Copper Phosphate Radiation-Absorbing Plastic
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic packaging materials are susceptible to degradation from UV and IR radiation, leading to reduced shelf life of products, material brittleness, and potential health hazards, while existing absorber systems often compromise transparency or stability.
Innovation Solution
A radiation-absorbing plastic-based material incorporating finely divided copper phosphate compounds like copper hydroxide phosphate, which effectively absorbs UV and IR radiation without significantly impairing transparency, and promotes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, offering germ-inhibiting properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional absorber materials are incorporated into polymer material, then UV and IR radiation absorption is improved, but transparency in the visible range deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using specific copper phosphate compounds (Cu3(PO4)2, CuHPO4, Cu2HPO4) with defined crystal structures and particle sizes (0.1-10 μm). These parameter changes enable the material to absorb UV and IR radiation while maintaining visible transparency, resolving the contradiction between radiation protection and optical clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by dispersing inorganic copper phosphate absorber particles within an organic polymer matrix. This composite structure combines the radiation-absorbing properties of the inorganic compounds with the transparency and processability of the polymer, achieving both UV/IR absorption and visible light transmission.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If inorganic absorber materials are used in high doses, then radiation absorption is improved, but material transparency deteriorates due to heavy coloration or clouding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dosage parameter by incorporating the copper phosphate compounds at concentrations of 0.01-10% by weight based on the polymer weight. This controlled dosing, combined with specific particle size reduction (0.1-10 μm), achieves effective radiation absorption while minimizing coloration and clouding effects that would otherwise occur at higher doses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring uniform dispersion of the absorber particles throughout the polymer matrix. This even distribution prevents localized concentration effects that would cause clouding or heavy coloration, while still achieving sufficient overall absorption of UV and IR radiation across the entire material.
3Illumination intensity
If organic absorber materials are used, then transparency is maintained, but thermal stability deteriorates due to decomposition during processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces long-lived but thermally unstable organic absorber molecules with inorganic copper phosphate compounds that are thermally stable but may have limited solubility in the polymer matrix. The inorganic particles maintain their structural integrity during high-temperature processing, eliminating decomposition issues while preserving transparency through proper particle size control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes organic molecular absorbers with inorganic particulate absorbers. This substitution replaces the molecular-level absorption mechanism of organic compounds with the electronic band structure absorption of inorganic solids, achieving superior thermal stability during processing while maintaining optical transparency through controlled particle morphology and size.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If absorber materials are incorporated into polymer material, then radiation protection is improved, but processability and material properties may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the absorber material by using finely divided particles with sizes of 0.1-10 μm. This particle size reduction improves dispersion characteristics and rheological properties, ensuring that the copper phosphate compounds do not significantly impair the processability of the polymer during extrusion, injection molding, or other common plastic processing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the particulate nature of the copper phosphate absorbers, creating a composite structure where the inorganic particles are dispersed within the polymer matrix. This structure allows for effective radiation absorption while maintaining the continuous polymer phase that provides good processability and mechanical properties.
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 material effectively absorbs UV and IR radiation, maintains transparency, accelerates hydrogen peroxide decomposition, and exhibits germ-inhibiting effects, enhancing the safety and longevity of packaged products while being thermally stable and non-toxic.
Implementation Method 1
the absorber material or mixture of absorber materials from phosphates, condensed phosphates, phosphonates, phosphites and mixed hydroxide-phosphate-oxoanions of Copper (Cu), tin (Sn), calcium (Ca) and/or iron (Fe) is selected and is finely divided, dispersed or dissolved in the polymer matrix
Implementation Method 2
The plastic-based materials according to the invention absorb UV radiation and/or IR radiation very well
Implementation Method 3
it has been shown that the compounds used according to the invention as absorption materials, in particular the copper compounds, especially copper hydroxide phosphate, have an accelerating or catalyzing effect on the decomposition or decomposition of peroxides, such as hydrogen peroxide
Implementation Method 4
The discovered germ-inhibiting and/or germicidal effect of the plastic-based materials according to the invention with incorporated copper phosphate compounds according to the invention
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a radiation-absorbing, plastic-based material composed of a polymer matrix having an absorber material or mixture of absorber materials contained therein, wherein the absorber material or mixture of absorber materials is selected from among phosphates, condensed phosphates, phosphonates, phosphites, and mixed hydroxide/phosphate oxoanions of copper (Cu), tin (Sn), calcium (Ca), and/or iron (Fe) and is present in the polymer matrix in a finely distributed, dispersed, or dissolved manner.