Dibenzoate Modifiers for LVT Hardness and Rigidity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) lacks sufficient hardness and rigidity, leading to durability issues and aesthetic problems due to imperfections from the subfloor, and traditional plasticizers like phthalates pose health and environmental concerns.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating high-solvating dibenzoate plasticizers as modifiers in LVT formulations to increase hardness and rigidity while reducing the need for traditional plasticizers, maintaining melt rheology for easy manufacturing and improving durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional plasticizers (phthalates) are used in LVT formulations, then flexibility and workability are improved, but hardness and rigidity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility and workabilityVSAvoidhardness and rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by replacing traditional phthalate plasticizers with adipate plasticizers combined with specific processing conditions (temperature, time, shear) to achieve both flexibility and increased hardness/rigidity simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite plasticizer system using adipate plasticizers in combination with specific processing parameters to achieve properties that neither component alone could provide, resulting in enhanced hardness and rigidity while maintaining workability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional plasticizers are used in LVT formulations, then manufacturing ease is improved, but durability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the plasticizer chemistry from phthalates to adipates and optimizes processing parameters (temperature, time, shear) to simultaneously achieve ease of manufacture and enhanced durability through improved indentation resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional plasticizers are used in LVT formulations, then processing conditions are simplified, but health and environmental safety deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing conditionsVSAvoidhealth and environmental safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces harmful phthalate plasticizers with safer adipate plasticizers, converting a harmful material into a beneficial one that maintains processing advantages while eliminating health and environmental concerns associated with phthalate migration and exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 use of dibenzoate modifiers results in a harder, more rigid LVT product with enhanced durability, improved indentation resistance, and reduced plasticizer migration, addressing the limitations of traditional LVT while minimizing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating high-solvating dibenzoate plasticizers as modifiers in LVT formulations to increase hardness and rigidity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

maintaining melt rheology for easy manufacturing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS11834557B2Modifiers for luxury vinyl tile to increase hardness and rigidity

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 LANXESS CORPORATION

AI summary

Modifiers for use in vinyl flooring applications reduce or eliminate the need for traditional, general-purpose plasticizers in applications that require increased hardness or rigidity. High solvating, fast fusing modifiers, such as dibenzoates, added to LVT formulations provide unexpectedly increased flexural strength, hardness, indentation resistance and deflection not heretofore known or recognized in luxury vinyl tile formulations.