Recycled Polyester Resin Composition for Heat-Resistant Headlamp Molding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods of recycling polyester waste result in low-purity recycled dimethyl terephthalate with significant by-product formation, leading to deteriorated resin properties and products, particularly in complex designs like vehicle headlamps, due to high fluidity requirements and thermal instability.

Innovation Solution

A recycled polyester resin composition comprising recycled dimethyl terephthalate, a hindered phenol-based primary antioxidant, and a phosphorus-based or sulfur-based secondary antioxidant, with controlled crystallinity and purity, minimizing by-products and enhancing thermal resistance and processability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If glycolysis is used to recycle waste polyester, then recycled polyester resin can be prepared, but excessive glycol causes side reactions forming large amounts of by-products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecycled polyester resinVSAvoidby-products from side reactions
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful excess glycol component from the reaction system through careful stoichiometric control and purification processes, eliminating the source of side reactions while maintaining the desired glycolysis reaction efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes reaction parameters including glycol-to-polyester ratio, temperature, and reaction time to maximize resin production while minimizing by-product formation through precise control of the glycolysis process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If methanolysis is used to recycle waste polyester, then recycled polyester resin can be prepared, but the properties of the final resin and products are significantly deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecycled polyester resinVSAvoidresin properties and product quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable catalyst system that can be easily removed, allowing for optimized reaction conditions that prioritize resin quality over catalyst recovery, using catalysts that facilitate the reaction but are sacrificed in the purification process

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful methanolysis by-products into removable intermediates that can be separated during purification, transforming quality-deteriorating side reactions into manageable process steps

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

3Ease of manufacture

If physical recycling methods are used for waste polyester, then recycling process is simple, but purity cannot be guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecycling process simplicityVSAvoidrecycled material purity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/physical separation methods with chemical reaction-based purification, using controlled depolymerization and repolymerization reactions to achieve molecular-level purity that physical methods cannot attain

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transition differences between desired products and impurities during the chemical recycling process, employing crystallization and distillation to separate high-purity recycled polyester from contaminants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

4Shape

If complex mold structures are used for vehicle headlamps, then design requirements are met, but high fluidity material is required to avoid unmolded portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplex headlamp designVSAvoidmolding process requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the rheological parameters of the recycled polyester material through additive incorporation and molecular weight control, achieving enhanced fluidity that enables complete filling of complex mold cavities without short shots or unmolded portions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

5Adaptability or versatility

If headlamp components are exposed to multiple heat sources, then functional requirements are met, but thermal decomposition may occur causing haziness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional headlamp componentsVSAvoidthermal decomposition and haziness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates thermal stabilizers and antioxidants into the recycled polyester formulation before molding, creating a protective chemical barrier that prevents thermal decomposition during exposure to multiple heat sources in the headlamp application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system combining recycled polyester with thermally stable additives and modifiers, enhancing the base material's thermal resistance to withstand the harsh thermal environment of vehicle headlamps with multiple heat-generating components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 composition achieves high-purity recycled dimethyl terephthalate with improved crystallinity, thermal resistance, and volatility resistance, resulting in high-quality molded articles with excellent mechanical and thermal properties, suitable for complex designs like vehicle headlamps.

Implementation Method 1

a hindered phenol-based primary antioxidant and a phosphorus-based or sulfur-based secondary antioxidant, wherein in the recycled polyester resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation resistance: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

the crystallized area value is 20% or more when calculated according to the following Equation 1 for the crystallized region and the non-crystallized region obtained by separating the crystal diffraction peaks

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentEP4707331A1Recycled polyester resin composition and molded article manufactured therefrom
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 SK CHEMICALS CO LTD
  • EP4707331A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707331A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4707331A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a recycled polyester resin composition comprising recycled dimethyl terephthalate prepared from waste polyester and to an article molded therefrom. Specifically, according to an embodiment of the present invention, as the recycled polyester resin composition comprises a recycled polyester resin comprising a repeat unit derived from a glycol component and a repeat unit derived from recycled dimethyl terephthalate (rDMT); a hindered phenol-based primary antioxidant; and a phosphorus-based or sulfur-based secondary antioxidant, it is possible to enhance crystallinity, thermal resistance, and volatility resistance. Accordingly, when a molded article for a vehicle headlamp is prepared using the recycled polyester resin composition, excellent performance can be exhibited.