Surface-Treated Glass Cullet for Polymer Antiblocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to find an inexpensive and effective particulate material with desirable optical and physical properties for use as an antiblocking agent in polymer compositions, as conventional materials can be costly and have limitations in properties such as brightness and yellowness.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating surface-treated particulate glass cullet with a d90 of less than 20 µm into polymer compositions, which enhances brightness and reduces re-aggregation, making it suitable for various applications including films, paints, and cosmetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antiblocking fillers are used, then antiblocking properties are achieved, but cost increases and optical properties (brightness, yellowness) are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantiblocking propertiesVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive conventional antiblocking fillers (such as ground calcium carbonate, talc, or silica) with a cheaper alternative: finely ground and surface-treated glass cullet (recycled glass). The glass cullet is processed to achieve the necessary functional properties at lower cost while maintaining or improving performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of glass cullet through surface treatment processes. By changing the surface properties of the glass particles (such as applying surface coatings or chemical treatments), the material achieves improved dispersion, reduced re-aggregation, and enhanced antiblocking performance, making it suitable as a polymer filler.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional antiblocking fillers are used, then antiblocking properties are achieved, but optical properties (brightness, yellowness) are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantiblocking propertiesVSAvoidbrightness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive conventional antiblocking fillers (such as ground calcium carbonate, talc, or silica) with a cheaper alternative: finely ground and surface-treated glass cullet (recycled glass). The glass cullet is processed to achieve the necessary functional properties at lower cost while maintaining or improving performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of glass cullet through surface treatment processes. By changing the surface properties of the glass particles (such as applying surface coatings or chemical treatments), the material achieves improved dispersion, reduced re-aggregation, and enhanced antiblocking performance, making it suitable as a polymer filler.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If glass cullet is ground to fine particle size, then antiblocking properties improve, but re-aggregation of particles occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantiblocking propertiesVSAvoidparticle dispersion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of glass cullet through surface treatment processes. By changing the surface properties of the glass particles (such as applying surface coatings or chemical treatments), the material achieves improved dispersion, reduced re-aggregation, and enhanced antiblocking performance, making it suitable as a polymer filler.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The surface treatment acts as an intermediary layer on the glass cullet particles, preventing direct interaction between particles that would cause re-aggregation. This intermediary coating maintains particle separation and stability in the polymer composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 use of surface-treated particulate glass cullet provides antiblocking properties comparable to or better than conventional fillers, offering improved brightness and reduced yellowness, while being an economical and sustainable solution, effectively reducing the blocking force and haze in polymer films.

Implementation Method 1

wherein the particles of the glass cullet are surface treated to modify one or more properties of the cullet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface treatment: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

having a d90 of less than 20 µm, wherein the d90 is measured by laser light particle size analysis using a CILAS (Compagnie Industrielle des Lasers) 1064 instrument

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP1809581B1Particulate material
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 IMERTECH SAS
  • EP1809581B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1f
  • EP1809581B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2d
  • EP1809581B1 patent drawingFigure 2e~2j

AI summary

There is disclosed a particulate glass cullet having a d90 less than about 20 µm, and a particulate glass cullet having a d90 wherein the particles have been surface treated to modify on or more properties of the cullet. The particulate materials may be obtained by a suitable grinding process. The particulate glass cullet and surface treated particulate glass cullet are useful as anti-blocking pigments in polymer compositions.