Polymer Simulation with Modified Basal Particles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional simulation methods for high polymer materials struggle to accurately evaluate filler dispersion due to the use of uniform polymer and filler models, which limits the assessment of filler distribution in actual materials.

Innovation Solution

A computerized simulation method that modifies the polymer model to include a modified basal particle with a different potential, allowing for the evaluation of filler dispersion by defining specific potentials that create a weaker repulsive force between the modified basal particle and the filler model, enabling improved filler distribution analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a uniform polymer model and filler model are used in molecular dynamics simulation, then the simulation process is simple and computationally efficient, but the ability to evaluate filler dispersion in actual high polymer materials is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiller dispersion evaluation accuracyVSAvoidpolymer model complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing modified basal particles with different potential parameters into specific regions of the polymer model. These modified particles have distinct interaction characteristics with filler particles compared to ordinary polymer particles, allowing the simulation to locally represent the effect of modifying agents. This enables accurate evaluation of filler dispersion while maintaining the overall simplicity of the molecular dynamics simulation framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If modifying agents are included to represent actual high polymer material conditions, then the simulation can evaluate filler dispersion more accurately, but the computational complexity and time required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiller dispersion evaluation accuracyVSAvoidsimulation calculation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements parameter changes by assigning different potential parameters to modified basal particles compared to ordinary polymer particles. Specifically, the Lennard-Jones potential parameters (epsilon and sigma) are adjusted for modified particles to reflect the different interaction strengths with filler particles. This allows the simulation to capture the effect of modifying agents through parameter variation rather than through complex molecular structures, thereby reducing computational time while maintaining accuracy in filler dispersion evaluation.

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

Enables effective evaluation and improvement of filler dispersion in high polymer materials, facilitating the development of new materials by simulating the effect of modifying agents, and providing insights into optimal filler distribution.

Implementation Method 1

each of the first potential and the second potential is defined so as to occur a repulsive force between two particles, and the repulsive force based on the second potential is weaker than that of the first potential

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRepulsive force: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Data Source

PatentEP2778678B1Polymer material simulation method
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP2778678B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2778678B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2778678B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A computerized simulation method for evaluating dispersion of fillers in a high polymer material, the method comprises a step (S1) of defining a filler model comprising at least one particle, a step (S2) of defining a polymer model comprising a plurality of particles each having a first potential with respect to the particle of the filler model, a step (S4) of performing a molecular dynamics calculation of the filler model and the polymer model placed in a predetermined virtual space on the computer, and a step (S5) of observing the dispersion of the filler model from data obtained in the molecular dynamics calculation. The polymer model further comprises at least one modified basal particle having a second potential with respect to the particle of the filler model, wherein the second potential differs from the first potential.