Thermoplastic Elastomer Damping via SIBS and Tackifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermoplastic elastomer formulations, such as those based on styrenic block copolymers, often lack effective damping properties at room temperature and above, and are not suitable for high-temperature processing applications due to their low molecular weight and inadequate tan delta peak temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer into a thermoplastic elastomer compound with hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer and a high softening point tackifier to increase the Compound Tan Delta Peak Height and maintain the peak temperature at or above room temperature, enhancing damping capacity across a broad range of temperatures and frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional TPE formulations use hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer for high temperature processing, then processing temperature resistance is improved, but damping properties at room temperature deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (for heat resistance) with non-hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer having high vinyl content (for room temperature damping) to create a composite TPE formulation that achieves both high temperature processing capability and effective room temperature damping properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the styrenic block copolymer by controlling vinyl content (at least 50 mol%) and hydrogenation level (at least 50% hydrogenated) to achieve the desired balance between processing temperature resistance and damping performance at room temperature
2Reliability
If TPE uses non-hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer for room temperature damping, then damping properties at room temperature are improved, but high temperature processing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite formulation combining non-hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (for room temperature damping) with hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (for heat resistance), achieving synergistic performance that neither component alone can provide
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the hydrogenation level parameter to be at least 50%, which maintains sufficient damping properties while enabling high temperature processing capability
3Ease of manufacture
If TPE uses low molecular weight styrenic block copolymer for ease of processing, then processability is improved, but damping capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight parameter to be at least 100,000 g/mol, which provides adequate damping capacity while maintaining acceptable processability through controlled polymerization
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 thermoplastic elastomer compound exhibits increased damping capacity and improved processing capabilities at high temperatures, making it suitable for various industrial applications requiring vibration and sound damping, including military and defense applications.
Implementation Method 1
The tangent of delta (tan delta) of a material is the ratio of its loss modulus (E'') to its storage modulus (E'). Consequently, as the value of tan delta increases, the response of the material is relatively more viscous than it is elastic, which thus provides greater damping.
Implementation Method 2
Some commercially available SBCs, such as high vinyl isoprene styrene block copolymers including HYBRAR 5127 available from Kuraray Co., Ltd., are known to exhibit vibration damping properties at room temperature.
Data Source
AI summary
A thermoplastic elastomer compound includes hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer having a polyisoprene soft block, styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer, tackifier having a softening point of at least about 80° C. according to ASTM 6493, and, optionally, one or more additional thermoplastic elastomers. The compound has a Compound Tan Delta Peak Temperature (at 10 Hz) of at least 10° C. and a Compound Tan Delta Peak Height (at 10 Hz) of at least 0.85 if no thermoplastic polyurethane is present and at least 0.60 if additional thermoplastic elastomer is present and includes thermoplastic polyurethane. The thermoplastic elastomer compound exhibits superior damping properties across a broad range of temperatures, including at or above room temperature, and across a broad range of vibrational frequencies. The compound in sheet form can be used as a layer in an article of a structure susceptible to forceful impact of any item.