Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Binder for Ceramic Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water-soluble binders, such as alkyl celluloses, face challenges in maintaining shape retention and preventing deformation or cracking during the drying process of ceramic molding, especially when producing honeycomb structures with thinner walls or higher porogen content, due to insufficient syneresis and heat gel strength.

Innovation Solution

A water-soluble hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose binder with specific methoxyl and hydroxypropyl substitutions, exhibiting a syneresis value of at least 30 wt% and clay heat gel strength of 0.5 kgf, is used to form a ceramic molding composition that maintains shape and prevents deformation during drying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If alkyl cellulose is used as a water-soluble binder to maintain shape during drying, then shape retention is improved, but drying speed becomes slow due to insufficient syneresis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape retentionVSAvoiddrying speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the cellulose ether by controlling the degree of substitution and molecular weight. Specifically, it uses cellulose ether with a degree of substitution of 0.3-0.7 and viscosity of 20-100 mPa·s, which optimizes the balance between syneresis (for fast drying) and gel strength (for shape retention).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite binding system by combining cellulose ether with specific ceramic materials and additives. The cellulose ether forms a gel matrix that复合 with ceramic particles, creating a composite structure that provides both rapid water release and mechanical strength during drying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If high syneresis value is achieved for rapid drying, then drying speed is improved, but shape retention becomes insufficient causing deformation or cracking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying speedVSAvoidshape retention
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the viscosity parameter of the cellulose ether to 20-100 mPa·s, which is lower than conventional binders. This parameter change allows the binder to release water quickly (high syneresis) while maintaining sufficient gel strength to prevent deformation, resolving the contradiction between drying speed and shape retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional water-soluble binders are used, then environmental friendliness is improved by avoiding solvent recovery, but binding ability becomes insufficient for complex structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidbinding ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the molecular weight and degree of substitution parameters of the cellulose ether to optimize binding ability. The specific parameter range (viscosity 20-100 mPa·s, degree of substitution 0.3-0.7) provides sufficient binding strength for complex honeycomb structures while maintaining water solubility for environmental friendliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 binder ensures rapid and uniform drying with excellent shape retention, preventing deformation and cracking in ceramic parts, even in complex structures, while being cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

The alkyl celluloses are able to maintain the bound shape because their aqueous solutions become gel upon heating. Thus drying proceeds in the state bound by the gel.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGelation: Gel

Implementation Method 2

The binder has a syneresis value in aqueous solution form of at least 30 wt%

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSyneresis:

Data Source

PatentEP2345627B1Water-soluble binder and ceramic molding composition
Publication Date: 2014.08.06 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD

AI summary

A water-soluble binder comprising a water-soluble hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose having a methoxyl substitution of 28-30 wt% and a hydroxypropyl substitution of 5-7 wt% has a syneresis value of at least 30 wt% and a clay heat gel strength of at least 0.5 kgf. A ceramic molding composition comprising a ceramic material and the water-soluble binder has improved shape retention upon drying and is effectively molded into a ceramic part.