Method, system, storage medium, and data signal for supplying a multi-component composition

• US 6,810,333 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Haylock, John C., DuPont, Keith Andrew, Adedeji, Adeyinka
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUAREZ, FELIX E
• Application Number:
  US09/683,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 702/19, 702/22, 702/23, 702/27, 702/30-32, 702/123, 702/180, 702/183, 702/189, 435/325, 530/351, 422/158, 600/300, 706/13
• US Class Current: 702/27
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/007 for continuous mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/726 Measuring properties of mixture, e.g. temperature or density B29B7/724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/728 Measuring data of the driving system, e.g. torque, speed, power, vibration B29B7/724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/76 Measuring, controlling or regulating measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/022 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/08 Probabilistic or stochastic CAD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method for specifying a multi-component composition without human intervention includes customer specification of at least two physical property limitations, and determination of a recommended composition meeting those limitations using a continuous model relating the physical properties to the compositional variables. The method may extend to supplying a multi-component composition by further including one or more of calculating the cost of the recommended composition, calculating the price of the recommended composition, formulating a contracted amount of the recommended composition, and billing for a contracted amount of the recommended composition.

Claims

1. A method for specifying a multi-component composition, comprising:

receiving, from a user system, a first limitation on a first physical property and a second limitation on a second physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation;

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting the recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

presenting, to the user system, the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a first continuous model relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables, and creating a second continuous model relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising predicting a value of a third physical property for the recommended composition.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising presenting, to the user system, the value of the third physical property for the recommended composition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a recommended composition comprises accounting for statistical uncertainties in predicted values of the first physical property and the second physical property.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a cost for the recommended composition.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a price for the recommended composition.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sending, to the user system, the price for the recommended composition.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the user system, an order for the recommended composition.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending the order for the recommended composition to a manufacturing facility.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising formulating a contracted amount of the recommended composition.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising billing for the contracted amount of the recommended composition.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is conducted without human intervention.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a link for contacting a person for assistance.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a user connection speed of the user system and adjusting the sending in accordance with the user connection speed.

16. A method for specifying a multi-component composition, comprising:

receiving, from a user system, a first limitation on a first physical property and a second limitation on a second physical property;

selecting, based on the first limitation, a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables;

selecting, based on the second limitation, a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation;

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting the recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

presenting, to the user system, the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition.

17. A method for specifying a multi-component composition, comprising:

presenting, for display at a user system, a graphical illustration of a plurality of physical property combinations satisfied by a multi-component composition, each property combination comprising a first property value and a second property value;

receiving, from the user system, a desired property combination comprising a first desired property value and a second desired property value;

determining a first desired property limitation based on the first desired property value and a second desired property limitation based on the second desired property value;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first property values to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first desired property limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second property values to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second desired property limitation;

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

predicting a first property value and a second property value for the recommended composition; and

presenting, to the user system, the first property value and the second property value for the recommended composition.

18. A method for specifying a multi-component thermoplastic or thermoset composition, comprising:

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property, and a second limitation on a second physical property different from the first physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation; and

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

presenting, to the user system, the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the multi-component thermoplastic composition is a thermoplastic blend or a thermoplastic alloy.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first physical property and the second physical property are each independently an objective property related to stiffness, impact strength, or thermal resistance.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first physical property and the second physical property are each independently selected from the group consisting of flexural modulus, flexural strength, tensile modulus, tensile strength, unnotched impact strength, notched impact strength, falling weight impact strength, and heat distortion temperature.

22. A method for specifying a thermoplastic blend comprising a polyolefin and a poly(arylene ether), the method being conducted without human intervention and comprising:

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property, and a second limitation on a second physical property different from the first physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation; and

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

sending the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the thermoplastic blend further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, a polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer, a polyolefin-graft-cyclic anhydride copolymer, an ethylene/alpha-olefin elastomeric copolymer, a reinforcing filler, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing components.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first physical property and the second physical property are each independently an objective property related to stiffness, strength, or thermal resistance.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the first physical property and the second physical property are each independently selected from the group consisting of flexural modulus, flexural strength, tensile modulus, tensile strength, unnotched impact strength, notched impact strength, falling weight impact strength, and heat distortion temperature.

