KR102683456B1 - Method for manufacturing eco-friendly straw block for play - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an eco-friendly straw block that is suitable for use by infants and children by using eco-friendly polymers, and is constructed so that it is not easily destroyed by external loads, thereby preventing the occurrence of safety accidents.

Description

Manufacturing method of eco-friendly straw blocks for play {METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ECO-FRIENDLY STRAW BLOCK FOR PLAY}

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an eco-friendly straw block that is suitable for use by infants and children by using eco-friendly polymers, and is constructed so that it is not easily destroyed by external loads, thereby preventing the occurrence of safety accidents.

In general, play blocks such as mobiles, blocks, and puzzles used for infants and children are mainly made of synthetic resin materials. Children who play with these play blocks feel the texture with their hands and feet as well as their mouths, especially in the case of infants.

However, during the manufacturing process, synthetic resins contain various additives that can be harmful to the human body as needed, and when introduced into the human body, they can disrupt the human hormonal system and cause various diseases such as allergies, cancer, and atopy. .

In particular, these harmful ingredients have a significant impact on infants and children, so in the case of materials for infants and children, caution is required regarding the composition when using synthetic materials.

On the other hand, play blocks such as children's toys made of synthetic resin have the problem of not decomposing immediately and remaining for a long period of time even when discarded, or polluting the air environment when disposed of by methods such as incineration.

Children, which generally refer to children aged 4 or 5 to elementary school, grow through infancy and become curious as they come into contact with various objects. The need for play equipment is still necessary for important learning and enrichment, so Although play blocks for children are being manufactured, there is a problem that they can become difficult to handle due to their heavy weight compared to plastic materials.

Accordingly, the need for teaching materials that can help children elicit various senses or expand their senses by using them in play is emerging.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 2023-0140110 relates to an eco-friendly plastic raw material composition containing an antibacterial additive, by combining an antibacterial additive made of natural ingredients with a plastic raw material so that it can be used as a raw material for eco-friendly toys used by infants and toddlers. , technology is disclosed regarding an eco-friendly plastic raw material composition that is harmless to the human body and contains antibacterial additives that inhibit bacteria and ensure safety.

In addition, Republic of Korea Patent No. 2289562 relates to a method of manufacturing an eco-friendly tactile play tool based on corn fabric and an eco-friendly tactile play tool produced thereby. A biodegradable fabric preparation step of preparing a biodegradable fabric: the biodegradable fabric prepared above. A rigidity increasing processing step to increase rigidity; And a play tool forming step of forming a play tool by forming or cutting out a predetermined pattern on the biodegradable fabric on which the rigidity increasing treatment step has been completed.

As an extension of this principle, we have completed a new play block that is suitable for use by infants and children, is harmless to the human body, and has excellent durability as it is not easily damaged by repeated use or external forces. .

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 2023-0140110 (2023.10.06) Republic of Korea Patent No. 2289562 (2021.08.09)

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a novel play block using a material that is harmless to the human body and is suitable for use by infants and children.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel method of manufacturing play blocks that satisfy flexibility and durability so that they are not easily destroyed by external forces while using materials of natural origin.

The present invention also aims to provide a method of manufacturing a novel play block that is not easily deformed by external humidity and temperature while using materials of natural origin.

To solve the above problems, the manufacturing method of an eco-friendly straw block according to the present invention is,

(a) preparing a mixture of two or more eco-friendly polymer powders;

(b) mixing and extruding the powder mixture to make pellets and pulverizing them to produce pulverized products;

(c) 3 to 5 parts by weight of pectin, 10 to 20 parts by weight of sugarcane powder, 0.1 to 0.5 parts by weight of vinegar, 1 to 5 parts by weight of maltodextrin, and 10 to 20 parts by weight of Cypress extract are mixed with 100 parts by weight of the pulverized product. Preparing a mixed paste by stirring;

(d) adding 10 to 12 parts by weight of water and 3 to 5 parts by weight of natural beeswax to 100 parts by weight of the mixed paste and stirring;

(e) forming the mixture of step (d) into a straw block by placing it in a straw block mold; and

(f) curing the molded product of step (e);

Includes.

In the present invention, the straw block may have a shape in which one or more cylinders with both ends blocked vertically intersect.

In the present invention, step (d) may be performed under conditions maintained at a temperature of 90 to 95°C.

In the present invention, step (d) may further include 5 to 10 parts by weight of pigment.

