Tea Fiber PHBV PBAT Ternary Composite for Biodegradable Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current hyperbranched polymer composites fail to balance mechanical properties like rigidity and toughness while ensuring biodegradability and environmental sustainability due to limitations in existing materials like PHBV and PBAT, which are brittle and costly, and lack comprehensive application scope.

Innovation Solution

A tea fiber/PHBV/PBAT ternary composite is developed, incorporating tea powder, PBAT, PHBV, and additional components like graphene, plasticizers, and nucleating agents, processed through a specific method involving mixing, extrusion, and molding to achieve enhanced mechanical and biological properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If PHBV is used as a biodegradable plastic material, then environmental sustainability and biodegradability are improved, but mechanical brittleness increases and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental pollutionVSAvoidmechanical brittleness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a ternary composite material system comprising PHBV, PBAT, and tea fiber. This composite approach combines the biodegradability of PHBV with the toughness of PBAT and the reinforcing properties of tea fiber, achieving a balance between environmental sustainability and mechanical performance. The synergistic interaction among the three components resolves the brittleness issue of pure PHBV while maintaining its biodegradable特性.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the composition ratios of PHBV, PBAT, and tea fiber to achieve optimal mechanical properties. By adjusting the proportions of these components and controlling processing parameters such as extrusion temperature and molding conditions, the composite achieves improved tensile strength and elongation while maintaining biodegradability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If PHBV is used to address white pollution, then biodegradability is improved, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewhite pollutionVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates tea fiber, an agricultural waste product, as a reinforcing filler in the composite. This substitutes expensive traditional fillers with low-cost agricultural residues, significantly reducing material costs. The tea fiber provides structural reinforcement while being inexpensive and environmentally benign, making the composite economically viable for disposable applications.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses coupling agents as intermediaries to improve the interfacial bonding between tea fiber and the polymer matrix. This enhances the mechanical properties of the composite, allowing the use of low-cost tea fiber without compromising performance. The coupling agent mediates the interaction between the hydrophilic tea fiber and hydrophobic polymer, achieving cost-effective reinforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If PBAT is added to improve toughness, then mechanical toughness is improved, but degradation rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetoughnessVSAvoiddegradation rate
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent carefully controls the ratio of PBAT to PHBV in the composite formulation. By limiting the PBAT content to an optimal range and adjusting processing parameters such as crystallization temperature and molding pressure, the composite achieves sufficient toughness while maintaining an acceptable degradation rate. The presence of PHBV and tea fiber counterbalances the slow degradation of PBAT.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12084551B2Tea fiber/PHBV/PBAT ternary composite and preparation method and application thereof
Publication Date: 2024.09.10 ZENCE OBJECT HOLDING (HONG KONG) LTD

AI summary

The invention provides a tea fiber/PHBV/PBAT ternary composite and its preparation method and application. Comprising the components in parts by weight, the composite contains 30-80 parts of a blending polymer of poly(butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), 20-70 parts of tea powder, 1-19 parts of a plasticizer, 0.6-6 parts of an interface modifier, 3.3-10 parts of an auxiliary packing and 0.7-2 parts of a nucleating agent. The composite is environmental-friendly and cost-effective, exhibiting excellent mechanical properties such as hardness, compressive strength, and ductility. It can be used to manufacture environmental-friendly cups, tableware, compost bags, trash bags, shopping bags, electronic packaging bags, mulch films, 3D printing materials, foaming materials, and other plastic products.