Color-Stable Epoxidized Fatty Acid Plasticizer via Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phthalate plasticizers, commonly used in flexible polymer products, face scrutiny due to environmental and health concerns, and epoxidized methyl ester of soybean oil (eFAME) often contains impurities that cause color issues in plasticized compositions, necessitating improvements in plasticizer technology.
Innovation Solution
A plasticizer composition comprising epoxidized fatty acid alkyl esters and epoxidized natural oils, with a color-reducing treatment process involving distillation, filtration, or peroxide treatment to minimize fatty acid dimers and trimers, resulting in a phthalate-free, color-stable plasticizer blend.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If eFAME is used as a plasticizer, then it provides flexibility and can be used as a phthalate alternative, but it contains impurities that cause color issues in plasticized compositions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes color-causing impurities (fatty acid dimers and trimers) from eFAME through extraction processes including distillation, filtration, and adsorption. This separates the harmful color impurities from the beneficial plasticizer components, resolving the color stability issue while maintaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the purity parameters of eFAME by controlling the concentration of fatty acid dimers and trimers to less than 0.1 wt% and 0.05 wt% respectively through various treatment processes. This parameter optimization eliminates color issues while preserving the plasticizer's functional properties
2Reliability
If phthalate plasticizers are used, then they provide effective plasticization, but they have negative environmental impact and potential adverse health effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from phthalate-based plasticizers to epoxidized fatty acid methyl ester-based plasticizers by changing the chemical composition parameters. This substitution maintains plasticization effectiveness while eliminating the environmental and health hazards associated with phthalates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses naturally derived, biodegradable epoxidized fatty acid methyl esters as replacements for persistent phthalates. These natural oil-based plasticizers provide effective plasticization while being environmentally friendly and safe for human exposure
3Object-affected harmful factors
If color-reducing treatment processes are applied to eFAME, then color impurities are reduced, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the color reduction process into multiple independent treatment stages including distillation, filtration, and adsorption. Each stage targets specific impurities, allowing for modular processing that reduces overall complexity while achieving comprehensive color improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses intermediary substances such as adsorbents and filtration media to remove color impurities from eFAME. These intermediaries facilitate the separation process, making color reduction more efficient and less complex by providing a straightforward mechanism for impurity removal
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 provides a phthalate-free plasticizer with reduced color impurities, enhancing the flexibility and processability of polymeric resins while addressing environmental and health concerns associated with traditional phthalates.
Implementation Method 1
contacting at least a portion of said first plasticizer, said second plasticizer, and/or said plasticizer composition with a peroxide
Implementation Method 2
distilling at least a portion of said first plasticizer prior to said combining of step (a)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a plasticizer composition, polymeric compositions containing the plasticizer composition, and conductors coated with the polymeric composition. The plasticizer composition includes a first plasticizer comprising epoxidized fatty acid alkyl esters and a second plasticizer comprising an epoxidized natural oil. The plasticizer composition, first plasticizer, and/or second plasticizer can undergo one or more color-reducing treatment processes, such as distillation, filtration, and/or peroxide treatment.