The present invention also provides an eco-friendly straw block manufactured according to the present invention.

The eco-friendly straw block manufactured according to the present invention is characterized by being harmless to the human body, suitable for use by infants and children.

The eco-friendly straw block manufactured according to the present invention has the effect of satisfying durability and flexibility that is not easily destroyed by external forces while using materials of natural origin.

The eco-friendly straw block manufactured according to the present invention has the effect of not being easily deformed by external humidity and temperature while using materials of natural origin.

Figure 1 is a photograph of an eco-friendly straw block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, each configuration of the present invention will be described in more detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement it. However, this is only an example, and the scope of rights of the present invention is determined by the following contents. Not limited.

As used herein, “preferred” or “preferably” refers to an embodiment of the invention that has certain advantages under certain conditions. However, other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or different conditions. Additionally, the identification of one or more preferred embodiments does not mean that other embodiments are not useful, nor does it exclude other embodiments that are within the scope of the invention.

As used herein, the term “comprising” is used to list materials, compositions, devices, and methods useful in the present invention and is not limited to the listed examples.

In particular, in the present invention, the term "comprising" refers to various states, such as a state in which the component is included as is, a state in which the component is processed as a precursor, a state in which the component is satisfied after processing, etc. It is not limited to the examples listed.

The manufacturing method of an eco-friendly straw block according to the present invention includes the steps of (a) preparing a mixture of two or more types of eco-friendly polymer powder, (b) mixing and extruding the powder mixture to produce pellets and pulverizing them to produce pulverized products. , (c) mixing 3 to 5 parts by weight of pectin, 10 to 20 parts by weight of sugarcane powder, 0.1 to 0.5 parts by weight of vinegar, 1 to 5 parts by weight of maltodextrin, and 10 to 20 parts by weight of cypress extract with 100 parts by weight of the pulverized product. preparing a mixed paste by stirring, (d) adding 10 to 12 parts by weight of water and 3 to 5 parts by weight of natural beeswax to 100 parts by weight of the mixed paste and stirring, (e) mixing the mixture of step (d) It includes the step of molding into a straw block by placing it in a straw-shaped block mold, and (f) curing the molded product of step (e).

Below, each step is described in more detail.

Step (a) is a step of manufacturing a plastic material masterbatch, which is a step of preparing by mixing two or more types of polymer powders, and the difference in particle size between each powder is within 10 to 20% to ensure uniform mixing. After preparation, it is mixed with a mixer for 1 to 2 hours.

In the present invention, the mixture of two or more types of eco-friendly polymer powder is a mixture of polymer powders and is configured to include an eco-friendly polymer.

Eco-friendly polymers include not only biodegradable plastics but also plastic materials known to be harmless to the human body.

In the present invention, the eco-friendly polymer powder mixture is preferably composed of biodegradable plastic, and may also contain additional polymer powders different from this.

The biodegradable plastic specifically includes cellulose, pectin, chitin, PLA (polylactic acid), PCL (polycaprolactone), PEU (polyesterurethane), and AP. (Alipahatic Polyestr, aliphatic polyester), Alo/Ali (Aromatic/Aliphatic copolyester, aromatic/aliphatic copolyester) Bio-PDO (Propanediol), CA (Celluouse Acetate), PGA (Polyglycolic acid), PBS (Polybutylene) It may be one or more selected from succinate, polybutylene succinate), PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate), PVA (polyvinylalcohol), TPS (thermoplastic starch), and preferably includes PLA and PGA. .

The additional polymer powder does not contain any other additives that are harmless to the human body, and PE (polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene), which are known to be harmless to the human body, can be used.

Preferably, PLA powder and PE powder can be mixed at a weight ratio of 1:1.

The step (b) is a step of mixing and extruding the powder mixture to produce pellets. Taking the melting point of each polymer into consideration, the step (b) is heated to a temperature higher than the melting point of the different polymers and extruded, thereby forming a uniformly mixed powder. It is designed to obtain naturally and evenly mixed pellets.

The size of the obtained pellets is not particularly limited, and considering re-powdering, it is preferable not to have a large size.

The step of pulverizing and re-powdering is to increase miscibility between polymer components and further improve uniformity. The final powder is formed into a 500 to 600 mesh powder and is uniformly mixed with other components in step (c), which will be described later. make it possible

If the particle size is smaller than the above, the viscosity of the mixed paste increases due to an increase in the surface area, making it difficult to mold it in a mold and mixing it evenly becomes difficult.

