Epoxy Tube Sheet Composition for Crack-Resistant Hollow Fiber Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional resin compositions for hollow fiber element tube sheets exhibit poor durability in terms of resistance to elution and cracking under high temperature and pressure conditions, particularly when exposed to organic vapors.

Innovation Solution

A resin composition for a hollow fiber element tube sheet is developed, which achieves a breaking strength retention of at least 75% after immersion in ethanol at 130°C for 120 hours, with improved toughness and resistance to cracking, using a specific formulation of epoxy compounds and curing agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional resin composition is used for tube sheet, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but durability against elution and cracking at high temperature deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability against elution and crackingVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the epoxy resin system by combining specific epoxy compounds (cyclic and aliphatic) with polyamine curing agents in defined ratios. This parameter optimization achieves breaking strength retention of 75% or higher after ethanol immersion at 130°C for 120 hours, resolving the durability issue without requiring expensive alternative materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite resin system by combining multiple epoxy compounds with different structural characteristics (cyclic and aliphatic) and specific polyamine curing agents. This composite approach synergistically improves both the high-temperature durability and cracking resistance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through conventional processing methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional epoxy composition is used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but resistance to cracking under high temperature and pressure deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to crackingVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the molecular weight range and structural parameters of the epoxy compounds and polyamine curing agents. By controlling the epoxy compound molecular weight between 100-500 and using polyamines with specific active hydrogen equivalent weights, the composition achieves superior cracking resistance under high temperature and pressure while remaining manufacturable with standard equipment and processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If tube sheet is exposed to high temperature and pressure organic vapor, then separation function is achieved, but elution and cracking occur reducing durability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability in high temperature and pressure conditionsVSAvoidelution and cracking under organic vapor exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful effect of organic vapor exposure and high temperature into a beneficial selection criterion by designing a resin composition specifically optimized for these conditions. The cyclic and aliphatic epoxy compound combination with polyamine curing agents creates a crosslinked network that not only resists but utilizes the harsh environment to demonstrate superior breaking strength retention, effectively transforming the harmful exposure into a validation of the material's enhanced performance.

Inventive Principle:

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

Data Source

PatentUS20260070020A1Hollow fiber element, separation membrane module, and method for producing dehydrated organic compound

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 UBE CORPORATION

AI summary

A hollow fiber element for a separation membrane module, including a plurality of hollow fiber membranes, and a tube sheet which is formed of a cured product of an epoxy composition and fixes and adheres at least one of the ends of the hollow fiber membranes. The cured product has a breaking strength retention of 75% or higher as measured in the form of a 0.2 mm thick film, the breaking strength retention (%) is defined as B1/B0×100, B1 is a breaking strength (MPa) measured at 23° C. after the film is immersed in ethanol at 130° C. for 120 hours; and B0 is a breaking strength (MPa) measured at 23° C. before immersion in ethanol.