Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) Foam Particles High Expansion Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for producing poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based expanded particles achieve only a limited expansion ratio with a single expansion treatment, necessitating room for improvement in terms of expansion ratio and process efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a non-ionic water-soluble polymer in an amount of 0.10 to 5.00 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based resin, resulting in poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based expanded particles with a closed cell ratio of not less than 90%, which allows for a high expansion ratio through a single expansion treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional expansion treatment is applied to poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) particles, then the particles can be expanded, but the expansion ratio is insufficient and requires multiple expansion treatments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the resin by incorporating a non-ionic water-soluble polymer (such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, or polypropylene glycol) at specific concentrations (0.1-5 parts by weight per 100 parts of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)). This compositional parameter change enables the resin to achieve high expansion ratio (10 times or more) in a single expansion treatment, resolving the contradiction between sufficient expansion ratio and production efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple expansion treatments are used to achieve high expansion ratio, then the expansion ratio can be improved, but the production process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
By modifying the resin composition to include non-ionic water-soluble polymers at optimized concentrations, the patent achieves high expansion ratio in a single expansion step, eliminating the need for multiple expansion treatments and simplifying the production process.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-ionic water-soluble polymer acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the expansion process. It modifies the resin's properties to enable sufficient expansion in one treatment, serving as a mediating agent between the poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) and the expansion conditions, thereby reducing process complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple expansion treatments are implemented, then high expansion ratio can be achieved, but production time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the resin composition parameters by adding non-ionic water-soluble polymers, which enables the material to achieve high expansion ratio in a single expansion treatment. This parameter change directly reduces production time by eliminating subsequent expansion steps while maintaining the desired expansion ratio.
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 approach enables the production of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based expanded particles and foamed molded products with a high expansion ratio, simplifying the production process and reducing costs by eliminating the need for secondary expansion treatments while maintaining biodegradability.
Implementation Method 1
poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based expanded particles which have a closed cell ratio of not less than 90% and can achieve a high expansion ratio through a single expansion treatment
Data Source
AI summary
An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based expanded particles and a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based foamed molded product both of which are obtained by a single expansion treatment and have a high expansion ratio. Provided are poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based expanded particles and a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)-based foamed molded product both of which include a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) composition containing a non-ionic water-soluble polymer.