Wiper Blade Coating Composition for Water Repellent Film Durability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wiper blades struggle to maintain water repellency and operate efficiently without the need for additional water repellent agents on the windshield, leading to poor visual clarity and chattering issues during rain and night driving.
Innovation Solution
A coating composition for wiper blades comprising silicone-based wax, silicone-based oil, and solid lubricants, such as molybdenum disulfide or graphite, which forms a durable water repellent film on the windshield, reducing friction and improving lubrication without the need for external water repellent agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water repellent agent is applied on the windshield to form a water repellent film, then rain droplets scatter and visual field clarity is improved, but the water repellent film gradually peels off due to friction with wiper blades, deteriorating the effect within a short time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying water repellent agent on the windshield and hoping it withstands wiper friction, the invention inverts the approach by coating the wiper blade rib itself with water repellent materials (silicone powder, graphite, molybdenum disulphide, or polytetrafluoroethylene). This way, the water repellent properties are transferred to the windshield through the wiper's normal operation, and the coating is protected by being part of the durable wiper blade structure rather than a separate film on the glass.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade rib is pre-coated with water repellent materials during manufacturing, so that when the wiper operates, it automatically deposits water repellent properties on the windshield surface. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for separate windshield treatment and ensures consistent water repellency with each wiper operation.
2Reliability
If a water repellent agent is applied on the windshield, then rain droplets scatter, but the application process is very annoying and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade system becomes self-sufficient by incorporating water repellent materials directly into its structure. The wiper blade automatically applies water repellent properties to the windshield during normal operation, eliminating the need for manual application of separate water repellent agents. The system serves itself by transferring its own coating materials to the windshield surface through friction and contact.
3Force
If the wiper blade is coated with powder such as silicone powder, graphite, molybdenum disulphide or polytetrafluoroethylene, then friction between the front windshield and the wiper blade is reduced, but wear resistance of the wiper blade deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is designed with different properties in different regions: the rib portion that contacts the windshield is coated with water repellent and low-friction materials (silicone powder, graphite, molybdenum disulphide, or polytetrafluoroethylene), while the bulk rubber material maintains its natural wear resistance. This localized coating approach allows the friction-reduced surface to perform its water repellent function without compromising the overall structural integrity and wear resistance of the wiper blade.
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 coating composition ensures a clear visual field by forming a durable water repellent film that enhances lubrication and prevents chattering, allowing wiper blades to operate efficiently and silently over extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
coating the rib of a wiper blade with a coating composition containing powder such as silicone powder, graphite, molybdenum disulphide or polytetrafluoroethylene such that friction between the front windshield and the wiper blade is reduced
Implementation Method 2
a technique for forming a wiper blade from a silicone rubber composition containing porous particles impregnated with a silane compound or silicone oil, in which the operation of the wiper blade can form a film which is like a water repellent film resulting from using a water repellent agent
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a coating composition for a wiper blade, which includes a silicone-based wax, a silicone oil and a solid lubricant so that the silicon-based wax in a liquid phase dissolved in the silicone oil coexists with the solid lubricant for extended time periods. Also, a wiper blade is provided, which has a rib including a coating layer formed from the coating composition, so that upon operation of the wiper blade, components of the coating layer dissolve out of the surface of the coating layer and are then transferred onto a windshield due to friction between the wiper blade and the windshield, thereby forming on the surface of the windshield a water repellent film which is hard and has outstanding durability.