26. A method for specifying a thermoplastic blend comprising a propylene polymer and a poly(arylene ether), the method being conducted without human intervention and comprising:

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property, and a second limitation on a second physical property different from the first physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical Property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation; and

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

sending the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition;

wherein the composition comprises a propylene polymer, a poly(arylene ether), a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, a polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer, and an ethylene-butylene rubber, wherein the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin may comprise 0-100 weight percent of a rubber-modified polystyrene, and wherein the first physical property is flexural modulus at 23°

C. and the first continuous surface is defined by the equation

27. A method for specifying a thermoplastic blend comprising a propylene polymer and a poly(arylene ether), the method being conducted without human intervention and comprising:

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property, and a second limitation on a second physical property different from the first physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation; and

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

sending the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition;

wherein the composition comprises a propylene polymer, a poly(arylene ether), a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, a polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer, and an ethylene-butylene rubber, wherein the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin may comprise 0-100 weight percent of a rubber-modified polystyrene, and wherein the first physical property is heat distortion temperature at measured at 264 psi and the first continuous surface is defined by the equation

28. A method for specifying a thermoplastic blend comprising a propylene polymer and a poly(arylene ether), the method being conducted without human intervention and comprising:

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property, and a second limitation on a second physical property different from the first physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation; and

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical Property for the recommended composition; and

sending the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition;

wherein the composition comprises a propylene polymer, a poly(arylene ether), a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, a polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer, and an ethylene-butylene rubber, wherein the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin may comprise 0-100 weight percent of a rubber-modified polystyrene, and wherein the first physical property is the Izod notched impact strength at 23°

C. and the first continuous surface is defined by the equation

29. A method for specifying a thermoplastic blend comprising a propylene polymer and a poly(arylene ether), the method being conducted without human intervention and comprising:

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property, and a second limitation on a second physical property different from the first physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation; and

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

sending the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition;

wherein the composition comprises a propylene polymer, a poly(arylene ether), a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin, a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, a polypropylene-polystyrene graft copolymer, and an ethylene-butylene rubber, wherein the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin may comprise 0-100 weight percent of a rubber-modified polystyrene, and wherein the first physical property is tensile elongation at 23°

C. and the first continuous surface is defined by the equation

30. A system for specifying a multi-component composition without human intervention, comprising:

a host system for

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property and a second limitation on a second physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation;

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

sending the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

a network coupled to the host system.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising a user system coupled to the network.

32. The system of claim 30, further comprising a storage device coupled to the host system.

33. A system for specifying a multi-component composition without human intervention, comprising:

a host means for

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property and a second limitation on a second physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation;

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

sending the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

a means for storing data relating to the multi-component composition.

34. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for determining a multi-component composition, the storage medium including instructions for causing a processor to implement a method comprising:

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property and a second limitation on a second physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation;

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

sending the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition.

35. A computer data signal for determining a multi-component composition, the computer data signal comprising code configured to cause a processor to implement a method comprising:

receiving a first limitation on a first physical property and a second limitation on a second physical property;

determining a recommended composition by

searching a first continuous surface relating the first physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine first compositions that satisfy the first limitation;

searching a second continuous surface relating the second physical property to at least two compositional variables to determine second compositions that satisfy the second limitation;

determining an intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions; and

selecting a recommended composition from the intersection of the first compositions and the second compositions;

predicting a value of the first physical property and a value of the second physical property for the recommended composition; and

sending the value of the first physical property and the value of the second physical property for the recommended composition.

36. The computer data signal of claim 35, wherein the computer data signal is embodied in a carrier wave.

37. The computer data signal of claim 35, wherein the computer data signal is unmodulated.