Patent Application
20210237315
The present invention relates to a molding method for a fluororesin molded article that includes pressing a fluororesin powder using a primary mold to form a preliminary molded article, sintering the preliminary molded article, and loading the sintered preliminary molded article into a secondary mold and cooling the sintered preliminary molded article while pressing the sintered preliminary molded article, to form a fluororesin molded article. The present invention also relates to a production method for a medical diaphragm for use in production of a serum or vaccine using the molding method for a fluororesin molded article, and a production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor for use in cleaning of semiconductor products.
Fluororesins, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as “PTFE”), have excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance, etc., and therefore, are suitably used as a material for diaphragms, bellows, etc.
As a molding method for fluororesin molded articles, compression molding is conventionally known. Compression molding is suitable as a method for forming a precise molded article. For example, in the case where a diaphragm requiring high dimensional precision is formed by molding, hot coining is used, which is a type of compression molding. In hot coining, a fluororesin powder is compressed using a primary mold to form a preliminary molded article, the preliminary molded article is sintered, and the sintered preliminary molded article is cooled in a secondary mold while being compressed, whereby the sintered preliminary molded article is formed into a desired shape.
As an example production method for a diaphragm using hot coining, there is a technique of initially pressing a fluororesin to form a preliminary molded article, then sintering the preliminary molded article to produce a sintered article, further heating the sintered article to produce a heated article, and finally rapidly cooling the heated article while pressing the heated article at a high temperature, to obtain a final product (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 indicates that such a diaphragm production method can be used to produce a diaphragm in which crystallization of a fluororesin is inhibited, and a crack does not occur due to repetitive deformation in use.
Incidentally, some diaphragm product has a membrane section which is subjected to repetitive deformation in use, and in addition, a valve section which is a non-deformation part, and the like, and thus the sections have respective functions different from each other. In such a diaphragm, for example, the membrane section is required to have bending resistance, and the valve section is required to have wear resistance, and the like, i.e. the sections require respective specifications different from each other. In order to meet such required specifications, product design depending on specifications required for each section is needed, such as changing the degree of crystallinity of a resin for each section.
However, in the production method described in Patent Document 1, it is not assumed that the degree of crystallinity is changed for each section of the diaphragm. In conventional techniques including that described in Patent Document 1, sections such as the repetitive-deformation section and the non-deformation section are formed as separate fluororesin molded articles, which are joined together after molding, to produce a diaphragm including sections having respective characteristics different from each other. However, in a diaphragm produced by such a production method, the joint portion is likely to have insufficient strength. In addition, the sections require respective quality managements different from each other, disadvantageously leading to an increase in manufacturing cost.
With the above problems in mind, the present invention has been made. It is an object of the present invention to provide a molding method for a fluororesin molded article that is capable of forming a fluororesin molded article including sections having respective characteristics different from each other, as an integrally molded product. It is another object of the present invention to provide a production method for a medical diaphragm for use in production of a serum or vaccine, using the molding method for a fluororesin molded article, and a production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor that is used to clean a semiconductor product, using the molding method for a fluororesin molded article.
A characteristic feature of a molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a molding method for a fluororesin molded article, the method comprising forming a preliminary molded article by pressing a fluororesin powder in a primary mold, sintering the preliminary molded article, loading the sintered preliminary molded article into a secondary mold, cooling the preliminary molded article while pressing the preliminary molded article, to form the fluororesin molded article, wherein the forming a preliminary molded article includes loading, into the primary mold, a layered product in which at least two kinds of fluororesin powders having respective average particle sizes different from each other are layered.
In the molding method for a fluororesin molded article having this feature, the forming a preliminary molded article includes loading, into the primary mold, a layered product in which at least two kinds of fluororesin powders having respective average particle sizes different from each other are layered. Therefore, in the resultant fluororesin molded article, the sections derived from the fluororesin powders having respective average particle sizes different from each other can have respective characteristics such as the degree of crystallinity that are different from each other. As a result, a fluororesin molded article including sections having respective characteristics different from each other can be formed as an integrally molded product.
