Thermoplastic Elastomer Composition for Flowability and Hue Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermoplastic elastomer compositions require low viscosity and excellent flowability with reduced hue unevenness, which existing technologies like Patent Literature 1 do not adequately address, especially when using biomass-derived softeners.
Innovation Solution
A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising polypropylene-based resin, ethylene/α-olefin copolymer, hydrogenated block copolymer, and a biomass-derived softener at specific blending ratios, with the softener having a paraffinic carbon content of 80% to 100% and kinematic viscosity of 40 to 150 mm²/s, to achieve low viscosity and reduced hue unevenness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a thermoplastic elastomer composition uses biomass-derived softeners, then environmental load is reduced, but viscosity control and flowability become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the kinematic viscosity of the biomass-derived softener (40-150 mm²/s at 40°C) and its paraffinic carbon content (80-100%). By adjusting these physical and chemical parameters of the softener, the composition achieves optimal balance between environmental sustainability and processing performance, ensuring low viscosity and excellent flowability while using biomass-derived materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining polypropylene-based resin, ethylene/α-olefin copolymer, hydrogenated block copolymer, and biomass-derived softener in specific proportions. This composite approach allows the different components to complement each other, where the softener reduces viscosity and the polymer blend provides structural integrity, achieving both environmental goals and manufacturing ease.
2Ease of operation
If the composition achieves low viscosity and excellent flowability, then molding performance is improved, but hue unevenness may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls hue unevenness by precisely adjusting the paraffinic carbon content of the softener to be 80-100% and its kinematic viscosity to 40-150 mm²/s. These parameter controls ensure that the softener provides sufficient lubrication for flowability while maintaining color uniformity during the molding process, preventing excessive migration or concentration that would cause hue variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures homogeneity by selecting a softener with very high paraffinic carbon content (80-100%), which provides uniform molecular structure and consistent interaction with the polymer matrix. This homogeneity in the softener's composition prevents localized concentration variations that would otherwise cause hue unevenness in the molded product, while still maintaining excellent flowability.
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic elastomer having a low viscosity and excellent flowability that can reduce hue unevenness and can also reduce an environmental load when a biomass-derived softener is used, and a molded product thereof. A thermoplastic elastomer composition including components (A) to (D), wherein at least a portion of the composition is cross-linked: (A) 100 parts by mass of a polypropylene-based resin; (B) 40 to 80 parts by mass of an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer including an ethylene unit and an α-olefin unit having 3 to 20 carbon atoms; (C) 80 to 200 parts by mass of a hydrogenated block copolymer, which is a hydrogenated product of a block copolymer having at least one block (c1) mainly including a conjugated diene monomer unit and at least one block (c2) mainly including a vinyl aromatic monomer unit; (D) 20 to 150 parts by mass of a softener with a paraffinic carbon atom content (% CP) of 80% or more and 100% or less, as measured according to ASTM D3238-85 or ASTM D2140.