Flame-Retardant Polyester Fiber UV Cross-Linking Anti-Droplet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional phosphorus-based flame retardants for polyester fibers face challenges in preventing droplet formation, which compromises their flame retardancy, especially in applications like uniforms and protective clothing.

Innovation Solution

A flame-retardant polyester fiber is developed using a mixture of magnesium ethylene glycol and antimony ethylene glycol as a polycondensation catalyst, incorporating unsaturated double bonds and 2-carboxyethylphenylphosphinic acid, which undergoes cross-linking under UV irradiation to enhance heat resistance and anti-droplet performance without damaging the fiber's structural regularity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional phosphorus-based flame retardants are used in polyester, then flame retardancy is improved, but droplet formation occurs which compromises flame retardancy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoiddroplet formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines phosphorus-based flame retardant (2-carboxyethylphenyl hypophosphorous acid) with unsaturated double bonds in a copolymerized polyester structure. This composite material approach allows the flame retardant to function while the unsaturated bonds enable cross-linking that prevents droplet formation, resolving the contradiction between flame retardancy and anti-droplet performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameter by introducing unsaturated double bonds into the polyester chain and using specific catalysts (magnesium ethylene glycol and antimony ethylene glycol). These parameter changes enable UV-induced cross-linking that prevents droplet formation while maintaining flame retardancy through the phosphorus-containing group

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If UV cross-linking is applied to achieve anti-droplet performance, then droplet formation is prevented, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedroplet formationVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates unsaturated double bonds directly into the polyester molecular structure during polymerization, preparing the material in advance for UV cross-linking. This preliminary action allows the anti-droplet function to be activated simply by UV irradiation later, without adding complex manufacturing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or chemical cross-linking methods with UV photochemical cross-linking. This substitution uses light energy instead of complex mechanical processing or additional chemicals, simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving anti-droplet performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 resulting fiber exhibits improved flame retardancy, heat resistance, and anti-droplet properties with a maximum oxygen index value greater than 30, maintaining excellent mechanical and chemical resistance while minimizing thermal degradation and oligomer production.

Implementation Method 1

introduces an unsaturated double bond into the polyester, and completes the cross-linking reaction during the fiber spinning so as to make the fiber be flame retardant with anti-droplet performance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS11174346B2Flame-retardant polyester fiber and its preparation method
Publication Date: 2021.11.16 JIANGSU HENGLI CHEM FIBER

AI summary

A flame-retardant polyester fiber obtained by spinning flame-retardant polyester and irradiating with ultraviolet light and having a limiting oxygen index value of greater than 30. Flame retardant 2-carboxyethylphenylphosphinic acid to improve the flame retardant properties of polyester, the use of polyester containing unsaturated double bond in UV irradiation, the double bond opens to form a crosslinking point, the formation of a certain amount of the network structure improves the heat-resistant temperature of the poly-fiber and improves the anti-dripping performance of the polyester fiber.