Polypropylene Expanded Beads with Uneven Carbon Black Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods struggle to produce polypropylene-based resin expanded beads with stable electrostatic dissipative properties within the surface resistivity range of 1×10^5 to 1×10^10 Ω, due to limitations in antistatic agent electrical characteristics and percolation phenomena when using conductive inorganic substances, leading to inconsistent performance.

Innovation Solution

The use of polypropylene-based resin expanded beads with unevenly distributed carbon black and a specific ratio of polypropylene to polyethylene resin, along with Ketjen or acetylene black, to achieve a surface resistivity of 1×10^5 to 1×10^10 Ω, maintaining excellent expansion and fusion bonding properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If carbon black is added to polypropylene-based resin to achieve electrostatic dissipative properties, then surface resistivity can be reduced to the desired range, but the dispersion state of carbon black becomes difficult to control and surface resistivity varies significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrostatic dissipative propertiesVSAvoidsurface resistivity consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material system consisting of polypropylene-based resin, polyethylene resin, and carbon black. This composite approach allows the carbon black to be dispersed within the polyethylene resin phase, which is distributed throughout the polypropylene matrix, achieving both electrostatic dissipative properties and consistent surface resistivity through the synergistic interaction of multiple materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specific microstructure where carbon black is concentrated in the polyethylene resin dispersed phases rather than being uniformly distributed throughout the entire polypropylene matrix. This localized distribution in the dispersed phases provides stable electrostatic dissipative properties while maintaining manufacturing consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If polyethylene resin is added to polypropylene resin to improve carbon black dispersion, then surface resistivity stability improves, but the complexity of resin composition increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface resistivity stabilityVSAvoidresin composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the complexity by specifying precise parameter ranges: polyethylene resin content of 5-50 parts by weight per 100 parts of polypropylene-based resin, and carbon black content of 1-30 parts by weight per 100 parts of polypropylene-based resin. These controlled parameter changes achieve stable surface resistivity while maintaining manageable composition complexity

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

This approach allows for the stable production of polypropylene-based resin expanded beads with electrostatic dissipative properties, exhibiting minimal variation in surface resistivity and maintaining mechanical strength, even in complex shapes and varying molding conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the carbon black is unevenly distributed to the dispersed phases side... to achieve a surface resistivity of 1×10^5 to 1×10^10 Ω

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

maintaining excellent expansion and fusion bonding properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFusion bonding:

Data Source

PatentEP2799473B1Polypropylene-based resin foamed particles, method for producing same, and molded article of polypropylene-based resin foamed particles
Publication Date: 2018.03.21 JSP CORP
  • EP2799473B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2799473B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2799473B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electrostatic dissipative, polypropylene-based resin expanded bead containing electrically conductive carbon black, having an apparent density of 10 to 120 kg/m3 and formed of a base resin which includes a polypropylene resin forming a continuous phase, and a polyethylene resin forming dispersed phases dispersed in the continuous phase, with the carbon black being unevenly distributed to the dispersed phases side. The polyethylene resin is an ethylene homopolymer or a copolymer of ethylene and C4 to C6 α-olefinand a weight ratio of the polypropylene resin to the polyethylene resin is 99.5:0.5 to 65:35. A molded article obtained by in-mold molding of such expanded beads exhibits electrostatic dissipative properties with a surface resistivity in the range of 1×105 to 1×1010 Ω in a stable manner.