Crosslinked Resin Cable Sheathing for Heat Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable sheathing materials lack sufficient flexibility and heat resistance, particularly in narrow and short paths, where silicone rubber cables are costly and require specialized manufacturing, and other materials do not meet high enough flexibility standards.

Innovation Solution

A resin composition combining an ethylene-(meth)acrylate ester copolymer with ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer or ethylene-acrylate rubber, crosslinked with radiation, and incorporating a flame retardant, optimized to provide both flexibility and heat resistance as a sheathing layer for cables.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If silicone rubber is used as the sheathing material, then flexibility and heat resistance are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the resin by incorporating specific additives (ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, ethylene-acrylate rubber, and flame retardant) to achieve heat resistance comparable to silicone rubber while maintaining compatibility with conventional extrusion molding processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive silicone rubber with a cost-effective resin composition that can be processed using conventional equipment, eliminating the need for specialized vulcanization devices and hot air treatment apparatus

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

2Temperature

If silicone rubber is used as the sheathing material, then flexibility and heat resistance are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat resistanceVSAvoidspecialized device requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The resin composition is designed to be universally compatible with conventional extrusion molding equipment, performing multiple functions including heat resistance, flexibility, and processability that were previously requiring specialized silicone rubber processing equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional insulating materials are used, then cost is reduced, but flexibility and heat resistance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidheat resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite resin system combining base resin with ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, ethylene-acrylate rubber, and flame retardant additives to achieve enhanced heat resistance and flexibility while maintaining cost-effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Ease of manufacture

If conventional insulating materials are used, then cost is reduced, but flexibility is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the resin composition by incorporating elastomeric components and plasticizers to achieve flexibility levels sufficient for narrow and short path applications while maintaining cost advantages over silicone rubber

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 composition achieves improved flexibility and heat resistance, allowing for effective use in automotive applications, with a tensile stress of 2.0 MPa or less at 19% strain and heat resistance up to 150°C, while reducing costs and manufacturing complexity.

Implementation Method 1

the resin component is crosslinked

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadiation crosslinking: Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3675140B1Resin composition, sheated cable, and wire harness
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP3675140B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The resin composition contains: a resin component containing an ethylene-(meth)acrylate ester copolymer and at least one of an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer or ethylene-acrylate rubber; and a flame retardant, and the resin component is crosslinked. The tensile stress at 19% strain of the resin composition is 2.0 MPa or less, and the resin composition has heat resistance at 150°C prescribed in JASO D624.