Elastomer Blend Composition for Low-Odor Vehicle Flooring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-carpeted flooring materials for the automotive industry have undesirable odor properties, lacking a desirable balance of mechanical properties and durability without objectionable odors.
Innovation Solution
A thermoplastic polymer blend composition comprising a hydrogenated block copolymer, propylene homopolymer or copolymer, mineral oil, maleic anhydride grafted polymer, and filler, combined with odor-reducing components such as plant oils and silicone compounds, optimized for injection molding to reduce detectable odors at ambient and elevated temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional elastomer compositions are used for non-carpeted flooring, then mechanical properties and durability are achieved, but objectionable odors are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes harmful odor-generating components from the elastomer composition by extracting specific volatile organic compounds and replacing them with odor-reducing additives, thereby eliminating the harmful factor while preserving the base polymer structure that provides mechanical properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces odor-reducing additives as intermediary substances that mediate between the elastomer matrix and the odor problem. These additives act as chemical intermediaries that neutralize or mask harmful odors without compromising the structural integrity of the flooring material
2Object-generated harmful factors
If odor-reducing additives are added to elastomer composition, then odor is reduced, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple odor-reducing additives into a single integrated composition formulation, merging their functions to achieve odor reduction through a unified additive package rather than separate treatments, thereby simplifying the overall composition structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration and ratio of odor-reducing additives to achieve effective odor control at minimal levels, changing the parametric composition to balance odor reduction with processing simplicity and cost-effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
An elastomer composition including (a) an elastomer blend component; (b) at least one first odor-reducing component; and (c) at least one second odor-reducing component; the elastomer component (a) including a hydrogenated block copolymer, a propylene polymer, a maleic anhydride grafted polymer, a mineral oil, and a filler, and/or a nucleating agent. The elastomer composition can be particularly suitable for fabricating injection molded non-carpet vehicle flooring with a reduced amount of undesirable odor.