Stretchable Aliphatic Copolyester With Oriented α-Form Crystals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) lack sufficient elasticity and are prone to deterioration due to secondary crystallization, limiting their practical applications, especially in medical and industrial uses.
Innovation Solution
A stretchable polyester is developed by forming a P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymer with a specific α-form structure and orientation treatment through stretching, which suppresses secondary crystallization and enhances elasticity, allowing for shape followability and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are used as stretchable materials, then environmental degradability and bioabsorbability are achieved, but elasticity is insufficient and secondary crystallization causes deterioration over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the crystal structure parameter from conventional forms to a specific α-form with orientation treatment, achieving degree of orientation of 50% or more. This parameter change transforms the material's mechanical properties, providing both elasticity through reversible β-form transformation and durability by suppressing secondary crystallization in the oriented α-form structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining oriented α-form crystals with amorphous regions. The oriented crystals provide structural stability and suppress secondary crystallization, while the amorphous regions enable elastic deformation through β-form transformation, achieving both elasticity and durability simultaneously
2Ease of operation
If aliphatic polyester copolymers are stretched to improve elasticity, then shape followability is enhanced, but secondary crystallization progresses and causes deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary orientation treatment to the α-form crystal structure before use, achieving degree of orientation of 50% or more. This preliminary action pre-organizes the crystal structure to suppress future secondary crystallization while maintaining the ability to undergo reversible β-form transformation for elastic shape following
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the crystal structure parameter to a specific α-form with high orientation (50% or more), which fundamentally alters the material's behavior. This parameter change enables the material to maintain crystallization stability while exhibiting elastic shape followability through reversible β-form transformation during stretching
3Strength
If P(3HB) homopolymer is used, then high crystallinity and strength are achieved, but the material becomes hard and brittle with poor flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure with oriented α-form crystals providing strength and stability, combined with amorphous regions enabling flexibility. The oriented crystal structure maintains high strength while the organized structure suppresses harmful secondary crystallization, and the amorphous regions provide flexibility through β-form transformation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the crystal structure parameter to oriented α-form with 50% or more orientation, transforming the material from hard and brittle to flexible while maintaining strength. The oriented structure allows reversible β-form transformation that provides flexibility without sacrificing the strength provided by the crystalline framework
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 stretchable polyester exhibits high tensile elongation recovery rates and flexibility without additives, enabling the production of environmentally degradable and bioabsorbable materials with improved durability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
the stretchable polyester contains an α-form and an amorphous structure, and a degree of orientation determined by X-ray of the α-form is 50% or greater
Implementation Method 2
after crystallization, the stretchable polyester is stretched and then, after a load is removed, the stretchable polyester exhibits elasticity
Implementation Method 3
when a tensile load is removed, the stretched chain structure is significantly reduced or disappearing
Implementation Method 4
exhibits a unique stretched chain structure during stretching, and wherein when a tensile load is removed, the stretched chain structure is significantly reduced or disappearing
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable polyester having shape followability and flexibility by elastic response and being able to suppress deterioration over time due to secondary crystallization. The present invention provides a stretchable polyester which is an aliphatic copolymer polyester containing two or more types of monomer units, wherein the stretchable polyester contains an α-form and an amorphous structure, and a degree of orientation determined by X-ray of the α-form is 50% or greater.