Embossed Polyurethane Foam Composite for Deep Bumpy Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing composite materials with flexible polyurethane foam sheets struggle to achieve a deep bumpy design while maintaining excellent shape-imparting properties and durability due to the elasticity of the foam, which impairs cushioning performance.

Innovation Solution

A composite material is developed with a flexible polyurethane foam sheet laminated on a skin material, where the foam has a thickness of 3 to 15 mm and a compression percentage of 5% to 40% in the temperature range of 100°C to 150°C, allowing for effective embossing that forms a deep bumpy design with enhanced shape-imparting and cushioning performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If flexible polyurethane foam sheets are used in composite materials, then cushioning performance is improved, but shape-imparting property during embossing deteriorates due to compression resilience from elasticity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecushioning performanceVSAvoidshape-imparting property
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the flexible polyurethane foam by controlling the NCO index (isocyanate content) to be 100 or more and specifying the compression percentage at 100°C to be 5-40%. These parameter changes modify the foam's elasticity and compression resilience, enabling it to maintain cushioning performance while accepting embossing shapes effectively during heating and pressing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite structure by laminating the specifically formulated flexible polyurethane foam sheet onto a skin material. This composite material combines the cushioning properties of the foam with the surface characteristics of the skin material, achieving both comfort and designability in vehicle interior applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Shape

If embossing is performed on composite materials with flexible polyurethane foam, then bumpy design is achieved, but sufficient shape-imparting effect cannot be obtained due to compression resilience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebumpy designVSAvoidshape-imparting effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the foam's parameters by setting the NCO index to 100 or more and the compression percentage at 100°C to 5-40%, which reduces compression resilience and enables the foam to accept embossed shapes deeply and maintain them, achieving both bumpy design and sufficient shape-imparting effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different properties to different parts of the foam structure by controlling the local compression characteristics through the specified NCO index and compression percentage ranges, allowing the foam to exhibit appropriate deformability during embossing while maintaining overall structural integrity and cushioning function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the flexible polyurethane foam sheet has high compression percentage, then shape-imparting property improves, but cushioning performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape-imparting propertyVSAvoidcushioning performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention identifies the optimal parameter range by setting the compression percentage at 100°C to 5-40%, which balances shape acceptance capability with cushioning performance. This parameter optimization ensures the foam can be embossed effectively while maintaining sufficient elasticity for comfort applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a dynamic balance in the foam's mechanical properties by controlling the NCO index and compression percentage, allowing the material to exhibit appropriate stiffness during embossing (for shape imparting) and appropriate softness during use (for cushioning performance).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enables the creation of embossed products with a deep bumpy design that excels in shape-imparting properties and durability, while maintaining cushioning performance, by optimizing the compression percentage and thickness of the flexible polyurethane foam sheet.

Implementation Method 1

flexible polyurethane foam sheets constituting composite materials are elastic. Therefore, even when composite materials are heated and pressed by means of embossing, in a case in which the design is a fine bumpy shape, there is a problem in that a sufficient shape-imparting effect cannot be obtained due to compression resilience attributed to the elasticity of flexible polyurethane foam sheets

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

When embossing is carried out using a composite material for embossing having the above-described constitution, it is possible to obtain embossed products in which a deep bumpy design is formed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP3357684B1Composite material for embossing, and embossed product
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 SEIREN CO LTD
  • EP3357684B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3357684B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3357684B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is an embossed product on which a deep bumpy design is formed and which is also excellent in terms of a bumpy design shape-imparting property and cushioning performance and durability thereof. A composite material for embossing is a composite material in which a flexible polyurethane foam sheet is laminated on one surface of a skin material, in which the flexible polyurethane foam sheet has a thickness of 3 to 15 mm and a compression percentage of 5% to 40% in a temperature range of 100°C to 150°C. In addition, an embossed product is obtained by embossing a surface of the skin material of the composite material for embossing.