Odor-Blocking Hose Composition Using Adsorbent Additives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible hoses used in waste water discharge systems, particularly in boats, exhibit high permeability to malodorous substances due to their polymeric materials, leading to odor emissions into the surrounding environment, which affects comfort and is economically challenging due to material costs.
Innovation Solution
A composition for manufacturing hoses that incorporates adsorbing/absorbing compounds such as zinc ricinoleate, activated carbons, cyclodextrins, zeolite, zinc oxide, or clays within a polymeric matrix to absorb and retain malodorous substances, reducing their diffusion into the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible PVC hoses with plasticisers are used to achieve flexibility and ease of installation, then the hose becomes flexible and easy to install, but the permeability to malodorous substances increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of PVC polymer combined with specific plasticisers (adipic acid esters or glutaric acid esters) and functional additives. This composite approach allows the material to maintain flexibility while incorporating substances that actively absorb malodorous compounds, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility and odour emission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces plasticisers and functional additives as intermediary substances within the PVC matrix. These intermediaries serve dual functions: plasticisers maintain flexibility by reducing polymer chain interactions, while functional additives (such as those containing nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulfur atoms) act as odor-absorbing agents that trap malodorous substances, thereby mediating between the conflicting requirements of flexibility and low odour emission.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If vulcanised rubber hoses are used to reduce permeability to malodorous substances, then odour emissions are reduced, but the material cost and production cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cost-effective PVC-based formulation that uses relatively inexpensive plasticisers and functional additives to achieve low odour emission performance. This approach replaces expensive vulcanised rubber with a more economical thermoplastic material that can be processed by standard extrusion methods, significantly reducing both material and manufacturing costs while maintaining acceptable service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of PVC by selecting specific plasticisers (adipic acid esters or glutaric acid esters) and functional additives with particular molecular structures. These parameter changes optimize the balance between flexibility, odour absorption capacity, and cost-effectiveness, achieving performance comparable to expensive rubber alternatives at a fraction of the cost.
3Ease of operation
If the percentage of plasticisers in PVC is increased to improve flexibility, then flexibility is enhanced, but the permeability to malodorous substances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the plasticiser concentration parameter within a specific range (20-40 wt% of total composition) and carefully selects the chemical structure of plasticisers (adipic acid esters or glutaric acid esters). This parameter optimization ensures sufficient flexibility while minimizing permeability. Additionally, the patent introduces functional additives that counterbalance the permeability increase by actively absorbing odorous substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses functional additives as intermediary substances that mediate between the plasticiser-induced permeability increase and the requirement for low odour emission. These additives (containing nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulfur atoms) act as odor-trapping agents that compensate for the increased permeability caused by higher plasticiser content, allowing the formulation to maintain both flexibility and low odour emission.
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 use of these compounds significantly reduces odor emissions from hoses, enhancing environmental comfort and reducing material costs by minimizing the need for expensive low-permeability materials like vulcanized rubber.
Implementation Method 1
a composition comprising a matrix made of a base or main polymeric material or a mixture of base or main polymeric materials and at least one adsorbing/absorbing-action compound selected from among the group consisting of zinc ricinoleate, activated carbons, cyclodextrins, zeolite, clays and/or zinc oxide
Implementation Method 2
the compound being substantially uniformly or homogeneously distributed in the base polymeric material or in the mixture of base or main polymeric materials
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention regards a composition for manufacturing an object, comprising a matrix made of a base or main polymeric material or a mixture of base or main polymeric materials and at least one adsorbing/absorbing-action compound.