Non-round Plastic Pressurized Dispenser Thermal Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic pressurized containers face limitations in thermal stability, impact resistance, and chemical resistance, particularly due to their thermal softening points and susceptibility to solvents, which affects their ability to safely contain personal care products and maintain optical clarity.

Innovation Solution

A plastic pressurized package is formed by combining a first material, such as amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a second material like polycarbonate (PC), at a ratio greater than 70%, to enhance thermal and chemical resistance, while maintaining high impact resistance and optical clarity, using manufacturing techniques like injection stretch blow molding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If PET is used as the plastic material, then the container is economical and has good optical clarity, but the thermal softening point is low (60-66°C)

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidthermal softening point
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining PET with a nucleating agent (such as talc, silica, or calcium carbonate) to create a blended plastic composition. This composite approach allows the container to maintain the economic and optical clarity benefits of PET while achieving improved thermal stability through the nucleating agent's influence on crystallization and glass transition temperature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If PEN or PAR is used to increase thermal softening point above 90°C, then thermal stability improves, but the material becomes expensive and has yellow hue with poor optical clarity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal softening pointVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the thermal properties of PET through the addition of nucleating agents. Instead of switching to entirely different materials like PEN or PAR, the invention changes the parameters of PET by controlling its crystallization and glass transition temperature through chemical additives, thereby achieving improved thermal stability while maintaining optical clarity and cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If existing plastic pressurized containers are used, then they can be manufactured economically, but they cannot survive drop impacts of greater than about 1.83 m (6 feet)

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by incorporating a nucleating agent into the PET matrix to create a blended composition with enhanced mechanical properties. This composite structure improves impact resistance and structural strength while maintaining the economic manufacturing advantages of PET, allowing the container to withstand greater drop impacts than conventional PET containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of manufacture

If PET is used as the plastic material, then the container is economical, but it is susceptible to degradation by common solvents

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidchemical resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by blending PET with nucleating agents that form a more resistant crystalline structure. This composite approach enhances chemical resistance and solvent durability while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of PET, protecting the container from degradation by common solvents found in personal care products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2029455B1Non-round plastic pressurized dispenser
Publication Date: 2015.03.11 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A plastic pressurized package comprising a hollow, plastic, substantially non-round cross-section body, comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyesters, polyester copolymers, polycarbonates, polyacrylates, polycarbonate copolymers, and mixtures thereof wherein said plastic pressurized package is able to contain and dispense a pressurized fluid of at least about 15 psi greater than atmospheric pressure at 25°C.