Silica Composite Particles with Titanium Surface Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Silica particles used in various applications face challenges in maintaining dispersibility and fluidity due to environmental fluctuations and mechanical loads, particularly due to issues with particle size distribution and surface properties.

Innovation Solution

Silica composite particles are developed with a titanium compound and hydrophobizing agent surface treatment, where titanium content is controlled between 0.001% to 10% by weight, and average particle diameter is between 30 nm to 500 nm, with a particle size distribution index of 1.1 to 1.5, and an average degree of circularity of 0.5 to 0.85, enhancing dispersibility and fluidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If silica particles are used as additives or main ingredients in toners, cosmetics, rubbers, and abrasives, then they improve the strength of resins, fluidity of powders, and suppress packing, but they face challenges in maintaining dispersibility and fluidity due to environmental fluctuations and mechanical loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedispersibility and fluidity maintenanceVSAvoidresponse to environmental fluctuations and mechanical loads
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the titanium content within a specific range (0.001% to 10% by weight) and optimizing the particle size distribution index (1.1 to 1.5). These parameter adjustments enhance the silica particles' ability to maintain dispersibility and fluidity under varying environmental conditions and mechanical loads, directly resolving the technical contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite silica particles by incorporating titanium compounds into the silica structure. This composite approach combines the beneficial properties of silica (strength improvement, fluidity enhancement) with titanium's ability to maintain dispersibility under environmental fluctuations, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability to external conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If silica particles have various shapes proposed to depend on properties, then they can improve specific performance characteristics, but particle size distribution and surface properties become difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle size distribution controlVSAvoidparticle shape variety
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a core-shell structure where the silica core provides the base properties while the titanium-containing surface layer provides enhanced dispersibility and controlled surface properties. This localized modification allows the particle shape to vary for different applications while maintaining precise control over particle size distribution through the standardized surface treatment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by establishing a specific particle size distribution index range (1.1 to 1.5) and controlling titanium content (0.001% to 10% by weight). These parameter controls enable the production of silica particles with various shapes tailored to specific applications while maintaining precise manufacturing precision through standardized process parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If titanium content in silica composite particles is increased, then surface properties and dispersibility improve, but the cost and complexity of the treatment process increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedispersibilityVSAvoidsurface treatment process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the titanium content within a specific range (0.001% to 10% by weight) and controlling the particle size distribution index (1.1 to 1.5). This optimized parameter selection achieves the desired dispersibility improvement while avoiding excessive titanium addition that would increase process complexity and cost, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

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 treated silica composite particles exhibit improved dispersibility and fluidity maintenance across varying environmental conditions and mechanical loads, reducing embedding and detachment risks, and maintaining stability against mechanical stress.

Implementation Method 1

a silica particle surface is sequentially surface-treated with a titanium compound in which an organic group is bonded to a titanium atom through an oxygen atom

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical Bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

a silica particle surface is sequentially surface-treated with a titanium compound... and a hydrophobizing agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobization: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 3

a titanium content in the silica composite particles measured using fluorescence X-ray

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence X-ray: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 4

Y represents a titanium content (atom %) of the silica composite particle surface obtained by XPS measurement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectX-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9243145B2Silica composite particles and method of preparing the same
Publication Date: 2016.01.26 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

Silica composite particles in which a silica particle surface is sequentially surface-treated with a titanium compound in which an organic group is bonded to a titanium atom through an oxygen atom, and a hydrophobizing agent are provided, in which a titanium content in the silica composite particles measured using fluorescence X-ray is from 0.001% by weight to 10% by weight; a titanium content of a surface layer of the silica composite particles satisfies the following Formula (1); an average particle diameter of the silica composite particles is from 30 nm to 500 nm; and a particle size distribution index of the silica composite particles is from 1.1 to 1.5:0.6<Y/X<1.8  (1)wherein X represents a titanium content in silica composite particles measured using fluorescence X-ray, and Y represents a titanium content of the silica composite particle surface obtained by XPS measurement.