Spindle-Shaped Hollow Microparticles for Optical Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing organic fine particles, even those with modified shapes, fail to meet the advanced requirements for optical characteristics and usability in modern applications, such as cosmetic products and display devices, due to limitations in their spherical or nearly spherical designs.

Innovation Solution

Non-spherical hollow fine particles with a spindle shape, featuring a plurality of concave parts on the surface and a hollow part connected through a crack, are developed, utilizing a polysiloxane cross-link structure with specific siloxane units, which are produced using silanol group forming silicides and a condensation reaction process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If spherical or nearly spherical organic fine particles are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but optical characteristics and usability requirements cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape control precisionVSAvoidparticle structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from spherical to spindle-shaped particles with specific aspect ratios (0.3-0.8). This asymmetric geometry provides controlled light scattering properties and improved optical characteristics while maintaining manufacturability through a defined synthesis process using siloxane units and condensation reactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates porous structures by creating hollow parts within the particle interior connected to the surface through cracks. This porous configuration enhances light diffusion, improves optical characteristics, and maintains appropriate refractive index properties while being produced through controlled hydrolysis and condensation of silanol group-forming silicides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Illumination intensity

If modified shape particles are introduced to meet optical requirements, then optical characteristics improve, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmittance and diffusibilityVSAvoidproduction process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically controlling the aspect ratio (0.3-0.8), particle size (0.1-30μm major axis), and structural features (concave parts, hollow portions with cracks). These controlled parameter variations optimize light scattering and transmittance while maintaining a standardized production methodology using siloxane chemistry and condensation reactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material principles by incorporating specific siloxane units (SiO2, R1SiO3/2, R2SiO2/2) in controlled molar ratios to create particles with optimized refractive indices. The composite structure includes organic and inorganic components that work synergistically to achieve desired optical properties while being manufactured through a unified condensation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If non-spherical shapes are used to improve cosmetic product performance, then soft focus and durability improve, but production difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecosmetic product durability and soft focus effectVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies spheroidality by using spindle shapes with curved surfaces and controlled aspect ratios rather than sharp or irregular geometries. This curved morphology provides superior soft focus effects in cosmetic applications, enhances durability through stress distribution, and maintains compatibility with standard production processes using hydrolysis and condensation reactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies nesting by incorporating hollow portions within the particle interior that are connected to the surface through cracks. This nested structure enhances light scattering for soft focus effects, improves product durability, and is achieved through controlled phase separation during the condensation reaction process, maintaining production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

These particles enhance optical characteristics like total light transmittance and diffusibility, improve cosmetic product feel and durability, and provide superior soft focus effects, effectively addressing the limitations of prior art particles.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing a polysiloxane cross-link structure with specific siloxane units, which are produced using silanol group forming silicides and a condensation reaction process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

produced using silanol group forming silicides and a condensation reaction process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation reaction:

Data Source

PatentEP2433979B1Irregular-shaped hollow microparticle, method for producing same, and cosmetic material and resin composition containing irregular-shaped hollow microparticle
Publication Date: 2013.06.12 TAKEMOTO OIL & FAT CO LTD
  • EP2433979B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2433979B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Resin compositions with improved optical characteristics and cosmetic materials with improved feeling, soft focus and durability contain non-spherical hollow fine particles having a spindle shape as a whole with a major axis and a minor axis, a plurality of concave parts on the surface, a hollow part inside connected to the surface through a crack extending along the major axis, the average length of the major axes being 0.1-30µm and the ratio of the average length of the minor axes to the average length of the major axes being 0.3-0.8.