Ionic-Liquid Polyurethane for Durable Humidity-Independent Antistatic Soles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing antistatic polymers often have high volume resistance and are humidity-dependent, leading to static charges, and their additives can degrade material properties and have inadequate long-term effects.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating ionic liquids with specific cations and anions into cellular polyurethanes, which are liquid at room temperature and have excellent antistatic properties, to achieve a volume resistance of less than 10^7 Ω/cm and improve durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high levels of antistatic additives are used to reduce volume resistance, then the antistatic effect is improved, but the material properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantistatic effectVSAvoidmaterial properties

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of the ionic liquid additive, achieving excellent antistatic effects at low loadings (0.1-10 wt%). This low concentration requirement preserves the polymer's mechanical properties while providing sufficient conductivity, unlike conventional additives that require high levels and degrade material strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional antistatic additives are used, then initial antistatic effect is achieved, but the long-term effect is inadequate and volume resistance increases after just a few days

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinitial antistatic effectVSAvoidlong-term antistatic effect

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuous antistatic performance by using ionic liquids that maintain stable conductivity over time. The ionic liquid's inherent stability and compatibility with the polymer matrix prevent migration, evaporation, or degradation, ensuring the antistatic effect persists without increasing volume resistance over extended periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent avoids using conventional additives that require frequent replacement or reapplication due to their short lifespan. The ionic liquid formulation provides durable, long-lasting performance that eliminates the need for maintenance or replacement, offering superior time-dependent reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 use of ionic liquids in cellular polyurethanes significantly reduces volume resistance and ensures a long-lasting antistatic effect, independent of humidity, while maintaining mechanical properties.

Implementation Method 1

The ionic liquids according to the invention contain as cations those cations which are selected from the compounds of the formulas (IVe), (IVf), (IVg), IVg'), (IVh) and (IVv)... The volume resistance achieved is less than 10^7 Ω/cm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonic conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP1984438B2Antistatic polyurethane

Publication Date: 2016.05.18 BASF SE

AI summary

The invention relates to an antistatic polyurethane which comprises an antistatic additive which comprises an ionic liquid, and to a process for preparing such an antistatic polymer. The invention further relates to an antistatic shoe sole comprising an inventive antistatic polyurethane and to the use of an ionic liquid as an antistatic additive for polyurethane.