Fluoropolymer Composition for Methane Permeation and Moisture Barrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluorine-containing copolymers fail to provide a balance between air permeability, methane permeability, and low moisture permeability, which is essential for applications like incubators that require light permeation, chemical resistance, and durability.

Innovation Solution

A fluorine-containing copolymer comprising tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether units, with specific content ratios and melt flow rates, that enhances abrasion resistance, ozone resistance, hot water resistance, methane permeation, and durability, while minimizing fluorine ion dissolution in chemical solutions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing fluorine-containing copolymers are used, then chemical resistance and durability are provided, but a balance between air permeability, methane permeability, and low moisture permeability cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebalance between air permeability, methane permeability, and low moisture permeabilityVSAvoidchemical resistance and durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the compositional ratios of monomer units (HFP: 10.5-11.8%, PPVE: 1.2-1.6%) and processing parameters (melt flow rate: 17.0-40.0 g/10 min at 372°C, injection speed: very high) to achieve the desired balance between permeability and chemical resistance properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite copolymer structure combining three different fluorinated monomer units (tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether)) to achieve synergistic effects that simultaneously provide chemical resistance, controlled permeability, and durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Shape

If injection molding is performed at very high injection speed, then thin-wall and beautiful molded products are produced, but manufacturing precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethin-wall and beautiful molded productVSAvoidmolded product quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the melt flow rate parameter to a specific range (17.0-40.0 g/10 min at 372°C) that enables the material to be processed at very high injection speeds while still producing thin-wall molded products with excellent appearance and dimensional precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If fluorine-containing copolymer is used for chemical resistance, then durability in chemical solutions is improved, but fluorine ion dissolution occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedurability in chemical solutionsVSAvoidfluorine ion dissolution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by incorporating perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) units with specific side chain structures and controlling the overall fluorine content and distribution, which reduces fluorine ion dissolution while maintaining chemical resistance and durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20230391916A1Fluorine-containing copolymer
Publication Date: 2023.12.07 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 10.5 to 11.8% by mass with respect to the whole of the monomer units, a content of the perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) unit of 1.2 to 1.6% by mass with respect to the whole of the monomer units, a melt flow rate at 372° C. of 17.0 to 40.0 g/10 min, and a total number of —CF2H, carbonyl group-containing terminal groups, —CF═CF2 and —CH2OH of 90 or less per 106 main-chain carbon atoms.