JP2012223940A - Method of manufacturing plant fiber foaming material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing a plant fiber foaming material containing, in particular, natural plant fibers which can be naturally decomposed.SOLUTION: Plant fibers, a foaming agent, a thickening agent, a filler, and a combustion preventive agent are injected into a mixing and stirring tank, mixing processing is performed, and a mixture having uniform viscosity is formed. The uniform mixture is filled or injected in a molding container or a molding die. Pressurization processing is performed using a pressurizing device and a set pressure is applied. Heating processing is performed, and the temperature is raised to higher than a foaming temperature of the foaming agent to generate foaming action, and the plant fiber foaming material having a porous foaming structure is formed. The method of manufacturing the plant fiber foaming material can be easily achieved using an existing facility. The plant fiber foaming material has a function of naturally decomposing by natural plant fibers and can not only remarkably decrease a discharge amount of agricultural waste but also enhance an environment protection function.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a kind of foam material, and more particularly to a method for producing a foam material including naturally-degradable natural plant fibers.

  Foamed materials are lightweight and have fire and collision prevention functions, so they have already been applied in large quantities to various areas such as packaging materials, fillers, containers or cases. In general, the foam material is formed using a base material and a foaming agent. In particular, the foam material is heated to generate a large amount of gas in the foaming agent, and at the same time, the base material is softened or melted to have a required shape, for example, a flat plate shape. It is molded into a corrugated plate shape, an open bottle shape or a sealed shape.

  Commonly used substrates include various man-made materials such as thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics or rubber. In addition, it is very easily combined with existing injection molding, extrusion molding, roll molding or spray-up molding, and combined with a suitable high-temperature high-pressure steam, high-frequency, ultrasonic or infrared heating method. The

  However, a drawback of the above known techniques is that for different materials it is necessary to select and use a specific foaming technique and appropriate mechanical equipment, which is less flexible in manufacturing practice. In addition, the raw material price of the base material is expensive and difficult to decompose by itself, and a large amount of waste that cannot be easily treated is generated after use, resulting in considerable troublesome environmental protection problems.

  Accordingly, a method for producing a kind of plant fiber foaming material is required, and the above-mentioned well-known technical problems are solved by utilizing naturally decomposable plant fibers.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a kind of plant fiber foam material.

The method for producing the plant fiber foam of the present invention comprises:
Plant fibers, foaming agents, thickeners, fillers and anti-burning agents are placed in a mixing and stirring tank, mixed and processed to form a viscous uniform mixture;
Fill or inject the uniform mixture into a molding container or mold,
Apply a set pressure by applying pressure using a pressurizing device,
Heat treatment is performed to raise the temperature above the foaming temperature of the foaming agent to generate a foaming action, thereby forming a plant fiber foam material having a porous foam structure.

  The above-mentioned plant fiber is rice stalk, rice husk, wheat stalk, onion leaf, sweet potato leaf, coconut shell or pasture, or a combination thereof, in particular, it is a plant fiber composite (FPC).

  Thickeners include starch and are used to increase viscosity and improve processability.

  Combustion inhibitors include calcium carbonate to prevent combustion or slow down the combustion rate and improve the fire protection effect.

  As a result, the production method of the present invention produces a naturally decomposable foaming agent, reduces agricultural waste emissions, and promotes environmental protection.

It is a flowchart of the manufacturing method of the vegetable fiber foam material of this invention. It is a flowchart of another Example of the manufacturing method of the vegetable fiber foam material of this invention.

  Please refer to FIG. It is a flowchart of the manufacturing method of the vegetable fiber foam material of this invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing method of the present invention includes a mixing process S10, an injection process S20, a pressurizing process S30, and a heating process S40 that are executed in order, and thereby a plant fiber foam material having a specific shape. Manufacturing.

  First, the process starts from the mixing process S10. That is, plant fibers, foaming agents, thickeners, fillers and combustion inhibitors are put in a mixing tank and mixed by a stirring method. The mixing time should be at least about 3 hours, as well as forming a viscous uniform blend.

  Among them, the weight percent of the plant fiber is 10% -90%, and the plant fiber is selected from plant fiber particles (FPC) or at least one of stem, leaf, fruit shell, pericarp and root of a natural plant.

  For example, the plant fiber is at least one of rice stalk, rice husk, wheat stalk, onion leaf, sweet potato leaf, flax leaf, bamboo leaf, sugar beet leaf, pasture grass, coconut shell, pineapple skin, and cow pod.

  The blowing agent can be ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), expanded polyethylene (EPE), polylactic acid (PLA), and the blowing agent has a foaming temperature, for example, a foaming temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is higher, for example, 220 degrees Celsius, a large amount of gas having a chemical inertia, such as carbon dioxide, is generated, thereby forming a porous open or closed pore.

  Fillers can include stone flour and thickeners can include starch, which is used to increase viscosity and improve processability.

  The combustion inhibitor can be calcium carbonate, which inhibits combustion or slows the combustion rate to improve the fire protection effect. In addition, the flame retardant is an epoxy-based viscosity agent or an activated carbon flame retardant. Among them, the activated carbon combustion inhibitor is a combustion inhibitor having an activated carbon effect. In addition to having a property of preventing combustion in the event of a fire, it has an excellent smoke adsorption effect and has a property of reducing dense smoke at the fire site. It is the world's most known combustion inhibitor with environmental protection and safety. The activated carbon combustion inhibitor is generally manufactured by specially processing natural carbon ore, and its characteristics are stable and undeformed when the temperature is from room temperature to 200 degrees Celsius, and when heated, the temperature becomes higher than 200 degrees Celsius. , Its thickness expands abruptly, tens to hundreds of times, becomes a loose wormlike powder, forms a sequestration coal layer on the combustion surface, isolates heat on the one hand, reduces air flow on the other, Achieve fire protection objectives.

