Fluorine Copolymer Composition for Abrasion-Resistant Thin Wire Coatings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fluorine-containing copolymers, such as TFE/HFP copolymers, excel in electric wire coatings but lack broad applicability due to insufficient high-temperature abrasion resistance, solvent crack resistance, low oxygen permeation, and durability in applications like microtubes, piping members, and nuts.

Innovation Solution

A fluorine-containing copolymer comprising tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether units, with specific content ratios and melt flow rates, enhancing 125°C abrasion resistance, solvent crack resistance, low oxygen permeation, high-temperature rigidity, deformation resistance, and durability, while allowing high-speed injection molding and extrusion forming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional TFE/HFP copolymers are used for electric wire coatings, then coating performance is excellent, but high-temperature abrasion resistance and solvent crack resistance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-temperature abrasion resistance and solvent crack resistanceVSAvoidbroad applicability in microtubes, piping members, and nuts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite copolymer structure combining TFE, HFP, and PFA monomer units. The TFE units provide base polymer strength, HFP units contribute to abrasion resistance and chemical inertness, while PFA units enhance solvent crack resistance and high-temperature stability. This composite approach at the molecular level enables the material to simultaneously achieve excellent coating performance and broad applicability in demanding applications like microtubes, piping members, and nuts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent precisely controls the compositional parameters of the copolymer, specifying that HFP content ranges from 65-85 mol% and PFA content ranges from 5-30 mol%. By optimizing these compositional parameters within specific ranges, the material achieves the desired balance between coating performance and mechanical properties for high-temperature and chemical-resistant applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If high injection speed is used for molding, then productivity increases, but material requirements become more stringent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-speed injection molding capabilityVSAvoidmaterial composition control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise compositional parameters (HFP: 65-85 mol%, PFA: 5-30 mol%) and corresponding melt flow rate ranges (5-20 g/10min at 372°C) that enable the material to be processed at high injection speeds while maintaining manufacturing precision. The controlled composition ensures proper melt viscosity and flow characteristics for high-speed molding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces PFA units as a specific local component within the copolymer structure at controlled concentrations (5-30 mol%). These PFA segments locally modify the polymer's melt rheology and crystallization behavior, enabling high-speed injection molding while maintaining the overall structural integrity and precision required for complex molded parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If thin coating layers are formed on small diameter core wires, then material efficiency improves, but formation speed and quality become difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial efficiencyVSAvoidformation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the melt flow rate parameter within the range of 5-20 g/10min at 372°C, which enables the material to be extruded at high speeds while forming uniform thin coating layers on small diameter core wires. The controlled composition (HFP 65-85 mol%, PFA 5-30 mol%) ensures proper melt viscosity for efficient material deposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent's specific copolymer composition is designed to provide preliminary optimization of melt flow and adhesion properties, allowing the extrusion process to directly form high-quality thin coating layers on small core wires without requiring additional processing steps or slower formation speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Strength

If high-temperature rigidity and deformation resistance are improved, then structural stability increases, but processing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-temperature rigidity and deformation resistanceVSAvoidprocessing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent balances the compositional parameters to achieve high-temperature rigidity while maintaining processability. The HFP content (65-85 mol%) provides crystalline regions for high-temperature strength, while the PFA content (5-30 mol%) introduces amorphous segments that improve melt flow and reduce processing difficulty. This parameter optimization enables both structural stability and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite copolymer structure where TFE units form the crystalline backbone providing high-temperature rigidity, HFP units contribute to chemical resistance and structural stability, while PFA units provide amorphous regions that enhance processability and reduce manufacturing difficulty. This multi-component composite approach resolves the contradiction between strength and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20230382026A1Fluorine-containing copolymer
Publication Date: 2023.11.30 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

There is provided a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising tetrafluoroethylene unit, hexafluoropropylene unit, and a perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) unit, wherein the copolymer has a content of the hexafluoropropylene unit of 10.3 to 11.5% by mass with respect to the whole of the monomer units, a content of the perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) unit of 0.8 to 1.6% by mass with respect to the whole of the monomer units, and a melt flow rate at 372° C. of 10.0 to 13.0 g/10 min.