Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Membrane for Solid Pheromone Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sustained release pheromone preparations using polyethylene membranes struggle to effectively release aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds with melting points above normal temperatures, as they remain solid and have low permeability, hindering mass trapping and mating disruption of insect pests.

Innovation Solution

Employing an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer membrane with a high vinyl acetate unit content to maintain the aliphatic hydrocarbon compound in a liquid form, enhancing its permeability and release rate into the air, allowing for sustained release of C 20-35 aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds as pheromones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a polyethylene membrane is used in a sustained release pheromone preparation, then the preparation is inexpensive and has good formability, but aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds with melting points above normal temperatures remain solid and have low permeability, hindering effective release

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidpheromone release rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the membrane from polyethylene to ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with specific vinyl acetate content (20-80 wt%). This parameter change transforms the membrane's properties to enable effective permeation of solid aliphatic hydrocarbon pheromones while maintaining sustained release characteristics, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and pheromone release rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer membrane which is a composite material combining ethylene and vinyl acetate units. This composite structure provides both the cost-effectiveness and formability of polyethylene and the enhanced permeability needed for solid hydrocarbon pheromones, simultaneously addressing ease of manufacture and productivity requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If a polyethylene membrane is used, then the preparation is simple and cost-effective, but the permeability of solid aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds is remarkably low, preventing sufficient release for mass trapping and mating disruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidpheromone release reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the membrane material parameter from polyethylene to ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with optimized vinyl acetate content. This parameter change enhances the membrane's permeability to solid hydrocarbon pheromones, ensuring reliable and sufficient release for pest control objectives while maintaining relatively simple device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the pheromone substance is an aliphatic hydrocarbon compound in solid form at normal temperature, then the compound has stable storage properties, but it has low permeability through polyethylene membrane, hindering effective release into the air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidrelease rate into air
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the membrane material parameter to ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with specific vinyl acetate content (20-80 wt%). This parameter change creates a membrane structure that is compatible with solid hydrocarbon pheromones, enabling them to maintain storage stability while achieving effective permeation and release into the air for pest control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer membrane ensures a high and consistent pheromone release rate throughout the control period, effectively targeting insect pests with aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds that are solid at normal temperatures, thereby enhancing pest control efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

a C 20-35 aliphatic hydrocarbon compound which is carried in a liquid form by the membrane, is permeable through the membrane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

maintain the liquid form by changing the material of a membrane used for a sustained release pheromone preparation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3202264B1Sustained release pheromone preparation
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a sustained release pheromone preparation used for the control of insect pest, which can maintain a high release rate of a pheromone substance during the control period of the insect pest which has, as the pheromone substance, a C20-35 aliphatic hydrocarbon compound having such a melting point that the aliphatic hydrocarbon is in a solid form at normal temperature. More specifically, provided is a sustained release pheromone preparation comprising a membrane of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a C20-35 aliphatic hydrocarbon compound which is carried by the membrane, is permeable through the membrane, and has such a melting point that the aliphatic hydrocarbon compound is in a solid form at normal temperature, wherein the preparation targets an insect pest having the aliphatic hydrocarbon compound as a pheromone substance.