  Subsequently, an injection process S20 is executed. That is, a viscous uniform mixture is filled or injected into a specific shape molding container or mold by injection or extrusion.

  Further, a pressurizing process S30 is executed to enhance the density, and for example, pressure is applied using a pressurizing device. The pressurizing device is a hydraulic machine or a high-pressure air cylinder.

  Finally, heat treatment S40 is performed. It uses a heating device to make the temperature of the uniform mixture in the molding container or mold higher than the foaming temperature of the foaming agent, for example, 220 degrees Celsius, and maintain that temperature for 10 to 60 seconds. A foaming action is generated and the uniform admixture is changed to a plant fiber foam having a porous foam structure. The heating device can use a high-pressure high-temperature steam, high-frequency, ultrasonic or infrared heating system.

  Thereby, the plant fiber foam to be manufactured can have a specific shape by a molding container or a mold, and can be used directly for packaging of a specific product to provide a protection function of moisture prevention, fire prevention or impact prevention.

  Please refer to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for producing a plant fiber foam material according to another embodiment of the present invention. Among them, the manufacturing method of another embodiment of the present invention includes a mixing process S10, a calendar process S22, a heating process S40, and a cutting process S50, which are executed in order, thereby manufacturing a plate-like vegetable fiber foam material. The mixing process S10 and the heating process S40 are the same as those described in the embodiment of FIG.

  In the calendering process S22, a calender device is used to calender the viscous uniform mixture to form a pre-formed flat plate having a predetermined thickness.

  Subsequently, heat treatment S40 is performed to cause the foaming agent to form a foaming action, whereby the pre-formed flat plate is converted into a flat vegetable fiber foam material.

  In addition, the heat treatment S40 can perform the pressure treatment at the same time. For example, a heat press is used to realize the pressure heat treatment, thereby increasing the density of the plant fiber foam material.

  Finally, the cutting process S50 is executed, and the plant fiber foam is cut into an appropriate size and shape using a cutting device.

  The feature of the manufacturing method of the present invention is that foaming can be performed by using existing machinery and equipment, and it is not necessary to replace or increase with extra processing tools, and it is multi-factory for foam molding of various plant fiber foam materials. The materials that can be applied and used can be adjusted according to actual requirements and can reduce the cost. In particular, the plasticity of the manufacturing process is high and the selection of necessary materials and blowing agents can be customized. Thereby, the whole manufacturing process is simple and convenient, and molding is easy.

  Another feature of the production method of the present invention is that the plant fiber necessary for the plant fiber foam is naturally degradable and easy to obtain, for example, waste generated or remaining during agricultural production processing. To contribute to environmental protection and reduce agricultural waste emissions.

  The above description is only an example of the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes and modifications that can be made based on the scope of the claims of the present invention are all described in the present invention. Shall belong to the scope covered by the rights.

S10 Mixing process S20 Injection process S22 Calendar process S30 Pressurizing process S40 Heating process S50 Cutting process

Claims (6)

In the method for producing a plant fiber foam material,
In the mixing process step, plant fiber, foaming agent with foaming temperature, thickener, filler and anti-burning agent are placed in a mixing and stirring tank, mixed and stirred to form a uniform blend,
In the injection processing step, the uniform mixture is filled or injected into a molding container or mold,
In the pressure treatment step, a set pressure is applied using a pressure device,
In the heat treatment step, a heating device is used to heat the foaming agent to a temperature higher than the foaming temperature of the foaming agent, causing the foaming agent to produce a foaming action, to generate a large amount of gas, and to form the uniform mixture in a porous state. Change to a plant fiber foam with a foam structure,
The manufacturing method of a vegetable fiber foaming material characterized by including the above step. In the method for producing a plant fiber foam material,
In the mixing process step, plant fiber, foaming agent with foaming temperature, thickener, filler and anti-burning agent are placed in a mixing and stirring tank, mixed and stirred to form a uniform blend,
In the calendar processing step, the uniform admixture is processed by a calendar device to form a pre-formed flat plate having a predetermined thickness,
In the heat treatment step, the preformed flat plate is heated to a temperature higher than the foaming temperature of the foaming agent by using a heating device to generate a foaming action in the foaming agent, to generate a large amount of gas, and to perform the preforming. Change the molded flat plate into a flat vegetable fiber foam material having a porous foam structure,
In the cutting process step, using a cutting device, cutting the plant fiber foam into an appropriate size and shape,
The manufacturing method of a vegetable fiber foaming material characterized by including the above step.   The method for producing a plant fiber foamed material according to claim 2, wherein in the heat treatment step, a pressure treatment is also performed simultaneously.   The method for producing a plant fiber foamed material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weight percent of the plant fiber is 10% -90%, and the plant fiber is plant fiber particles (FPC), or a stem or leaf of a natural plant. Selected from at least one of fruit shell, pericarp and root, and the plant fiber is rice stalk, rice husk, wheat stalk, onion leaf, sweet potato leaf, flax leaf, bamboo leaf, sugar beet leaf, grass, coconut shell, pineapple A method for producing a plant fiber foam material, characterized by comprising at least one of leather and beef bowl.   3. The method for producing a plant fiber foamed material according to claim 1, wherein the foaming agent includes ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), expanded polyethylene (EPE), polylactic acid (PLA), and the filling. The agent includes at least stone powder, the thickener includes at least starch, is used to increase viscosity and improve processability, the combustion inhibitor includes at least calcium carbonate, and inhibits combustion. Or a method for producing a plant fiber foam material, characterized in that the method is used to reduce the burning rate.   3. The method for producing a plant fiber foam according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating device uses any one of a heating system of high-pressure and high-temperature steam, high-frequency, ultrasonic or infrared. Production method.

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