Transparent Flame-Retardant Coating With Strong Low-Haze Film Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flame-retardant films with high metal hydroxide content compromise transparency and strength, leading to impaired design properties and reduced fuel efficiency when used in transportation vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A flame-retardant member with a haze of 35% or less and a coefficient of friction of 2.00 N/40 cm² or less, containing 20 wt% to 65 wt% of flame-retardant particles with particle diameters of 500 nm or less, and a binder resin, applied as a thin layer to maintain transparency and strength while providing sufficient flame retardancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large amount of metal hydroxide is compounded into the flame-retardant film, then flame retardancy is improved, but transparency of the film deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidtransparency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the particle diameter of metal hydroxide to D90 of 500 nm or less and optimizing the content to 20-65 wt%, along with controlling film thickness to 10-500 μm. These parameter optimizations allow the film to maintain high transparency (haze 35% or less) while achieving sufficient flame retardancy, resolving the contradiction between transparency and flame retardancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a large amount of flame retardant is compounded into the flame-retardant film, then flame retardancy is improved, but weight of the film increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidweight of film
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the content of metal hydroxide particles to 20-65 wt% and controls particle diameter to D90 of 500 nm or less, achieving sufficient flame retardancy with minimized weight. This parameter optimization ensures that the flame-retardant member maintains light weight for transportation vehicle applications while providing adequate flame protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a large amount of flame retardant is compounded into the flame-retardant film, then flame retardancy is improved, but strength of the film surface deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidstrength of film surface
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls particle diameter to D90 of 500 nm or less and optimizes content to 20-65 wt%, preventing excessive particle aggregation that would weaken the film surface. This parameter control maintains film surface strength and prevents abrasion flaws while ensuring sufficient flame retardancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If the flame-retardant film is formed with high metal hydroxide content, then flame retardancy is improved, but design property of the base material is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame retardancyVSAvoiddesign property
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes particle diameter to D90 of 500 nm or less and controls film properties to achieve haze of 35% or less, maintaining the aesthetic appearance and design properties of the base material while providing sufficient flame retardancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3318618A1Flame-retardant member, flame-retardant composition, and flame-retardant dispersion liquid
Publication Date: 2018.05.09 NITTO BELGIUM NV
  • EP3318618A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3318618A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3318618A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a flame-retardant member having a flame-retardant layer that has sufficient flame retardancy, has high transparency, and has high strength of its film surface. Also provided is a flame-retardant composition that forms such flame-retardant layer. Also provided is a flame-retardant dispersion liquid to be used in the preparation of such flame-retardant composition. The flame-retardant member includes: a flame-retardant layer; and a base material, in which: the flame-retardant layer has a haze of 35% or less; and a surface of the flame-retardant layer on a side opposite to the base material has a coefficient of friction measured in conformity with JIS-K-7125:1999 of 2.00 N/40 cm2 or less.