Crosslinked Polyethylene Pipe Material for Shorter Curing Time
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Crosslinked polyethylene pipes produced using organic peroxide (PE-Xa) have superior physical properties but suffer from low productivity due to limited crosslinking time, which reduces the degree of crosslinking when linear velocity is increased to enhance production output.
Innovation Solution
Developing a polyethylene with a density of 0.940 g/cm3 to 0.960 g/cm3, number average molecular weight of 20,000 g/mol to 70,000 g/mol, and weight average molecular weight of 150,000 g/mol to 350,000 g/mol, along with a high content of ultra-high molecular weight, to maintain a crosslinking rate of 70% or more even with shorter crosslinking times, thereby improving productivity without compromising physical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If linear velocity is increased to increase production output, then productivity is improved, but crosslinking time is shortened and degree of crosslinking decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameters of polyethylene, specifically controlling the weight average molecular weight to 150,000-350,000 g/mol and the integration value in the ultra-high molecular weight region (log Mw ≥ 6.0) to 4.5% or more. This parameter optimization enables sufficient crosslinking degree even at high linear velocities, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and crosslinking quality maintenance.
2Reliability
If crosslinking time is extended to improve degree of crosslinking, then physical properties are improved, but production output decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight distribution parameters of polyethylene, setting the weight average molecular weight to 150,000-350,000 g/mol and ensuring 4.5% or more of the integration value is in the ultra-high molecular weight region. These parameter changes enable the material to achieve high crosslinking degree and excellent physical properties within shorter processing times, thus maintaining productivity while improving physical 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 polyethylene exhibits a high degree of crosslinking and maintains excellent strength and pressure resistance characteristics, enabling the production of crosslinked polyethylene pipes with increased productivity while maintaining superior physical properties.
Implementation Method 1
The crosslinked polyethylene is one that is modified into polyethylene having a three-dimensional network structure by crosslinking high density polyethylene (HDPE) having a linear molecular structure
Implementation Method 2
a crosslinking method using an organic peroxide (peroxide crosslinking)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a polyethylene having high degree of crosslinking and a crosslinked polyethylene pipe including the same. The polyethylene according to the present disclosure has a high content of ultra-high molecular weight, and thus a crosslinking rate is improved, and thus a sufficient degree of crosslinking is exhibited even when the crosslinking time is shortened, thereby exhibiting excellent strength and pressure resistance characteristics.