Resin Composition Low-Temperature Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing resin compositions comprising starch and polyvinyl alcohol lack sufficient breaking strength and elongation at low temperatures, making them prone to damage from impacts and unsuitable for use in multilayer structures for packaging foods stored at low temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A resin composition comprising modified starch and polyvinyl alcohol, where polyvinyl alcohol particles with a conversion particle diameter of 50 to 300 nm and dispersity of 3.0 or less are dispersed in the modified starch, along with specific processing conditions such as heating and extrusion, to enhance mechanical properties and gas barrier properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a composition comprising starch and polyvinyl alcohol is used, then the gas barrier property is improved, but the breaking strength at low temperature deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas barrier propertyVSAvoidbreaking strength at low temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter of polyvinyl alcohol from conventional larger sizes to specifically 50-300 nm, and controls the dispersity to 3.0 or less. This parameter change enables the PVA particles to disperse uniformly in the starch matrix, forming effective physical crosslinks that enhance low-temperature breaking strength while preserving the gas barrier properties of the starch-PVA composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system where nanoscale polyvinyl alcohol particles (50-300 nm) are dispersed within a starch matrix. This composite structure combines the biodegradability and gas barrier properties of starch with the strength-enhancing effect of fine PVA particles, achieving both improved breaking strength and maintained gas barrier performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a composition comprising starch and polyvinyl alcohol is used, then the gas barrier property is improved, but the breaking elongation at low temperature deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas barrier propertyVSAvoidbreaking elongation at low temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter of polyvinyl alcohol to 50-300 nm with dispersity of 3.0 or less. This fine particle size allows PVA to disperse uniformly throughout the starch matrix, creating numerous small physical crosslinking points that maintain chain mobility and enable elongation at low temperatures while preserving gas barrier properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent forms a composite material where nanoscale PVA particles (50-300 nm) are distributed within the starch matrix. This composite structure provides gas barrier performance from the starch-PVA combination while the fine particle dispersion maintains the material's ability to deform and elongate at low temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If polyvinyl alcohol particles are dispersed in modified starch, then the breaking strength at low temperature is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreaking strength at low temperatureVSAvoidparticle diameter dispersity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies a particle diameter range of 50-300 nm with dispersity of 3.0 or less, which balances manufacturing feasibility with performance requirements. This parameter range is wide enough to accommodate normal manufacturing variations while being narrow enough to ensure uniform dispersion and consistent low-temperature strength performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality control by specifying that polyvinyl alcohol particles should have diameters of 50-300 nm with dispersity of 3.0 or less. This localized control of particle size distribution in the critical dispersion region ensures uniform distribution throughout the starch matrix, achieving good low-temperature strength without requiring excessively tight manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 resin composition exhibits excellent breaking strength, elongation, and gas barrier properties at low temperatures, making it suitable for packaging foods stored at low temperatures while remaining biodegradable.

Implementation Method 1

at least part of the polyvinyl alcohol (B) is dispersed in the modified starch (A)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 2

in the step 1, cooking treatment is performed at a temperature of higher than 120° C. and not higher than 180° C.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

a step of extruding a melted mixture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExtrusion: Extrusion

Implementation Method 4

a step of cooling and drying an extruded melted product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentUS11578193B2Resin composition and method for producing the same
Publication Date: 2023.02.14 PLANTIC TECH
  • US11578193B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a resin composition comprising a starch and a polyvinyl alcohol, which is excellent in the breaking strength and breaking elongation at a low temperature, and at the same time, has the good gas barrier property. The resin composition comprises modified starch and polyvinyl alcohol, and where in a cross section photograph by a transmission electron microscope, a cross-sectional area of each of particles of the polyvinyl alcohol dispersed is calculated, and a cross-sectional shape of each of the particles of the polyvinyl alcohol is postulated to be circular based on the cross-sectional area, the particles of the polyvinyl alcohol have a conversion particle diameter of 50 to 300 nm, and the conversion particle diameter has a dispersity of 3.0 or less.