Flexible Insulation Foam Using OBSH and Endothermic Blowing Agent Mixture
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing flexible expanded polymer foams for thermal and acoustic insulation face challenges in finding substitutes for azodicarbonamide (ADCA) due to its potential health concerns, with other chemical blowing agents either not meeting performance criteria or having drawbacks such as higher densities, reduced flexibility, and poor water vapor barrier properties.
Innovation Solution
A mixture of 4,4′-Oxybis(benzenesulfonyl hydrazide) (OBSH) and an endothermic blowing agent, such as sodium bicarbonate, is used to achieve a well-balanced decomposition for producing flexible, low-density expanded polymer foams without the use of ADCA, optimizing densities and properties like thermal conductivity and water vapor transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If azodicarbonamide (ADCA) is used as a chemical blowing agent, then gas yield and expansion efficiency are improved, but health safety and environmental compatibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful ADCA substance from the blowing agent system while replacing it with a combination of OBSH and endothermic blowing agents that provide comparable expansion performance without the health and environmental hazards associated with ADCA
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite blowing agent system combining OBSH (exothermic) and endothermic blowing agents in specific ratios. This composite approach achieves the high gas yield of ADCA while eliminating its harmful effects, as the synergistic combination provides both necessary expansion and improved safety profile
2Object-affected harmful factors
If endothermic blowing agents are used alone, then health safety is improved, but density and expansion performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges endothermic blowing agents with OBSH in a specific combination ratio. This merging allows the system to achieve both the health safety benefits of endothermic agents and the expansion performance necessary for low-density foam production, overcoming the limitations of using endothermic agents alone
3Productivity
If OBSH is used alone, then gas yield is improved, but decomposition temperature control and foam flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the blowing agent system by combining OBSH with endothermic blowing agents. This parameter adjustment modifies the decomposition temperature profile to be more suitable for flexible foam production, preventing excessive heat generation while maintaining high gas yield and achieving the desired foam flexibility
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 allows for the production of flexible, low-density foams with improved thermal insulation and water vapor transmission, while avoiding the limitations of using ADCA, including reduced processing temperatures and mechanical stability, enabling efficient and cost-effective manufacturing with enhanced installation and bonding properties.
Implementation Method 1
expansion is achieved by decomposition of a mixture of at least two chemical blowing agents
Implementation Method 2
comprising the exothermic chemical blowing agent 4,4'-Oxybis(benzenesulfonyl hydrazide) (OBSH)
Implementation Method 3
and at least one endothermic blowing agent
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible material for thermal and acoustical insulation comprising an expanded polymer (blend) based on at least one elastomer, wherein expansion is achieved by decomposition of a mixture of at least two chemical blowing agents, comprising the exothermic chemical blowing agent 4,4′-Oxybis(benzenesulfonyl hydrazide) (OBSH) and at least one endothermic blowing agent.