Resin Composite Curing via Metal Nanomaterial Self-Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for curing resin composite materials are inefficient, requiring long heating times, excessive energy consumption, and costly manufacturing processes due to the need to heat both the material and the molding tools, leading to high costs for molded resin articles.
Innovation Solution
A curing device and method that utilize metal nanomaterials (such as platinum, gold, or copper) within the resin composite, which self-heat when exposed to specific physical environments like electromagnetic waves or magnetic fields, allowing for localized heating and pressurization without the need for vacuum bags or large heaters, simplifying equipment and reducing energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional heating methods are used to cure resin composite materials, then the material can be cured, but the heating time is long and energy consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating metal nanomaterials specifically within the resin composite material to enable localized microwave heating. This allows the heating function to be concentrated where needed (in the material itself) rather than requiring external heating of large equipment, thereby reducing energy consumption while improving curing speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by making the resin composite material itself capable of heating through the incorporation of metal nanomaterials that convert microwave energy directly into heat within the material. This eliminates the need for external heating systems and reduces energy loss, achieving both faster curing and lower energy consumption
2Productivity
If conventional heating methods are used to cure resin composite materials, then the material can be cured, but the equipment complexity and manufacturing costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the heating function from complex external heating equipment and transferring it directly into the resin composite material through metal nanomaterials. This simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for large autoclaves, vacuum bags, and complex temperature control systems, thereby reducing equipment complexity while maintaining high curing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical heating systems (conventional heaters, autoclaves) with electromagnetic field-based heating using microwave irradiation on metal nanomaterials embedded in the resin. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical equipment while achieving faster and more efficient curing
3Reliability
If pressurization is not applied to the prepreg simultaneously with heating, then the equipment is simpler, but a favorable curing reaction cannot be obtained and bubbles remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating metal nanomaterials into the resin composite material before curing. This pre-preparation enables the material to self-heat rapidly when exposed to microwaves, and when combined with simultaneous pressurization, ensures high-quality curing without bubbles while maintaining relatively simple equipment
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
This approach significantly reduces manufacturing costs by saving energy, simplifying equipment, and improving the efficiency of the curing process, enabling faster and more cost-effective production of molded resin articles.
Implementation Method 1
a specific physical environment in which molecular momentum of an object is increased and an object self-heats when placed in the specific physical environment
Implementation Method 2
means for curing the article by magnetic induction heating or/and resistive heating, wherein the means for curing the article by magnetic induction heating or/and resistive heating may be magnetic induction heating coils
Implementation Method 3
a pressurizing body adapted for coming into pressure-contact with a surface of the resin composite material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
In order to save labor when molding a resin composite material, to simplify the curing equipment and save energy, and to decrease manufacturing costs of a molded resin article, this curing device (1) of a resin composite material is provided with: an environment setting unit (an electromagnetic wave irradiation unit (5)) which applies a prescribed physical environment that increases the amount of momentum of the molecules in an object (for example, irradiation by electromagnetic waves (EW)) to an uncured resin composite material (2) which contains a metal nanomaterial (2a) that self-heats when placed in the aforementioned specific physical environment (the electromagnetic waves (EW)); a pressing body (6) which is provided so as to be capable of pressing against the surface of the resin composite material (2); and a pressing driving unit (7) which presses the pressing body (6) against the surface of the resin composite material (2) in a state in which the environment setting unit (the electromagnetic wave irradiation unit (5)) is applying the aforementioned specific physical environment (for example, irradiation by electromagnetic waves (EW)) to the resin composite material (2).