Ozone-Treated Nylon Barrier Layer for Rubber Hose Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modified nylon products in refrigerant hoses exhibit low surface energy, making it difficult to achieve sufficient adhesion between the nylon layer and the inner rubber layer, especially with traditional adhesion promoters, which can lead to adherence issues over the life of the product.
Innovation Solution
Exposing the inner surface of the polyamide barrier layer to an ozone stream increases its surface energy, enhancing the adhesive bonding with the outer surface of the innermost rubber tube, creating a heterogeneous surfaced barrier layer that promotes stronger adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If modified nylon products are used to improve heat resistance and oil/refrigerant compatibility, then the barrier layer performance is improved, but the surface energy decreases making adhesion to rubber layers difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ozone treatment to modify the surface energy parameters of the nylon barrier layer. By exposing the nylon to ozone, the surface undergoes oxidation that increases its surface energy, thereby improving adhesion to rubber layers while preserving the bulk material's heat resistance and refrigerant compatibility properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ozone, a strong oxidant, to treat the nylon barrier layer surface. This accelerated oxidation process creates polar groups and increases surface energy on the nylon, enabling better chemical bonding and adhesion to the rubber layers without altering the bulk properties of the modified nylon
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 increased surface energy of the polyamide barrier layer improves the adhesive bonding between the rubber tube and the nylon layer, ensuring sufficient adherence throughout the life of the hose, addressing the challenge of adhesion in refrigerant hoses.
Implementation Method 1
A portion of the continuous molten barrier forming material which is emitted from the extruder crosshead is exposed to the ozone stream on an inner side of the portion to provide a heterogeneous surfaced barrier layer
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement includes an extruder crosshead, and an innermost rubber tube having an input portion a resident portion residing in the extruder crosshead, and an output portion. The arrangement further includes an ozone stream evolved from an ozone source, where the ozone stream is introduced into an ozone cavity of the extruder crosshead, and a continuous molten barrier forming material which is movable through a flow cavity in the extruder crosshead. A portion of the continuous molten barrier forming material which is emitted from the extruder crosshead is exposed to the ozone stream on an inner side of the portion to provide a heterogeneous surfaced barrier layer. The arrangement also includes a barrier coated rubber tube including the heterogeneous surfaced barrier layer and the output portion of the innermost rubber tube, where the heterogeneous surfaced barrier layer is disposed outward from the output portion of the innermost rubber tube.