Recycled Polymer Composite Composition for Target Property Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing polymer composite materials require extensive experimentation and analysis to determine optimal compositions, especially when using virgin and recycled polymers, leading to inefficiencies and difficulty in achieving desired physical properties.

Innovation Solution

A composition proposal system that utilizes learned models to predict and optimize the composition of recycled polymer composite materials, incorporating recycled polymers and other components to meet specific physical property targets, including equations for density, flexural strength, and impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If extensive experimentation and analysis are performed to determine optimal compositions of recycled polymer composite materials, then the desired physical properties can be achieved, but the time and effort required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephysical propertiesVSAvoidtime for experimentation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing learned models that predict physical properties from composition parameters. These models are trained in advance on existing data, allowing rapid prediction without repeated experimentation. The system uses the learned models to directly determine optimal compositions based on desired physical properties, eliminating the need for time-consuming trial-and-error experiments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating virtual recycled polymer composite materials with predicted physical properties that replicate real materials. The learned models copy the relationship between composition and physical properties from training data, allowing the system to predict properties of virtual compositions without physically producing them. This enables efficient optimization by working with digital representations rather than physical materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If virgin polymer and recycled polymer are blended to achieve desired physical properties, then the composition can be optimized, but the difficulty in analyzing characteristics and determining blend ratios increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephysical propertiesVSAvoidanalysis complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces learned models as intermediaries between the desired physical properties and the composition parameters. These models mediate the complex relationship by providing direct predictions of physical properties from composition data, and vice versa. The optimization unit uses these intermediary models to automatically determine blend ratios without requiring complex manual analysis, simplifying the overall process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the complex problem of analyzing multiple characteristics into optimization of key parameters. The system changes the approach from analyzing numerous individual characteristics to optimizing composition parameters (mass ratios of recycled polymer, glass fiber, rubber) that directly control physical properties. The learned models handle the complexity of parameter relationships, allowing straightforward optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the composition of recycled polymer is not constant, then real-world variability is reflected, but it becomes difficult to accurately analyze characteristics and determine optimal blend ratios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecycled polymer variabilityVSAvoidcharacteristic analysis precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback through the optimization unit that iteratively adjusts composition parameters based on predicted physical properties. The system feeds back the predicted properties to refine the composition determination, automatically adapting to the variability in recycled polymer characteristics. This feedback mechanism maintains measurement precision by continuously adjusting blend ratios in response to the actual characteristics of the recycled polymer used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4679433A1Composition proposal system, method for producing recycled polymer composite material, and recycled polymer composite material
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 SUMITOMO CHEM CO LTD
  • EP4679433A1 patent drawingFigure 1
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  • EP4679433A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A composition proposal system according to the present invention includes a prediction unit 103 that outputs a parameter including a descriptor of a recycled polymer material predicted by inputting a physical property value of the recycled polymer material acquired by a first acquisition unit 101 to a first learned model M5-1, a setting unit 107 that sets a target value of a physical property of a virtual recycled polymer composite material, and an optimization unit 112 that changes a parameter including a descriptor of the virtual recycled polymer composite material so that the physical property value of the virtual recycled polymer composite material approaches a target value, in which the optimization unit 112 optimizes a mass ratio of the recycled polymer material and other components contained in the virtual recycled polymer composite material by changing the parameter including the descriptor of the virtual recycled polymer composite material each time the physical property value of the virtual recycled polymer composite material is predicted.