Fluorinated Elastomer Composition for Engine Harnesses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluorinated elastomer compositions used for engine room harnesses in automobiles require excellent flexibility and oil resistance while avoiding heat discoloration and molding defects, which existing blends of TFE/P copolymers and ETFE struggle to achieve without compromising mechanical properties.
Innovation Solution
A fluorinated elastomer composition comprising a TFE/P copolymer, ETFE, and an ethylene copolymer with epoxy groups, blended in specific ratios to enhance compatibility and improve flexibility, oil resistance, and moldability, with a method involving kneading under controlled heating conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ETFE is blended to TFE/P copolymer to improve oil resistance, then oil resistance is improved, but flexibility and elongation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
An ethylene copolymer containing epoxy groups is used as a compatibilizer between TFE/P copolymer and ETFE. The epoxy groups react with fluorinated groups on the ETFE surface, improving interfacial adhesion and compatibility. This allows higher ETFE content (up to 60 mass%) to be incorporated while maintaining flexibility and elongation properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameter by introducing epoxy-containing copolymer, which chemically reacts with ETFE to modify the blend system. This chemical modification enables significant improvement in compatibility, allowing the system to achieve both high oil resistance (through high ETFE content) and maintained flexibility.
2Strength
If ETFE is blended to TFE/P copolymer to improve cut-through properties, then cut-through resistance is improved, but heat discoloration occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The ethylene copolymer with epoxy groups acts as a mediator that improves the compatibility between TFE/P copolymer and ETFE. This better dispersion and interface adhesion prevents aggregation and reduces localized stress concentrations that would otherwise lead to heat discoloration under high temperature conditions.
3Strength
If ETFE is blended to TFE/P copolymer to improve mechanical properties, then tensile strength and tear strength are improved, but moldability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The epoxy-containing ethylene copolymer serves as a compatibilizer that improves the interfacial adhesion between TFE/P copolymer and ETFE phases. This results in more uniform stress distribution and reduced defect formation during molding, thereby improving moldability while maintaining the enhanced mechanical properties provided by ETFE.
4Reliability
If high proportion of ETFE is used to improve oil resistance, then oil resistance is improved, but flexibility and elongation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The ethylene copolymer containing epoxy groups is used as a compatibilizer that enables high ETFE content (50-60 mass%) to be incorporated into the TFE/P copolymer matrix while maintaining flexibility. The epoxy groups chemically interact with ETFE, creating strong interfacial adhesion that prevents phase separation and maintains compositional stability even at high ETFE concentrations.
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 composition exhibits improved flexibility, oil resistance to lubricant oils, reduced heat discoloration, and enhanced moldability, resulting in fewer molding defects and superior mechanical properties in cross-linked products and covered electric wires.
Implementation Method 1
it has been found that the compatibility is improved by blending an ethylene copolymer containing epoxy groups in a specific proportion
Implementation Method 2
a TFE/P copolymer is used for hoses, tubes, gaskets, packing, diaphragms, sheets, electric wire covering materials, etc., as an elastomer material which is excellent in properties such as heat resistance, oil resistance, chemical resistance, electrical insulation properties, flexibility, etc. and which is radiation cross-linkable
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a fluorinated elastomer composition which is excellent in flexibility and oil resistance to lubricant oil such as automatic transmission oil, is less susceptible to heat discoloration and is excellent also in moldability, and a molded product, cross-linked product and covered electric wire, using such a fluorinated elastomer composition. A fluorinated elastomer composition comprising a tetrafluoroethylene/propylene copolymer (a), an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (b) and an ethylene copolymer (c) containing epoxy groups, wherein the mass ratio [(a)/(b)] of the tetrafluoroethylene/propylene copolymer (a) to the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (b) is from 70/30 to 40/60, and the mass ratio [(b)/(c)] of the ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (b) to the ethylene copolymer (c) containing epoxy groups is from 100/0.1 to 100/10.