In the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, the layered product preferably has a first and a second layer, the first layer being formed of a first one of the at least two kinds of fluororesin powders and the second layer being formed of a second one of the at least two kinds of fluororesin powders, and the first and second kinds of fluororesin powders having respective average particle sizes different from each other, and the two kinds of fluororesins are preferably selected such that in the fluororesin molded article after molding, a first section corresponding to the first layer and a second section corresponding to the second layer have respective functions different from each other.
According to the molding method for a fluororesin molded article having this feature, the first and second layers of the layered product are formed of two kinds of a fluororesin having respective average particle sizes different from each other, i.e. the first layer is formed of a first one of the at least two kinds of fluororesin powders and the second layer is formed of a second one of the at least two kinds of fluororesin powders, and the first and second kinds of fluororesin powders have respective average particle sizes different from each other, and the two kinds of fluororesins are selected such that in the fluororesin molded article after molding, a first section corresponding to the first layer and a second section corresponding to the second layer have respective functions different from each other. Therefore, the first and second sections requiring respective specifications different from each other can be integrally formed.
In the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, the first section is preferably a non-deformation section formed from a fluororesin powder having an average particle size of 300 μm or more, and the second section is preferably a repetitive-deformation section formed from a fluororesin powder having an average particle size of 100 μm or less.
According to the molding method for a fluororesin molded article having this feature, the first section is formed from a fluororesin powder having an average particle size of 300 μm or more, and therefore, has excellent wear resistance characteristics required for a non-deformation section, and the second section is formed of a fluororesin powder having an average particle size of 100 μm or less, and therefore, has excellent bending resistance characteristics required for a repetitive-deformation section that is repetitively deformed in use.
In the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, the fluororesin is preferably polytetrafluoroethylene.
According to the molding method for a fluororesin molded article having this feature, a molded article of polytetrafluoroethylene, which has excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance, etc., can be obtained.
In the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, the volume of a cavity formed inside the secondary mold is preferably set to be 0.80-0.95 times as great as the volume of a cavity formed in the primary mold.
According to the molding method for a fluororesin molded article having this feature, the preliminary molded article is formed using the primary mold, and thereafter, the fluororesin molded article is formed using the secondary mold, whose cavity has a slightly smaller volume than that of the cavity of the primary mold, whereby the fluororesin molded article can be precisely formed only by compression molding. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform cutting or the like using a milling machine or the like after molding, and therefore, the yield can be improved.
In the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, the repetitive-deformation section is preferably formed as a membrane section of a diaphragm, the membrane section having a curved cross-sectional shape, the non-deformation section is preferably formed as a column-shaped linking section extending from the membrane section on a convex surface of the curved shape, and a valve section integrally provided at an end of the linking section and having a shape wider than the linking section in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the linking section, and a metal member having a first and a second end portion, the first end portion being wider than the second end portion, is preferably embedded by insert molding with the first end portion disposed inside the valve section, and the second end portion exposed from the membrane section on a concave surface of the curved shape.
According to the molding method for a fluororesin molded article having this feature, the repetitive-deformation section is formed as a membrane section of a diaphragm, the membrane section having a curved cross-sectional shape, the non-deformation section is formed as a column-shaped linking section extending from the membrane section on a convex surface of the curved shape, and a valve section integrally provided at an end of the linking section and having a shape wider than the linking section, and a metal member having a first and a second end portion, the first end portion being wider than the second end portion, is embedded by insert molding with the wider end portion disposed inside the valve section, and the second end portion exposed from the membrane section on a concave surface of the curved shape. Therefore, in the fluororesin molded article after molding, even when the metal member is pulled toward the concave surface of the membrane section, the metal member can be reliably prevented from dropping from the fluororesin molded article. Therefore, a fluororesin molded article can be formed that has excellent durability when the diaphragm is repetitively driven with the metal member attached to a drive device.
