Hollow Ball Rubber Composition Gas Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rubber compositions for hollow balls, such as tennis balls, face issues with durability and resilience performance due to gas leakage and degradation from repeated hits, with existing solutions requiring special facilities and expensive materials.
Innovation Solution
A rubber composition for hollow balls is developed, incorporating a base rubber and an inorganic filler with specific weight reduction rates and filler characteristics, which suppresses the reduction in resilience performance over time, using thermogravimetry to select the appropriate filler ratio and type, and including a carbon-based filler for improved resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compressed gas is filled into the core at high pressure to improve resilience performance, then the resilience performance is improved, but the gas gradually leaks from the core causing internal pressure to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
An inorganic filler with specific surface area and pore structure acts as an intermediary barrier within the rubber composition, physically blocking gas molecules from passing through the core material, thereby preventing gas leakage while maintaining high internal pressure for resilience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes inorganic fillers with controlled pore structures that create a tortuous path for gas molecules, effectively reducing gas permeation through the core while maintaining the elastic properties needed for resilience performance
2Duration of action of moving object
If the tennis ball is repeatedly hit to maintain playability, then the ball remains usable, but the rubber properties deteriorate due to high-speed elastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite rubber composition by combining base rubber with specifically selected inorganic fillers, where the filler particles reinforce the rubber matrix and prevent degradation from repeated high-speed deformation, extending service life while maintaining resilience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the rubber composition by controlling the type, amount, and surface area of inorganic fillers, optimizing the material's resistance to fatigue and degradation from repeated impacts
3Loss of substance
If scaly or tabular filler is used to prevent gas leakage, then gas permeation is inhibited, but the durability against repeated hits becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the critical parameters of the inorganic filler, specifically selecting fillers with optimal surface area and pore structure that balance gas barrier properties with mechanical strength, preventing both gas leakage and rubber degradation from repeated hits
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 rubber composition maintains excellent resilience performance and durability over a long period, reducing interfacial failure and physical property reduction, while avoiding the need for special production facilities and expensive materials.
Implementation Method 1
the scaly or tabular filler inhibits permeation of gas, whereby gas can be prevented from leaking from a core that is formed from the rubber material
Implementation Method 2
The hit tennis ball elastically deforms at a high speed
Implementation Method 3
When a weight reduction rate TGA650 from room temperature to 650° C. and a weight reduction rate TGA850 from room temperature to 850° C. of the rubber composition are measured under an air atmosphere by thermogravimetry conforming to JIS K0129
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber composition for a hollow ball includes a base rubber and an inorganic filler. A weight reduction rate TGA650 from room temperature to 650° C. and a weight reduction rate TGA850 from room temperature to 850° C. of the rubber composition are measured under an air atmosphere by thermogravimetry conforming to JIS K0129. The weight reduction rate TGA650 of the rubber composition is not less than 63% and not greater than 99%. A difference (TGA850−TGA650) between the weight reduction rates TGA850 and TGA650 of the rubber composition is not less than 0% and not greater than 7%. A hollow ball 2 includes a hollow core 4 formed from the rubber composition.