Plastic Pressurized Dispenser Using PET-PC Composite Blend

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic pressurized containers face challenges with thermal softening, impact resistance, and chemical degradation, particularly when exposed to high temperatures and solvents, limiting their ability to safely contain and dispense pressurized products while maintaining optical clarity.

Innovation Solution

A plastic pressurized package is developed using a blend of a non-crystalline polyester copolymer as the first material and polycarbonate as the second material, enhancing thermal stability, impact resistance, and chemical resistance, allowing the package to withstand higher temperatures and solvent exposure while maintaining optical clarity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If PET is used to form the pressurized container, then the container is economical and provides good optical clarity, but the thermal softening point is limited to 60-66°C

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal softening pointVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by blending PET with PC to create a pressurized container that achieves both high thermal stability (withstanding temperatures above 60°C) and optical clarity. The composite blend combines the low cost and clarity of PET with the high heat resistance of PC, resolving the contradiction between thermal performance and manufacturing economy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If PEN or PAR is used to increase the thermal softening point above 90°C, then thermal stability is improved, but optical clarity deteriorates due to yellow hue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal softening pointVSAvoidoptical clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a PET-PC composite blend that achieves high thermal stability while maintaining excellent optical clarity. Unlike PEN or PAR which inherently yellow at high temperatures, the PC component in this composite remains clear even when withstanding temperatures above 60°C, thus resolving the contradiction between thermal resistance and optical clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If existing plastic materials are used, then the container is economical to produce, but impact resistance is limited to drops of about 1.83m

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a PET-PC composite that significantly enhances impact resistance beyond the 1.83m drop limit of conventional plastics. The PC component contributes superior toughness and impact strength, while the blend remains economical compared to using pure PC or more expensive engineering plastics, thus balancing strength and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional plastic materials are used, then the container is easy to manufacture, but chemical resistance to solvents is poor leading to degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical resistanceVSAvoidmaterial selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The PET-PC composite blend provides superior chemical resistance to solvents compared to conventional plastics. The PC component in the composite offers enhanced resistance to solvent degradation, preventing the container from becoming brittle or cloudy when exposed to common solvents, while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard blow-molding processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2029456B1Plastic pressurized dispenser
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A plastic pressurized package comprising a hollow, plastic body comprising a blend of a first and second material, said first material comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyester copolymers, and mixtures thereof and said second material comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polycarbonate copolymers, and mixtures thereof and 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.