materials and maintaining good extrusion processability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If rubber materials are used for cooling medium transportation hoses, then flexibility is maintained, but weight reduction cannot be realized

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidhose weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the local quality principle by dispersing rubber particles locally within the thermoplastic resin matrix rather than using bulk rubber material. This localized distribution allows the hose to maintain flexibility at the micro-level (through rubber particle dispersion) while the overall structure remains lightweight (through thermoplastic resin dominance), thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining flexibility and achieving weight reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If thermoplastic elastomers are used for hose layers, then flexibility is excellent, but extrusion processability is not necessarily satisfactory

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidextrusion processability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite material system where thermoplastic resin forms the continuous matrix and rubber particles are dispersed within it. This composite structure provides flexibility through the rubber phase while the thermoplastic resin matrix maintains good extrusion processability. The combination allows both flexibility and satisfactory extrusion processability to be achieved simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between using thermoplastic elastomers for flexibility and maintaining extrusion processability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12384910B2Thermoplastic resin composition for cooling medium transportation pipes, and cooling medium transportation pipe
Publication Date: 2025.08.12 THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a thermoplastic resin composition for cooling medium transportation pipes, which has high barrier performance, is flexible and has good extrusion moldability. A thermoplastic resin composition which comprises a matrix that comprises a thermoplastic resin and a domain that comprises a rubber and is dispersed in the matrix, the thermoplastic resin composition being characterized by having an oxygen permeability coefficient (cm3·mm/(m2·day·mmHg)) of 0.02 or less at 21° C. and at a humidity of 0%, and being also characterized in that the melt viscosity of the thermoplastic resin constituting the matrix is 300 Pa·s or less at 250° C. and at a shear rate of 243.2 s−1, the thermoplastic resin comprises a thermoplastic resin having a melting point or a glass transition temperature of 150° C. or higher and a thermoplastic resin having an oxygen permeability coefficient of 0.004 or less or comprises a thermoplastic resin having a melting point or a glass transition temperature of 150° C. or higher and an oxygen permeability coefficient of 0.004 or less, and the rubber comprises an isobutylene-based block copolymer and an olefin- or styrene-based polymer having an epoxy group, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, an acid anhydride group or a carboxyl group.