PLA Candle Container with Microencapsulated APP Flame Retardant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing candle containers lack improved flame resistance and mechanical properties, and do not facilitate biodegradability after the consumption of flammable materials.
Innovation Solution
A plastic container made from a combination of polylactide (PLA) and microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (APP) with a melamin coating, which enhances fire resistance and mechanical properties while being biodegradable, is used. The PLA is composed of poly-L-lactide and poly-D-lactide isomers, and APP is microencapsulated to improve fire resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional plastic materials are used for candle containers, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but flame resistance and biodegradability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite material system consisting of polylactide (PLA) as the base polymer and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as the flame retardant additive. This composite approach allows the container to achieve improved flame resistance while maintaining biodegradability, as both components are compatible with composting conditions. The composite material resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties rather than relying on conventional plastics that resist fire but do not biodegrade.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration of ammonium polyphosphate within a specific range of 0.1-10 wt% to achieve the desired flame resistance while maintaining manufacturability. By carefully controlling this parameter, the invention finds the optimal balance between fire safety performance and ease of manufacturing, avoiding both excessive complexity and insufficient protection.
2Reliability
If biodegradable materials like pure PLA are used, then biodegradability is improved, but flame resistance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Ammonium polyphosphate acts as an intermediary substance that bridges the gap between biodegradability and flame resistance. It is incorporated into the PLA matrix to provide fire protection during the candle-burning phase, while itself being compatible with biodegradation processes. This intermediary additive allows the container to satisfy both contradictory requirements: resisting fire during use and decomposing after use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the inherent vulnerability of biodegradable PLA to fire into a benefit by incorporating flame retardant additives. The harmful flammability of pure PLA is transformed into controlled fire resistance through the APP additive, which releases protective gases and forms a protective char layer during combustion, while the entire system remains biodegradable.
3Reliability
If flame retardant additives are added to improve fire resistance, then flame resistance is improved, but mechanical properties may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies an optimized concentration range of 0.1-10 wt% for ammonium polyphosphate to achieve flame resistance while preserving mechanical properties. Within this parameter range, the flame retardant provides adequate fire protection without excessive degradation of the PLA matrix structure, thus maintaining the container's mechanical strength and integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flame retardant properties are distributed throughout the PLA matrix at controlled concentrations, creating local fire protection zones that do not significantly compromise the overall mechanical structure. The additive is dispersed to provide fire resistance where needed while minimizing impact on the bulk mechanical properties of the container.
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 container exhibits improved flame resistance and mechanical properties, with combustion times exceeding 30 seconds in flammability tests, and demonstrates biodegradability, effectively addressing the limitations of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
APP is microencapsulated to improve fire resistance
Implementation Method 2
The container exhibits improved flame resistance and mechanical properties, with combustion times exceeding 30 seconds in flammability tests, and demonstrates biodegradability
Data Source
AI summary
Container for candle product intended to be filled with a flammable material, through which a wick is passing. The container is provided with a bottom and with side walls and is made of plastic. The plastic is a polymer containing 40% to 99.99 wt.% of polylactide PLA and 0.01% to 60 wt.% of ammonium polyphosphate APP. The polylactide PLA may be a mixture of poly-L-lactide PLLA and poly-D-lactide PDLA isomers, wherein the mixture contains at least 80 wt.% of PLLA and not more than 20 wt.% of PDLA. Ammonium polyphosphate APP may be microencapsulated, wherein microcapsules have a diameter of 25μm to 55μm and may contain a melamin coating.