Waterborne Polyurethane Sheet Coating for Low-Friction Diving Suits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional diving suits face issues with air pollution from matting agents and high friction coefficients due to nanostructured surface layers, leading to health hazards and suit damage.
Innovation Solution
A process for manufacturing a diving suit with a base layer of waterborne polyurethane dispersion with particle sizes ranging from 200 to 300 nm and a surface layer with sizes from 1000 to 2000 nm, eliminating the need for matting agents and enhancing surface smoothness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If matting agents such as titanium dioxide are incorporated into the waterborne PU dispersion to increase the matting effect, then the appearance becomes less glossy, but air pollution occurs which is hazardous to workers' health
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the harmful matting agents (titanium dioxide particles/powders) from the waterborne PU dispersion system, replacing them with a matting-free surface layer formulation that achieves the desired appearance without air pollution hazards to workers
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the particle size parameter of the waterborne polyurethane dispersion to 200-500 nm range, which inherently provides the desired matting effect and appearance properties without requiring additional matting agents like titanium dioxide, thus eliminating air pollution
2Reliability
If the surface layer is made of nano structure with particle size of PUD ranging from 200 to 500 nm for water repellence, then water repellence is achieved, but the upper surface has large friction coefficient which easily breaks the suit when wearing or taking off
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a dual-layer structure where the base layer contains 200-500 nm particles for water repellence while the surface layer has a different composition and larger particle size (100-500 nm PUD with specific additives) that provides low friction, allowing each layer to perform its specific function optimally
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials by combining waterborne polyurethane dispersion with specific additives (surfactants, lubricants, and crosslinking agents) in the surface layer formulation, creating a composite material system that simultaneously achieves water repellence and reduced friction coefficient for ease of wearing and removal
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 process achieves a matte finish without pollution, reduces friction, and prevents suit damage, ensuring a smooth and environmentally friendly production process.
Implementation Method 1
a matting agent such as titanium dioxide is incorporated into the waterborne PU dispersion for scattering the incoming light for leading the appearance to be less glossy
Implementation Method 2
a base layer of waterborne polyurethane (PU) coated on the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A process for making waterborne PU sheet includes: a rubber substrate; a base layer formed with a first waterborne polyurethane dispersion having particle sizes ranging from 200˜300 nm and coated on the substrate; and a surface layer formed with a second waterborne polyurethane dispersion having particle sizes ranging from 1,000˜2,000 nm and coated on the base layer.