Gypsum Panel Core With Alkoxylated Compound For Void Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gypsum panels in drywall construction face challenges in achieving improved strength and minimizing weight, with the void structure affecting their properties.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a gypsum core with an alkoxylated compound or a polyol compound, such as ethoxylated glycerin, into the gypsum panels to enhance mechanical properties and reduce core voids, thereby improving strength and reducing weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If free water is removed during drying or heating process, then the panel weight is reduced, but the void structure is detrimentally affected and panel strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel weightVSAvoidpanel strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the gypsum slurry by adding polyol compounds and alkoxylated compounds. These chemical additives modify the drying behavior and void structure formation during the drying process, allowing weight reduction while maintaining strength through altered material properties rather than physical structure changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite gypsum material by combining gypsum with polyol compounds and alkoxylated compounds. This composite approach allows the material to achieve both low weight and high strength by leveraging the complementary properties of the different components, where the organic compounds modify the gypsum matrix to reduce voids while maintaining light weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If void structure is reduced to improve panel strength, then panel strength is improved, but panel weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel strengthVSAvoidpanel weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the gypsum system by incorporating polyol and alkoxylated compounds. These chemical modifications alter the drying kinetics and void formation mechanisms, enabling the achievement of reduced void structure without the traditional penalty of increased weight, as the chemical additives facilitate a different drying pathway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The polyol compounds and alkoxylated compounds act as intermediaries during the drying process. They mediate between the water removal requirement and the void structure formation, allowing water to be removed more effectively while the organic compounds prevent excessive void formation, thus decoupling the traditional trade-off between weight reduction and strength improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional gypsum slurry is used, then manufacturing is simple, but panel strength is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidpanel strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the chemical composition parameters of the conventional gypsum slurry by adding polyol compounds and alkoxylated compounds. These parameter changes enhance panel strength while maintaining the simplicity of the manufacturing process, as the additives are incorporated into the existing slurry formulation without requiring major process changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality modification by incorporating specific chemical compounds (polyols and alkoxylated compounds) into the gypsum slurry. These additives locally modify the material properties at the molecular level, enhancing strength characteristics of the gypsum matrix while maintaining the overall simplicity of the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20230159393A1Gypsum Panel Containing A Polyol Compound And/Or An Alkoxylated Compound
Publication Date: 2023.05.25 GOLD BOND BUILDING PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

The present invention is directed to a gypsum panel and a method of making such gypsum panel. For instance, in one embodiment, the gypsum panel comprises a gypsum core and a first facing material and a second facing material sandwiching the gypsum core, wherein the gypsum core includes gypsum and an alkoxylated compound. In another embodiment, the gypsum panel comprises a gypsum core and a first facing material and a second facing material sandwiching the gypsum core, wherein the gypsum core includes gypsum and a polyol compound and wherein the gypsum panel exhibits a humidified deflection of greater than 0 inches to 0.05 inches. The methods of the present invention are directed to making the aforementioned gypsum panels by providing the first facing material, providing a gypsum slurry comprising gypsum, water, and the respective compound onto the first facing material, and providing the second facing material on the gypsum slurry.