Non-flammable sheet and production method therefor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional architectural film materials using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) require a firing step and lack flexibility, necessitating improvements in weather resistance, heat-shielding, hydrophilicity, non-flammability, chemical resistance, flexibility, and handling properties while reducing manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A non-flammable sheet is developed by forming a resin layer with a fluorocarbon resin containing vinylidene fluoride copolymer, acrylic copolymer, water, and titanium oxide on a woven fabric, eliminating the need for firing through a coating process that includes a drying step to reduce manufacturing costs and energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PTFE resin is used for architectural film material, then non-flammable property and chemical resistance are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to required firing step

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-flammable propertyVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the fluorocarbon resin from pure PTFE to a copolymer containing vinylidene fluoride (50-90 mass%), vinyl fluoride (5-30 mass%), and trifluoroethylene (5-30 mass%). This compositional modification allows the resin to achieve the desired non-flammable properties while eliminating the need for high-temperature firing, thus simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite coating layer combining multiple fluorocarbon resin components with specific functional additives. The coating includes vinylidene fluoride copolymer for flexibility, titanium oxide for heat shielding, and surfactants for hydrophilicity. This composite approach achieves multiple performance requirements simultaneously without requiring complex multi-step manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If PTFE resin is used for architectural film material, then non-flammable property is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to firing step

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-flammable propertyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the resin composition to use a fluorocarbon copolymer that can be processed at lower temperatures. The specific monomer ratios (vinylidene fluoride 50-90%, vinyl fluoride 5-30%, trifluoroethylene 5-30%) are optimized to achieve appropriate melting and curing characteristics that eliminate the need for expensive high-temperature firing equipment and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the expensive and energy-intensive PTFE firing process with a more economical coating and drying process. The modified fluorocarbon resin formulation allows for lower processing temperatures, reducing both equipment investment and operational energy costs, making the manufacturing process more economically viable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If fluorocarbon resin coating is applied to woven fabric, then weather resistance and heat-shielding are improved, but flexibility deteriorates due to hard resin layer

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the molecular structure parameters of the fluorocarbon resin by incorporating vinylidene fluoride units (50-90 mass%) which provide chain flexibility. The copolymer structure with vinyl fluoride and trifluoroethylene components creates a resin matrix that is sufficiently crosslinked for weather resistance but maintains adequate chain mobility for flexibility, eliminating the need for thick rigid coatings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent formulates a composite coating system where the fluorocarbon copolymer is combined with titanium oxide particles for heat shielding and surfactant molecules for hydrophilicity. This composite approach allows the resin matrix to remain flexible while the dispersed particles provide protective functions, avoiding the formation of a continuous hard layer that would reduce flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If conventional PTFE coating process is used, then non-flammable property is ensured, but energy consumption increases due to high-temperature firing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-flammable propertyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the thermal processing parameters by using a fluorocarbon copolymer with lower decomposition and curing temperatures compared to PTFE. The specific copolymer composition (vinylidene fluoride 50-90%, vinyl fluoride 5-30%, trifluoroethylene 5-30%) enables effective coating formation and crosslinking at temperatures below 200°C, dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to PTFE firing which requires temperatures above 300°C.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the energy-intensive PTFE firing process with a lower-temperature coating and drying process. The modified resin formulation achieves equivalent non-flammable performance through chemical composition rather than high-temperature sintering, significantly reducing both energy consumption and equipment requirements.

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 solution enhances weather resistance, heat-shielding, hydrophilicity, non-flammability, chemical resistance, flexibility, and handling properties while simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing costs, and improving surface-printing characteristics.

Implementation Method 1

a heat-shielding property

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a drying step to such an extent that water is blown away

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

the first fluorocarbon resin can contain titanium oxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUV radiation absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3144139B1Non-flammable sheet and production method therefor
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3144139B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3144139B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3144139B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In order to reduce manufacturing cost and required energy largely and to improve weather resistance, a heat-shielding property, hydrophilicity, a nonflammable property, chemical resistance, flexibility, a handling property, and a surface printing excellent characteristic, in a nonflammable sheet, a resin layer including a first fluorocarbon resin containing a vinylidene fluoride copolymer, an acrylic copolymer, and titanium oxide, and a second fluorocarbon resin containing a vinylidene fluoride polymer, a siloxane polymer, and a crosslinked acrylic polymer is formed on a surface of a woven fabric formed of a nonflammable fiber.