In the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, the preliminary molded article is preferably formed with the metal member wrapped in a fluororesin powder.
According to the molding method for a fluororesin molded article having this feature, the preliminary molded article is formed with the metal member wrapped in a fluororesin powder. Therefore, adhesion between the fluororesin molded article and the metal member after molding can be enhanced. Therefore, a metal member of stainless steel can be used that is less compatible with fluororesin materials, and is therefore difficult to incorporate into a fluororesin molded article by insert-molding using conventional techniques.
A characteristic feature of a production method for a medical diaphragm according to the present invention for achieving the object is a production method for a medical diaphragm for use in production of a serum or vaccine, the method using the molding method for a fluororesin molded article having any one of the above features.
In conventional techniques, a plurality of parts are formed as separate fluororesin molded articles, which are joined together after molding to produce a diaphragm, and therefore, the joint portion is likely to be contaminated. If such a diaphragm is used in production of a serum or vaccine, the resultant serum or vaccine is likely to be mixed with bacteria, etc. In the molding method for a medical diaphragm having this feature, a medical diaphragm including sections having respective characteristics different from each other can be formed as an integrally molded product, and therefore, a medical diaphragm can be produced in which a serum or vaccine is not mixed with bacteria, etc., due to the joint portion contamination. In addition, in a medical diaphragm produced using the production method for a medical diaphragm having this feature, the fluororesin provides an inactive interface, and therefore, mixing with bacteria, etc., from the surface of the medical diaphragm is inhibited, and therefore, a highly-safe serum or vaccine can be produced.
A characteristic feature of a production method for a medical diaphragm according to the present invention for achieving the object is a production method for a medical diaphragm for use in production of a serum or vaccine, the method using the molding method for a fluororesin molded article having any one of the above features, wherein the non-deformation section is formed as a valve section of the diaphragm, and the repetitive-deformation section is formed as a membrane section of the diaphragm.
According to the production method for a medical diaphragm having this feature, a medical diaphragm in which the membrane section and the valve section have respective characteristics different from each other can be formed as an integrally molded product, and therefore, a medical diaphragm can be produced in which a serum or vaccine is not mixed with bacteria, etc., due to the joint portion contamination. In addition, in a medical diaphragm produced using the production method for a medical diaphragm having this feature, the fluororesin provides an inactive interface, and therefore, mixing with bacteria, etc., from the surface of the medical diaphragm is inhibited, and therefore, a highly-safe serum or vaccine can be produced.
A characteristic feature of a production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor according to the present invention for achieving the object is a production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor for cleaning of a semiconductor product, the method using the molding method for a fluororesin molded article of any one of the above features.
In conventional techniques, a plurality of parts are formed as separate fluororesin molded articles, which are joined together after molding to produce a diaphragm, and therefore, the joint portion is likely to be contaminated. If such a diaphragm is used in cleaning of a semiconductor product, the resultant diaphragm is likely to be mixed with impurities, contamination, etc. In the molding method for a diaphragm for semiconductor having this feature, a diaphragm for semiconductor including sections having respective characteristics different from each other can be formed as an integrally molded product, and therefore, a diaphragm for semiconductor can be produced that is not mixed with impurities, contamination, etc., due to the joint portion contamination. In addition, in a diaphragm for semiconductor produced using the production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor having this feature, the fluororesin provides an inactive interface, and therefore, mixing with impurities, contamination, etc., from the surface of the diaphragm for semiconductor is inhibited, and therefore, a semiconductor product can be highly cleaned.
A characteristic feature of a production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor according to the present invention for achieving the object is a production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor for cleaning of a semiconductor product, the method using the molding method for a fluororesin molded article of any one of the above features, wherein the non-deformation section is formed as a valve section of the diaphragm, and the repetitive-deformation section is formed as a membrane section of the diaphragm.
