Polymer Fabric Sheet Thermal Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flat structures for transport components, such as automobile interior linings, face challenges with low flexural rigidity at elevated temperatures, non-recyclability, and high disposal costs, requiring complex and expensive manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A flat structure composed of layers with first and second polymers, where the cold crystallization temperature of the first polymer is below the softening temperature of the second polymer, providing high mechanical strength, thermal stability, and recyclability, achieved through specific polymer selection and arrangement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional sheet structures are used for transport components, then manufacturing is simpler, but flexural rigidity at elevated temperatures is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexural rigidity at elevated temperaturesVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by combining two distinct polymers with different thermal properties. The first polymer maintains structural integrity at high temperatures while the second polymer provides flexibility at lower temperatures, creating a material system that achieves high flexural rigidity at elevated temperatures without requiring complex multi-layer constructions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes parameter changes by selecting polymers with specific transition temperatures. The first polymer has a glass transition temperature above the operating temperature range, ensuring rigidity at high temperatures, while the second polymer has a glass transition temperature below the operating range, providing flexibility. This parameter-based approach achieves temperature-dependent mechanical properties without structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional sheet structures are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but recyclability is poor and disposal costs are high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidrecyclability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses recyclability by designing a composite polymer system where both components can be recovered and reused. The specific polymer combination allows for separation and recycling processes, enabling the materials to be discarded and recovered effectively, thereby reducing disposal costs and improving environmental sustainability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Temperature

If complex multi-layered design is used to achieve thermal stability, then thermal stability is sufficient, but manufacturing process becomes complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the contradiction between thermal stability and manufacturing complexity by using composite materials with inherently different thermal behaviors. The first polymer provides high-temperature stability while the second polymer provides low-temperature flexibility, achieving thermal stability across a wide range without requiring complex multi-layered constructions or sophisticated manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention achieves thermal stability by selecting polymers with specific glass transition temperatures as key parameters. The first polymer has Tg above the maximum operating temperature, ensuring stability at high temperatures, while the second polymer has Tg below the minimum operating temperature, ensuring flexibility at low temperatures. This parameter-based material selection provides thermal stability without manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Strength

If sheet structure is designed for high stiffness, then thermal stability is improved, but elasticity and deformability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestiffnessVSAvoidelasticity and deformability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves both high stiffness and good elasticity by combining two polymers with complementary mechanical properties. The first polymer provides stiffness and structural support, while the second polymer provides elasticity and deformability. This composite approach allows the material to exhibit high stiffness under load while maintaining the ability to deform elastically, resolving the contradiction between stiffness and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention achieves the balance between stiffness and elasticity by selecting polymers with specific glass transition temperatures. The first polymer with high Tg provides stiffness at operating temperatures, while the second polymer with low Tg provides elasticity and deformability. This parameter-based selection enables the composite material to exhibit both high stiffness and good elastic behavior simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 structure exhibits high flexural rigidity at elevated temperatures, is elastically flexible, and recyclable, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining mechanical strength and acoustic properties.

Implementation Method 1

the cold crystallization temperature of the first polymer is at or below the softening temperature of the second polymer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCold crystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentEP3052688B1Fabric sheet with high thermal stability
Publication Date: 2019.01.16 CARL FREUDENBERG KG
  • EP3052688B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3052688B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3052688B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

With regard to the object of designing and developing a fabric sheet in such a way that, after low-cost production, it has high thermal and light stability, is recyclable, has a high mechanical load-bearing capacity and is elastically compliant, a fabric sheet (1, 1', 1", 1'") comprising a main body composed of at least one ply (2, 3), wherein the at least one ply (2, 3) contains first fibres comprising a first polymer (10) and second fibres comprising a second polymer (11) or wherein the at least one ply (2, 3) comprises one and the same fibres that contain a first and a second polymer (10, 11), is characterized in that a cold crystallization temperature (8) of the first polymer (10) lies at the softening temperature (7) of the second polymer (11) or below the softening temperature (7) of the second polymer (11).