Vegetable Resin Binder for Bitumen Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bitumen of petroleum origin used in leakproofing and road surfacing applications is non-renewable and has decreasing quality due to increasing demand, leading to unsatisfactory thermomechanical properties and excessive water uptake in membranes produced with alternative vegetable-based binders.

Innovation Solution

A binder of vegetable origin comprising 30-50% plasticizing fraction (oil) and 50-70% structuring fraction (modified vegetable resin with a softening point above 120°C and residual acidity less than 50 mg KOH/g) is developed, which can replace petroleum-based bitumen in various membrane and coating compositions, enhancing elasticity, adhesion, and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If bitumen of petroleum origin is replaced with vegetable-based binders, then sustainability is improved, but thermomechanical properties and water uptake performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesustainabilityVSAvoidthermomechanical properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite binder system combining modified vegetable resin (providing structure and thermal stability) with oil (providing plasticity and workability). This composite approach allows the binder to achieve both sustainability goals and acceptable thermomechanical properties that neither component could provide alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent systematically adjusts key parameters including resin-to-oil ratio, resin softening point (above 120°C), and residual acidity (below 50 mg KOH/g) to optimize the balance between sustainability and performance. By controlling these parameters, the binder achieves improved elasticity and reduced water uptake while maintaining renewable origins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vegetable-based binders are used to replace bitumen, then renewable resource usage is improved, but water uptake increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverenewable resource usageVSAvoidwater uptake
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent controls the residual acidity of the modified vegetable resin to be below 50 mg KOH/g and selects resins with softening points above 120°C. These parameter controls reduce excessive water uptake by optimizing the binder's molecular structure and hydrophobicity while maintaining renewable vegetable origins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional bitumen is used, then thermomechanical stability is maintained, but reliance on non-renewable resources increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermomechanical stabilityVSAvoidnon-renewable resource reliance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent selects modified vegetable resins with softening points above 120°C to match or exceed the thermal stability of conventional bitumen. This parameter selection ensures that the renewable binder maintains comparable thermomechanical stability across a range of temperatures, reducing reliance on fossil fuels without sacrificing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

By combining modified vegetable resin with oil in specific proportions, the patent creates a composite binder that replicates the viscoelastic behavior and thermal stability of conventional bitumen, providing a renewable alternative with equivalent thermomechanical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Temperature

If vegetable resin with high softening point is used, then thermal stability is improved, but elasticity may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoidelasticity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges modified vegetable resin (providing thermal stability through high softening point) with oil (providing elasticity and plasticity). The combination creates a balanced system where the resin matrix provides thermal resistance while the oil phase maintains flexibility and elastic recovery, achieving both properties simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10435537B2Binder of vegetable origin, compositions comprising same and method for reducing the amount of petroleum-based bitumen
Publication Date: 2019.10.08 SOPREMA SA

AI summary

Disclosed is a binder of vegetable origin based on oil, modified vegetable resin and optionally a heat stabilizer. Also disclosed are leakproofing membrane compositions, soundproofing membrane compositions, liquid sealing system compositions, asphalt mix coating compositions, asphalt coating compositions, primer compositions, varnish compositions, mastic compositions, adhesive compositions or binder emulsion compositions which comprise said binder. In addition, a method is disclosed for reducing the amount of bitumen of petroleum origin in said compositions.