According to the production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor having this feature, a diaphragm for semiconductor in which the membrane section and the valve section have respective characteristics different from each other can be formed as an integrally molded product, and therefore, a diaphragm for semiconductor can be produced that is not mixed with impurities, contamination, etc., due to the joint portion contamination. In addition, in a diaphragm for semiconductor produced using the production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor having this feature, the fluororesin provides an inactive interface, and therefore, mixing with impurities, contamination, etc., from the surface of the diaphragm for semiconductor is inhibited, and therefore, a semiconductor product can be highly cleaned.
A fluororesin molded article developed by the present inventor is an integrally molded product of a fluororesin that is formed from at least two kinds of fluororesin powders which have respective average particle sizes different from each other, as a starting material, and that includes sections having respective characteristics different from each other, and that is obtained by performing the following steps A-D. Specifically, the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention includes step A of preparing a layered product by layering at least two kinds of fluororesin powders having respective average particle sizes different from each other, step B of loading the layered product into a primary mold, and pressing the layered product to form a preliminary molded article, step C of sintering the preliminary molded article to obtain a sintered article, and step D of loading the sintered article into a secondary mold, and cooling the sintered article while pressing the sintered article. In the description that follows, as an embodiment pertaining to the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, a production method for a diaphragm in which a plurality of sections having respective characteristics different from each other are integrally formed. Note that the present invention is not intended to be limited to embodiments and drawings described below.
In step A, a fluororesin powder having an average particle size of 300 μm or more is deposited in the lower mold of the primary mold 100 including the molds 101, 102, and 103, to form a first layer 10a. A fluororesin powder having an average particle size of 100 μm or less is deposited on the first layer 10a to form a second layer 10b. Thus, the layered product 10 including a stack of the first layer 10a and the second layer 10b is formed. Here, the average particle size of a fluororesin powder is defined as the average value of effective diameters measured by laser diffractometry in a dry fashion. The average particle size of a fluororesin powder can be measured using, for example, a particle size distribution measurement device. The wear resistance of a fluororesin molded article increases with an increase in the average particle size of a fluororesin powder as the starting material. The bending resistance of a fluororesin molded article increases with a decrease in the average particle size of a fluororesin powder as the starting material. Therefore, in the layered product 10, a layer that is to serve as a non-deformation section which is brought into contact with another member without being deformed in use after molding, such as the valve section of a diaphragm, is preferably formed of a fluororesin powder having a greater average particle size, and a layer that is to serve as a repetitive-deformation section which is repetitively deformed in use after molding, such as the membrane section of a diaphragm, is preferably formed of a fluororesin powder having a smaller average particle size. For example, two kinds of fluororesin powders powder are successively deposited in the lower mold while the powders are sieved over the lower mold of the primary mold 100. As a result, as shown in
Examples of the fluororesin powder include powders of polytetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as “PTFE”), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinyl ether copolymer, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, and ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer. A powder of PTFE is particularly preferable.
In step B, a metal member 20 that is an insert for the diaphragm of
In step C, the preliminary molded article 30 is removed from the primary mold 100, and is sintered in a heating furnace at a temperature that is higher than or equal to the melting point of the fluororesin powder. In the case where a powder of PTFE (melting point: 327° C.) is used as the fluororesin powder, the sintering temperature is preferably set to 360-380° C. When the fluororesin powder is sintered, the internal stress of the preliminary molded article 30 is removed, so that fluororesin powder particles are fused together to form a sintered article.
In step D, the sintered article 40 is set in the mold 204 as the upper mold with the jig 20A attached to the metal member 20 of
The volume of the cavity 205 formed in the secondary mold 200 is preferably set to be 0.80-0.95 times as great as the volume of the cavity 105 formed in the primary mold 100. The preliminary molded article 30, which is the prototype of a diaphragm, is formed by pressing using the primary mold 100, and thereafter, is pressed using the secondary mold 200, whose cavity has a slightly smaller volume than that of the cavity of the primary mold 100, whereby the diaphragm can be precisely formed only by compression molding. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform cutting or the like using a milling machine or the like after molding, and therefore, the yield can be improved.
