Grain-Finished Artificial Leather With Halogen-Free Flame Retardancy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Grain-finished artificial leather with a fiber-entangled body of ultrafine fibers faces challenges in achieving high flame retardancy without using halogen-based flame retardants, which compromises its suppleness and fullness.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating 3 to 50 mass % of a first elastic polymer, 2.5 to 6 mass % of phosphorous-based flame retardant particles, and 1 to 6 mass % of a plasticizer into the artificial leather base material, along with a resin layer containing 0 to 8 mass % of phosphorous-based or metal hydroxide flame retardant particles, to achieve both high flame retardancy and excellent texture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If halogen-based flame retardants are used to achieve high flame retardancy, then flame retardancy is improved, but toxic halogen gas is generated during burning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidtoxic halogen gas generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces halogen-based flame retardants with phosphorous-based flame retardants that contain phosphorus atoms. These phosphorous-based flame retardants provide equivalent or superior flame retardancy while eliminating the generation of toxic halogen gases during burning, thus converting a harmful material into a beneficial one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If phosphorous-based flame retardant particles are incorporated into the artificial leather base material, then flame retardancy is improved, but suppleness and fullness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidsuppleness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that phosphorous-based flame retardant particles with an average particle size of 1 to 10 μm are incorporated into the artificial leather base material at a controlled content of 2.5 to 6 mass %. This localized control of particle size and distribution allows the flame retardant to function effectively while minimizing its impact on the overall suppleness and fullness of the material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the particle size parameter of the phosphorous-based flame retardant to 1 to 10 μm and controls its content parameter at 2.5 to 6 mass %. By adjusting these parameters, the flame retardant provides effective protection while maintaining the suppleness and fullness characteristics of the artificial leather.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Shape

If the content ratio of elastic polymer is increased to decrease voids, then fullness is improved, but resilience increases resulting in rubber-like rigid texture

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefullnessVSAvoidtexture flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that the elastic polymer content in the artificial leather base material should be 3 to 50 mass %. By controlling the elastic polymer content within this range and using phosphorous-based flame retardant particles with 1 to 10 μm average particle size, the patent achieves a balance between fullness and flexible texture, avoiding the rubber-like rigid texture that occurs with excessive elastic polymer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11015288B2Grained artificial leather
Publication Date: 2021.05.25 KURARAY CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a grain-finished artificial leather including: an artificial leather base material; and a resin layer stacked on at least one surface of the artificial leather base material, wherein the artificial leather base material contains: a fiber-entangled body of ultrafine fibers; 3 to 50 mass % of a first elastic polymer; 2.5 to 6 mass %, in terms of phosphorus atoms, of first phosphorous-based flame retardant particles having an average particle size of 1 to 10 μm; and 1 to 6 mass % of a plasticizer, and the resin layer contains: a second elastic polymer; and a total content, in terms of phosphorus atoms or in terms of hydroxyl groups, of 0 to 8 mass % of flame retardant particles having an average particle size of 1 to 10 μm and being at least one selected from the group consisting of second phosphorous-based flame retardant particles and first metal hydroxide particles.