On the other hand, if the particle size is larger than the above, there is a problem that the uniformity of the entire mixed paste is reduced.

Step (c) is a step of preparing a mixed paste by mixing the pulverized material with other ingredients, and 3 to 5 parts by weight of pectin, 10 to 20 parts by weight of sugarcane powder, and 0.1 to 0.5 parts by weight of vinegar are added to 100 parts by weight of the pulverized material. It is prepared by mixing and stirring 1 to 5 parts by weight of maltodextrin and 10 to 20 parts by weight of Cypress extract. At this time, the mixed paste may have fluidity due to some liquid components, but may also be in a powder state.

The pectin, sugar cane powder, vinegar, and maltodextrin are used to function as binders, and are mixed uniformly in the form of powder or paste in the step before molding in a heated state, which will be described later, and some By reacting, heat can improve bonding between other components and increase rigidity during molding.

Step (d) is a step of adding water and natural beeswax, and is prepared by adding 10 to 12 parts by weight of water and 3 to 5 parts by weight of natural beeswax to 100 parts by weight of the mixed paste and stirring.

At this time, step (d) is configured to be performed under temperature conditions of 90 to 95°C, so that due to the increase in water temperature, even polymers with a high melting point can be melted at a temperature lower than the melting point.

If the water content is excessive than the above, there is a problem that the natural beeswax is not mixed uniformly and remains in a lumped state, and if the water content is smaller than the above, the polymer component does not melt or only partially melts, making molding difficult. There is a problem with losing.

The step (e) is a step of molding the mixture of step (d) into a straw block mold.

The straw block may have a shape in which one or more cylinders with both ends blocked vertically intersect, and the cylinder may be 2 to 10 mm based on the diameter of the circle of the cross-section.

More preferably, the straw block may be configured in the shape of a rectangular coordinate system in which three cylinders intersect each other perpendicularly.

The mixture in step (d) is formed into a mixture with high fluidity due to heat treatment, and is placed in this state into a straw-shaped block mold to form a straw block. At this time, the inside of the straw-type block mold can be subjected to mold release treatment using some oil components for release properties, and such mold release treatment is preferably performed using natural oil, especially vegetable oil.

Finally, in step (f), the molded product inside the mold is cured, and final curing is completed by cooling the molded product.

In the present invention, step (d) may further include 5 to 10 parts by weight of pigment, and the pigment may be of various colors as needed, but the purpose of the present invention is to use a pigment that is not harmful to the human body. will comply with

The present invention also provides an eco-friendly straw block manufactured according to the present invention.

The eco-friendly straw block may further include a fastening part that can be assembled by fastening the blocks to each other as needed, and further includes additional accessories in addition to the eco-friendly straw block, and is assembled by combining with the fastening part provided in the additional accessories. It can be configured.

Considering the usability of infants and children, the straw block is designed to be easily bent like commercial straws, but also has elasticity and is not easily destroyed, so it has the advantage of preventing accidents when used by infants and children.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples, but this is only an exemplary description for understanding the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited or restricted to the following examples.

<Manufacturing example>

It is manufactured through the following process.

1) PLA powder and PE powder (weight ratio 1:1) were mixed with a mixer for 1 hour to prepare a uniformly mixed powder.

2) The powder mixture was mixed and extruded to make pellets, which were then pulverized to prepare pulverized products.

3) 3 parts by weight of pectin, 12 parts by weight of sugarcane powder, 0.3 parts by weight of vinegar, 2.7 parts by weight of maltodextrin, and 12 parts by weight of Cypress extract were mixed with 100 parts by weight of the pulverized material and stirred to prepare a mixed paste.

4) 11 parts by weight of water and 3 parts by weight of natural beeswax were added to 100 parts by weight of the mixed paste and stirred.

5) The mixture from the above step was put into a straw-type block mold and molded into a straw block.

6) The molded product in the above step was cooled and hardened.

<Comparative Example 1>

It was prepared in the same manner as in the above example except that PVA powder was used instead of PE powder.

<Comparative Example 2>

It was prepared in the same manner except that instead of using 3 parts by weight of pectin, 12 parts by weight of sugarcane powder, 0.3 parts by weight of vinegar, and 2.7 parts by weight of maltodextrin in the above example, 18 parts by weight of pectin was used.

