Micro-Bundle Tube With Dual-Section Composite Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing micro-bundle tubes made of thermoplastic elastomer materials like TPEE or TPU face challenges in achieving both strength and flexibility, leading to issues such as difficulty in stripping, poor bending performance, and potential cracking during extrusion, which are unsuitable for environments with high requirements for cable strength.
Innovation Solution
A micro-bundle tube composed of a first tube section made from a polyester block copolymer with specific additives and a second tube section made from polybutylene terephthalate, seamlessly integrated through a molding process, ensuring flexibility and strength, respectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If TPEE or TPU micro-bundle tubes are used to improve flexibility and ease of stripping, then ease of operation is improved, but strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of polyester block copolymer (providing flexibility and ease of stripping) combined with specific additives including macromolecular additives (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, or epoxy compound), plasticizers (dioctyl phthalate or butyl benzyl phthalate), and stabilizers (hydroquinone or p-phenylenediamine). This composite formulation achieves both operational ease and structural strength that single materials cannot provide alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical and physical parameters of the tube material by controlling the molecular structure of polyester block copolymer, adjusting the ratios of components (30-50 parts polyester block copolymer, 1-18 parts macromolecular additive, 2-8 parts plasticizer, 1-5 parts stabilizer), and optimizing processing parameters during extrusion. These parameter changes enable the material to simultaneously achieve flexibility for easy stripping and sufficient strength for cable applications.
2Ease of operation
If TPEE micro-bundle tubes are used to improve flexibility, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to casting during extrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces macromolecular additives (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, or epoxy compound) as intermediary substances that mediate between the polyester block copolymer matrix and the processing conditions. These additives improve melt uniformity and reduce speed differences during extrusion, preventing casting defects and bulging while maintaining the flexibility properties of the base polymer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of additive precipitation and accumulation during extrusion into a benefit by carefully selecting and formulating macromolecular additives that not only prevent casting defects but also enhance the overall performance of the tube. The additives that might seem like potential contaminants actually serve to improve melt homogeneity and extrusion quality when properly formulated within the specified ratios.
3Strength
If PBT sleeves are used to improve strength, then strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in stripping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the material parameter from rigid PBT to flexible polyester block copolymer, while compensating for the resulting strength loss through the addition of macromolecular additives and optimized formulation. This parameter change enables the tube to maintain sufficient strength while achieving the flexibility needed for easy manual stripping and rapid connection operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a micro-bundle tube of a cable, including a tube body which is consisting of a first tube section and a second tube section. The first tube section and the second tube section are integrally molded and seamlessly connected along the circumferential direction of the tube body. The material of the first tube section includes the components by weight of 30 to 50 parts of a polyester block copolymer, 1 to 18 parts of a macromolecular additive, and 2 to 8 parts of dioctyl phthalate and 1 to 5 parts of hydroquinone. The material of the second tube section includes the components by weight of: 40 to 65 parts of polybutylene terephthalate, 3 to 8 parts of butyl benzyl phthalate and 1 to 5 parts p-phenylenediamine or hydroquinone. The micro-bundle tube according to the present invention overcomes the challenge of achieving both strength and flexibility within a cable, and can achieve the purpose of rapid stripping and connection while a certain strength is ensured, and thus it is suitable for use in environments with higher requirements for cable strength.