PVC-Polyester Blend Films for Thermoforming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional PVC films face limitations in thermoformability, orientability, toughness, pasteurizability, and optical defects such as fish-eyes, which affect light transmittance, color neutrality, light fastness, and heat resistance.

Innovation Solution

A molding composition comprising a blend of semicrystalline or amorphous polyester and polyvinyl chloride, with the polyester making up 5 to 90% by weight, and additives such as high-molecular-weight polymers, stabilizers, waxes, and antiblocking agents, which is processed through extrusion or calendering to produce films with improved properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional PVC compositions are used, then the film can be produced with basic properties, but the thermoformability and orientability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethermoformabilityVSAvoidbasic film properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining PVC with specific additives including lubricants, heat stabilizers, modifiers, and flow aids in optimized proportions. This composite formulation enables the film to achieve both improved thermoformability and maintained basic film properties, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional PVC compositions are used, then the film can be produced with basic properties, but the toughness and impact resistance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetoughnessVSAvoidbasic film properties
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes by carefully controlling the proportions of additives in the PVC composition. Specifically, optimizing the amounts of lubricants, heat stabilizers, modifiers, and flow aids enables the film to achieve enhanced toughness and impact resistance while maintaining basic film properties, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If conventional PVC compositions are used, then the film can be produced, but optical defects such as fish-eyes occur affecting light transmittance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmittanceVSAvoidoptical defects
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of optical defects into a benefit by using carefully selected additives and controlled processing conditions. The formulation and processing parameters are optimized to prevent fish-eyes and other optical defects, thereby achieving high light transmittance and eliminating harmful optical factors from the film.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Temperature

If conventional PVC compositions are used, then the film can be produced, but heat resistance and color neutrality are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat resistanceVSAvoidcolor neutrality
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses heat stabilizers as intermediary substances in the PVC composition. These stabilizers mediate between the PVC polymer and thermal degradation, enabling the film to achieve improved heat resistance while maintaining color neutrality. The heat stabilizers act as protective intermediaries that prevent thermal degradation without affecting the color properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 resulting films exhibit enhanced thermoformability, orientability, toughness, and reduced optical defects, with improved light transmittance, color neutrality, and heat resistance, while maintaining high tensile impact resistance and dimensional stability.

Implementation Method 1

the polyester component is an amorphous or semicrystalline polyester whose crystallization half-life time from a molten state is at least 5 min

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentUS8822020B2Molding composition composed of vinyl chloride polymer or polyvinylchloride film produced from the molding composition and process for production of a film or of a film web
Publication Date: 2014.09.02 KLOECKNER PENTAPLAST

AI summary

The invention relates to a molding mass made from vinyl chloride polymer or polyvinylchloride at 5 to 94 wt. % and a K value of 50 to 90 additives at 2 to 25 wt. % and a polymer, whereby the weight percentages relate to the total weight of the molding mass. The polymer is a semi-crystalline or amorphous polyester. The film is produced from the molding mass by plastifying and fusing the same and calendering or extruding the same to give a film with a thickness of 100 microns to 1 mm. By means of subsequent in-line or off-line method steps, the film, for example, by means of drawing with a drawing degree of 1.3 to 7, can be further processed to give a thin high-shrinkage film.