Resin Blend Layer-Separated Structure Weather Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional plastic resins used in applications like home appliances and toys face degradation due to exposure to oxygen, ozone, and light, leading to poor weather resistance and mechanical strength, often requiring additional painting or plating processes that increase costs and generate harmful materials.

Innovation Solution

A resin blend comprising a first resin and a second resin with a hydrophobic moiety, differing in surface energy, is used to form a layer-separated structure, enhancing mechanical and surface characteristics without the need for separate coating or plating processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If inorganic particles are added into the resin to enhance physical properties such as wear resistance and hardness, then scratch resistance and hardness are improved, but processibility of the plastic resin is reduced and impact strength and glossiness are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescratch resistanceVSAvoidprocessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite resin system consisting of a base resin and a functional resin containing hydrophobic moieties. This composite approach allows the resin to achieve enhanced scratch resistance and hardness through the inherent properties of the functional resin rather than adding inorganic particles, thereby maintaining good processibility and avoiding the drawbacks of particle addition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of the resin by introducing hydrophobic moieties (such as fluorine-containing groups) to change the surface energy and intermolecular forces of the resin. This parameter change in the resin's chemical composition enables enhanced scratch resistance and hardness without compromising processibility, as the improvement comes from molecular-level changes rather than physical additives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If painting or plating process is applied to improve weather resistance and strength, then weather resistance and surface hardness are improved, but efficiency is reduced and harmful materials are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweather resistanceVSAvoidefficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a self-service approach where the resin itself is modified to provide weather resistance and surface hardness through the incorporation of hydrophobic moieties. This eliminates the need for separate painting or plating processes, as the resin inherently resists degradation from oxygen, ozone, and light, thereby maintaining high productivity and avoiding harmful emissions from coating processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the resin by introducing fluorine-containing hydrophobic moieties, which fundamentally alter the resin's resistance to environmental degradation. This chemical modification provides inherent weather resistance without requiring additional protective coatings, thus maintaining production efficiency and eliminating harmful materials associated with painting or plating processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If resin is exposed to external environment for predetermined time, then production cycle is completed, but resin is degraded by oxygen, ozone, or light leading to discoloration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction cycleVSAvoiddegradation by oxygen, ozone, or light
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the resin by incorporating fluorine-containing hydrophobic moieties, which change the resin's interaction with environmental factors. This chemical modification provides inherent protection against degradation by oxygen, ozone, and light, allowing the resin to withstand extended exposure to the external environment without discoloration or loss of properties, thus supporting longer production cycles without compromising material integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite resin system where the functional resin with hydrophobic moieties provides protection against environmental degradation. This composite structure allows the resin to maintain its properties during extended exposure to oxygen, ozone, and light, enabling completion of production cycles without the need for premature protective measures against environmental degradation.

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 resin blend improves mechanical properties and surface hardness while reducing production costs and time, achieving enhanced weather resistance and scratch resistance without additional surface treatments.

Implementation Method 1

a first resin and a second resin having a hydrophobic moiety represented by Formula (1) at a main chain and a difference in surface energy from the first resin at 25 °C of 0.1 to 20 mN/m, and capable of forming a layer-separated structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase separation:

Data Source

PatentEP2784132B1Resin mixture
Publication Date: 2017.09.27 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2784132B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2784132B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP2784132B1 patent drawingFigure 8~9

AI summary

Provided are a resin blend including a first resin, and a second resin having a hydrophobic moiety represented by Formula 1 at a main chain and having a difference in surface energy from the first resin at 25 °C of 0.1 to 20 mN/m, and formed in a layer-separated structure, a pellet, a method of manufacturing the same, and a resin molded article having a specific layer-separated structure. Because of the resin blend, a molded product may have enhanced mechanical properties and surface hardness, and additional surface coating may be omitted, thereby reducing a processing time, increasing productivity, and reducing production costs.