PTFE Micropowder Production From 700 μm Powder by Ionizing Radiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) micropowder result in a messy working environment due to the rise of PTFE powder during irradiation, and there is a lack of effective utilization of PTFE fine powder with an average particle size of 700 μm or greater, which has low commercial value.

Innovation Solution

Irradiate PTFE powder with an average particle size of 700 μm or greater with ionizing radiation to produce a micropowder with an average particle size of 20 μm or smaller, using a production method that includes sieving and pulverization to control particle size and density, thereby reducing powder rise and enhancing working conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If PTFE powder with average particle size of 700 μm or greater is irradiated with ionizing radiation, then a clean working environment is achieved, but the production efficiency is reduced due to the need for sieving and pulverization steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowder rise during irradiationVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by selecting PTFE powder with a specific particle size (700 μm or greater) before irradiation. This pre-selection ensures that the powder will not rise during irradiation, eliminating the need for containment measures and creating a clean working environment from the start of the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical pulverization methods with ionizing radiation irradiation. By irradiating the PTFE powder with ionizing radiation, the material is transformed into micropowder form without requiring traditional mechanical grinding or pulverization equipment, thereby simplifying the mechanical system while achieving the desired particle size reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of substance

If PTFE powder with average particle size of 700 μm or greater is used, then effective utilization of low commercial value material is achieved, but the working environment becomes messy due to powder rise during conventional irradiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveutilization of PTFE fine powderVSAvoidmessy working environment

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter of the PTFE powder to 700 μm or greater, which fundamentally alters the behavior of the material during irradiation. This parameter change prevents powder rise and enables the effective utilization of PTFE fine powder that would otherwise be difficult to handle and has low commercial value.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If conventional irradiation methods are used on PTFE powder, then production speed is maintained, but the working environment becomes messy and material utilization is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction speedVSAvoidpowder rise and messy environment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-selecting PTFE powder with a specific particle size (700 μm or greater) that inherently resists rising during irradiation. This preliminary selection counteracts the harmful effect of powder rise before irradiation begins, allowing conventional irradiation methods to proceed at full speed without environmental contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 method enables a clean working environment and effective use of PTFE fine powder, producing a micropowder suitable for high-performance applications without substantial differences in characteristics compared to conventional micropowders.

Implementation Method 1

irradiating a polytetrafluoroethylene powder having an average particle size of 700 μm or greater with ionizing radiation to provide a polytetrafluoroethylene micropowder having an average particle size of 20 μm or smaller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonizing radiation: Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS20250289933A1Method for producing polytetrafluoroethylene micropowder and polytetrafluoroethylene powder

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

A method for producing a polytetrafluoroethylene micropowder that enables a clean working environment as well as a polytetrafluoroethylene powder. A method for producing a polytetrafluoroethylene micropowder, the method including irradiating a polytetrafluoroethylene powder having an average particle size of 700 μm or greater with ionizing radiation to provide a polytetrafluoroethylene micropowder having an average particle size of 20 μm or smaller.