<Comparative Example 3>

Except that instead of using 3 parts by weight of pectin, 12 parts by weight of sugarcane powder, 0.3 parts by weight of vinegar, and 2.7 parts by weight of maltodextrin in the above example, 15 parts by weight of sugarcane powder, 0.5 parts by weight of vinegar, and 2.7 parts by weight of maltodextrin were used. It was then prepared in the same manner.

<Reference example>

Play blocks of similar shapes on the market were prepared.

[Experimental method]

1. Evaluation of the amount of harmful ingredients dissolved

The test to confirm the amount of harmful elements dissolved in mg/kg was performed by measuring the minimum allowable value of the common safety standards for children's products compared to the result of the amount of dissolved substances such as antimony, arsenic, barium, and cadmium measured in accordance with KS G ISO8124-3, the official test standard. Measured.

2. Phthalate content evaluation

In the phthalate content confirmation experiment, the total content of DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, and DnOP was measured in % of the product weight through measurement in accordance with KS M 1991, KS M 3308, and official test standards.

3. Durability and flexibility evaluation

The target product was placed in a tensile compression tester and the destruction of the product was evaluated.

Durability and flexibility evaluation is O if the maximum load of 100 kg is applied and deformed into a crumpled form without being destroyed, △ if partially destroyed or cracked, separated into two or more pieces, or open fracture area. If this occurs, it is marked with X.

Each experiment was repeated 10 times per sample, and if cracks or destruction were observed even once, a lower evaluation result was indicated.

4. Evaluation of deformation according to external environment

When each sample was i) placed in water, ii) kept in an oven filled with water vapor at 60°C for 12 hours, deformation evaluation was performed.

Changes in appearance were evaluated on a scale of 1 (clear change in appearance, change in color, size, etc.) to 5 (same as no change), and durability and flexibility were evaluated in the same manner as in 3 above.

Antimony elution amount
(mg/kg) Arsenic elution amount
(mg/kg) Barium elution volume
(mg/kg) Cadmium elution amount
(mg/kg) Phthalate content (%) Durability and flexibility evaluation External environmenti) External environmentii) Example 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 O 5,O 5,O Comparative Example 1 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 △ 3, △ 1,X Comparative example 2 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 △ 1, △ 5, △ Comparative example 3 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 △ 1,X 5, △ Reference example 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 X 5,X 2,X

Referring to the above experimental results, the straw block according to the example was confirmed to be a product suitable for use by infants and children, and is made of eco-friendly materials, so it has the advantage of not causing pollution even when discarded.

Moreover, the examples have better durability and flexibility than Comparative Examples 1 to 3 using PVA, so that they are not destroyed when used by infants and children, and are resistant to large external forces to prevent further accidents due to this. It has the advantage of being deformed into a distorted form when applied.

Meanwhile, in the case of the product in the reference example, some phthalates were confirmed, making it unsuitable for use by infants and children.

Moreover, it can be seen that the Examples were hardly affected by the external environment, while the Comparative Examples and Reference Examples were deformed by moisture and an external high-humidity environment.

Therefore, the straw block according to the present invention as in the embodiment is made of a material that is harmless to the human body when used by infants and children for play, and has excellent durability and flexibility, making it possible to prevent safety accidents caused by the block.

Claims (5)

(a) preparing an eco-friendly polymer powder mixture by mixing PLA powder and PE powder (weight ratio 1:1) with a mixer;
(b) mixing and extruding the powder mixture to make pellets and pulverizing them to produce pulverized products;
(c) mixing 3 parts by weight of pectin, 12 parts by weight of sugarcane powder, 0.3 parts by weight of vinegar, 2.7 parts by weight of maltodextrin, and 12 parts by weight of Cypress extract with 100 parts by weight of the pulverized material and stirring to prepare a mixed paste;
(d) adding 10 to 12 parts by weight of water and 3 to 5 parts by weight of natural beeswax to 100 parts by weight of the mixed paste and stirring;
(e) forming the mixture of step (d) into a straw block by placing it in a straw block mold; and
(f) curing the molded product of step (e);
Including,
The straw block is a method of manufacturing an eco-friendly straw block in which one or more cylinders with both ends blocked vertically intersect.
delete According to paragraph 1,
Step (d) is a method of manufacturing an eco-friendly straw block, wherein step is performed under conditions maintained at a temperature of 90 to 95°C.
According to paragraph 1,
Step (d) is a method of producing an eco-friendly straw block, further comprising 5 to 10 parts by weight of pigment.
Eco-friendly straw block manufactured according to claim 1.