The degree of crystallinity of the fluororesin can be controlled based on the cooling rate in step D. In addition, the degree of crystallinity of the fluororesin correlates with the friction coefficient of the fluororesin, i.e. as the degree of crystallinity decreases, the friction coefficient increases. For example, by increasing the cooling rate in step D, the degree of crystallinity of the fluororesin is reduced, so that the friction coefficient of the surface of the diaphragm 50 can be increased. Conversely, by reducing the cooling rate in step D, the degree of crystallinity of the fluororesin is increased, so that the friction coefficient of the surface of the diaphragm 50 can be reduced.
As described above, in the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, the layered product 10 in which fluororesin powders having respective average particle sizes different from each other are layered is formed, and the layered product 10 is pressed using the primary mold 100 and the secondary mold 200 successively to form a fluororesin molded article. Therefore, in the resultant fluororesin molded article, each section derived from a fluororesin powder having a different average particle size, has respective characteristics different from each other such as the degree of crystallinity. Thus, by performing the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, a fluororesin molded article including sections having respective characteristics different from each other can be formed as an integrally molded product.
In addition, the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention can be used for formation (production) of a medical diaphragm for use in production of a serum or vaccine. In such a medical diaphragm, sections thereof such as a membrane section and a valve section need to have respective characteristics different from each other, depending on the functions thereof. However, in conventional techniques, a membrane section, a valve section, etc., that have respective characteristics different from each other are formed as separate fluororesin molded articles, which are joined together after molding to produce a diaphragm, and therefore, the joint portion is likely to be contaminated during production. If such a diaphragm is used in production of a serum or vaccine, the resultant serum or vaccine is likely to be mixed with bacteria, etc., from the contaminated joint portion. In the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, a membrane section having excellent bending resistance and a valve section having excellent wear resistance can be formed as an integrally molded product, and therefore, sections such as a membrane section and a valve section have respective characteristics different from each other, depending on the functions thereof. Thus, a medical diaphragm can be produced in which a serum or vaccine is unlikely to be mixed with bacteria, etc., due to the joint portion contamination that is a problem with conventional techniques. In addition, the fluororesin molded article has an inactive interface, and therefore, if a serum or vaccine is produced using a medical diaphragm formed by the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention, mixing with bacteria, etc., from the surface of the medical diaphragm is inhibited, and therefore, a highly-safe serum or vaccine can be produced.
Furthermore, the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention can be used for formation (production) of a diaphragm for semiconductor that is used for cleaning of semiconductor products. In the production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor according to the present invention, a diaphragm for semiconductor in which sections thereof have respective characteristics different from each other can be formed as an integrally molded product, and therefore, the produced diaphragm for semiconductor is free from mixing with impurities, contamination, etc., due to contamination of the joint portion. In addition, in a diaphragm for semiconductor produced using the production method for a diaphragm for semiconductor according to the present invention, the fluororesin provides an inactive interface, and therefore, mixing with impurities, contamination, etc., from the surface of the diaphragm for semiconductor is inhibited, so that the semiconductor product can be highly cleaned.
Next, the molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention will further be described on the basis of a specific example.
In step A, in the iron primary mold 100 of
The degree of crystallinity of the diaphragm 50 of the example was measured using wide-angle X-ray diffractometry at the valve section 51a, the linking section 51b, and the membrane section 52. The valve section 51a and the linking section 51b had a degree of crystallinity of 30%, i.e. high wear resistance. Such characteristics at the valve section 51a and the linking section 51b met specifications required for the non-deformation section. In addition, the membrane section 52 had a degree of crystallinity of 70%, i.e. excellent bending resistance. Such characteristics at the membrane section 52 met specifications required for the repetitive-deformation section.
The molding method for a fluororesin molded article according to the present invention is preferably applicable, particularly, to production of a diaphragm for medical use or semiconductor, and is also applicable to production of diagrams for other applications, such as industry, agriculture, research, and food.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-136881 | Jul 2018 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2019/014515 | 4/1/2019 | WO | 00 |
