Hydrogenated Block Copolymer Flexibility Abrasion Resistance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current hydrogenated block copolymers lack flexibility and abrasion resistance, making them unsuitable as alternatives to soft vinyl chloride resins, which are needed due to environmental concerns related to halogen emissions and plasticizers.

Innovation Solution

A hydrogenated block copolymer with specific structural properties, including a vinyl aromatic compound content of 50-95 wt%, a hydrogenated polymer block with a vinyl bond content of 30-80%, and a weight average molecular weight of 50,000-1,000,000, combined with a rubber-softening agent and thermoplastic resin, to enhance flexibility, heat resistance, and processability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a block copolymer has a relatively low vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content to achieve good flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but abrasion resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidabrasion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite material system consisting of a hydrogenated block copolymer (containing both soft and hard segments) combined with a polyolefin resin. The block copolymer provides flexibility through its soft segments while the hard segments and polyolefin resin contribute to abrasion resistance, achieving both required properties simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical structure parameters by hydrogenating the block copolymer to reduce vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content to 5-50 wt%, and controlling the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn ≤ 10) to achieve the optimal balance between flexibility and abrasion resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a block copolymer has a relatively high vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content to achieve good abrasion resistance, then abrasion resistance is improved, but flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabrasion resistanceVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The composite system combines hydrogenated block copolymer with polyolefin resin, where the block copolymer's structured segments provide abrasion resistance while the polyolefin resin enhances flexibility, resolving the trade-off between these properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The block copolymer contains locally distinct soft segments and hard segments with different properties. The soft segments provide flexibility while the hard segments provide abrasion resistance, allowing both properties to coexist in different regions of the material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If hydrogenated diene copolymers are used to replace soft vinyl chloride resins to address environmental concerns, then environmental compatibility is improved, but flexibility and abrasion resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental compatibilityVSAvoidflexibility and abrasion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite material combining hydrogenated block copolymer and polyolefin resin that achieves flexibility and abrasion resistance comparable to soft vinyl chloride resins, while eliminating the environmental hazards associated with vinyl chloride

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

By precisely controlling the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content (5-50 wt%), molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn ≤ 10) of the hydrogenated block copolymer, the invention achieves physical properties that match or exceed soft vinyl chloride resins while maintaining environmental compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Temperature

If the weight average molecular weight is increased to improve heat resistance, then heat resistance is improved, but processability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat resistanceVSAvoidprocessability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the weight average molecular weight to a specific range (50,000 to 1,000,000) and controls the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn ≤ 10) to achieve the optimal balance between heat resistance and processability, avoiding the trade-off that occurs with extreme molecular weights

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 resulting composition exhibits excellent flexibility, heat resistance, abrasion resistance, and surface texture, making it a suitable alternative to soft vinyl chloride resins for applications in packaging materials and other uses.

Implementation Method 1

in the case that the vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon content is relatively low, then even if not vulcanized, the block copolymer has a similar elasticity at ordinary temperature to a vulcanized natural rubber or synthetic rubber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

hydrogenated products of such copolymers have excellent weather resistance and heat resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogenation: Hydrogenation

Data Source

PatentUS7935756B2Hydrogenated block copolymer and composition thereof
Publication Date: 2011.05.03 ASAHI KASEI CHEM CORP

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogenated block copolymer having excellent flexibility, heat resistance, abrasion resistance and surface texture (no stickiness, oil bleeding etc.) and good processability, and a composition thereof. The present invention provides a hydrogenated block copolymer that has therein at least one of each of a vinyl aromatic compound polymer block A, a hydrogenated polymer block B of a random copolymer comprising a conjugated diene and a vinyl aromatic compound, and a hydrogenated polymer block C of a conjugated diene polymer having a vinyl bond content of not less than 30%, the hydrogenated block copolymer having a vinyl aromatic compound content of more than 50 wt % and less than 95 wt %, and a composition containing the hydrogenated block copolymer.