Polyolefin Composition Using Cholestanyl Ferulate for Heat Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants used in polyolefin compositions pose health risks due to potential toxicity and environmental contamination, leading to strict regulations, particularly in food and medical applications, prompting the need for safer, natural alternatives that provide effective long-term heat stabilization.

Innovation Solution

A polyolefin composition comprising a homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene or propylene combined with cholestanyl ferulate, which offers improved radical scavenging ability and enhanced heat stability, reducing the risk of toxicity and environmental contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synthetic phenolic antioxidants are used for heat stabilization of polyolefin compositions, then long-term heat stability is improved, but health risks and environmental contamination increase due to toxicity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat stabilityVSAvoidtoxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by replacing synthetic phenolic antioxidants with cholesteryl ferulate, a natural sterol ester derivative. This substitution maintains the antioxidant functionality and heat stabilization performance while eliminating the toxic effects associated with synthetic compounds, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a natural, biodegradable antioxidant (cholesteryl ferulate) that can be safely dispersed in the environment after use, replacing persistent synthetic antioxidants. This approach allows for effective heat stabilization during the product lifecycle while ensuring safe environmental disposal, addressing both the stability requirement and the toxicity concern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If natural antioxidants like Vitamin E are used as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants, then health risks are reduced, but radical scavenging ability and heat stability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetoxicityVSAvoidheat stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cholesteryl ferulate, a composite molecular structure combining the sterol backbone (similar to Vitamin E) with a ferulate moiety. This composite structure integrates the safety of natural sterols with the enhanced radical scavenging capability of ferulic acid derivatives, achieving both low toxicity and superior heat stability compared to conventional Vitamin E.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the molecular structure parameter by introducing the ferulate group to the sterol backbone, creating cholesteryl ferulate. This structural modification significantly enhances the radical scavenging activity and heat stability performance while maintaining the biocompatibility and safety profile of natural antioxidants, thereby resolving the insufficiency of conventional natural antioxidants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If cholesteryl ferulate is used instead of Vitamin E, then radical scavenging ability and heat stability are improved, but discoloration issues may arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat stabilityVSAvoiddiscoloration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of cholesteryl ferulate in the polyolefin composition to achieve effective heat stabilization while minimizing discoloration. By carefully controlling the amount of cholesteryl ferulate used, the patent balances the improved radical scavenging ability against potential discoloration effects, maintaining both performance and aesthetic quality.

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 use of cholestanyl ferulate in polyolefin compositions provides improved long-term heat stability and reduced discoloration, with better organoleptic properties and safer environmental dispersion, addressing the limitations of synthetic antioxidants.

Implementation Method 1

The use of cholestanyl ferulate results in the ability to introduce a biobased antioxidant package with improved radical scavenging ability during service lifetime

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadical scavenging: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP3585831B1Polyolefin composition
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES BV
  • EP3585831B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3585831B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a polyolefin composition comprising A. at least a homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene or propylene and B. cholestanyl ferulate. The composition can be used in the production of articles such as a pipe, cap and closure, film, food contact packaging, biomedical article, health care article and pharmaceutical article.