10.14.1 Principle 35
Parameter changes. Change an object’s physical state (i.e., to a gas, liquid, or solid).
Change the concentration or consistency. Change the degree of flexibility. Change the temperature (see Figure 10.36). Some examples include:
The new medical plaster described earlier also illustrates a parameter change. A tra- ditional dry plaster is replaced by a moist one. The principles of parameter change, homogeneity, and use of porous materials are combined in this technology. Transport gaseous nitrogen or oxygen as liquids; similarly, transport natural gas and propane as liquids.
Change the melting temperature of chocolate so that it does not melt when carried in high temperatures.
Powdered paints can be used instead of liquid ones. Powder paint combines the performance of modern latex and silicon-based emulsions with the con- venience of the powder. Powder can be easily transported and stored. To use, just add water.
In business situations, a parameter change is frequently realized as a policy change. In the past decade, many companies have increased the flexibility of employee benefit programs—instead of having one standard program, employees can design a mix of medical and life insurance, pension plans, and so on. Likewise, mass customization systems let customers have much more flexibility in designing products that exactly fit their needs (also a demonstra- tion of Principle 15, dynamic parts).
10.14.2 Principle 36
Phase transitions. Use phenomena occurring during phase transitions (e.g., volume
changes, loss or absorption of heat, etc.). The most common of the many kinds of phase transitions include solid–liquid–gas–plasma, paramagnetic–ferromagnetic,
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and normal conductor–superconductor, but many useful phenomena are associated with more exotic transitions as well, such as solid–solid crystallographic changes, superfluidity, antiferromagnetism, and such (see Figure 10.37). Examples include:
Blasting with solid carbon dioxide can clean surfaces. Impurities will freeze immediately, contract, and loosen easily. The example also illustrates param- eter changes (35), thermal expansion (37), and hurrying (21). Impurities are frozen so quickly that the cleaned material does not suffer from thermal expansion. The carbon dioxide then sublimes (harmlessly turns into gas), so there is no cleanup needed.
Heat pipes are well-known examples of using the phenomena associated with phase transitions. The heat given up and absorbed as the fluid in the pipe transitions from liquid to gas can be used either as a heater or air conditioner, depending on how the system is arranged.
“Muscle wire” is a form of nickel-titanium alloy that is used in robot sys- tems and in orthodontics. Small electric currents heat the wire, which goes through a crystallographic phase change that changes its length.
When businesses make structural changes (mergers, acquisitions, or inter- nal changes) the accompanying phenomena are analogous to heat in a phase change—there is lots of confusion. Constructive ways to use this period of disruption include finding new means of aligning business systems with new strategies, forming new alliances with customers or suppliers and getting rid of obsolete practices.
Thermal inkjet uses vaporization to force ink out of the nozzle.
Be aware of the requirements of different stages—conception, birth, develop- ment, maturity, retirement—of a project.
10.14.3 Principle 37
Thermal expansion. Use thermal expansion (or contraction) of materials. If thermal
expansion is being used, choose multiple materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion (see Figure 10.38).
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Figure 10.37 Principle 36: Phase transitions. Use phenomena occurring during phase transitions.
Thermal expansion can be used to position and fit components such as a valve in an engine. A component is cooled in liquid nitrogen, contracts, is installed, then expands, and fixes itself in position. A kitchen example is loosening a tight metal lid on a glass jar by running it under hot water. The metal lid expands more than the glass jar, so it is easier to remove the lid.
Exercise: Think of one example from your personal life or your busi- ness life for each of the principles in this section.
35. Parameter changes 36. Phase transitions 37. Thermal expansion
10.15 Strong Oxidants, Inert Atmosphere,
and Composite Materials (38–40)
10.15.1 Principle 38
Strong oxidants. Replace common air with oxygen-enriched air. Replace enriched
air with pure oxygen. Expose air or oxygen to ionizing radiation. Use ionized oxy- gen. Replace ozonized air (ionized oxygen) with ozone (see Figure 10.39). Oxygen is used in the bleaching of pulp (for paper production). There are ideas and experi- ments to use ozone for bleaching.
Jules Verne wrote a novel called Dr. Ox’s Experiment. In Quiquendone, an imaginary town, life is very slow. Then Dr. Ox injected a gas into the town and everything started happening very fast. People got exceptionally lively and pas- sionate. Perhaps we also sometimes need something like Dr. Ox’s gas to charge the mental atmosphere with positive effects.
Examples include:
Using simulations and games instead of lecture-style training.
Scuba diving with Nitrox or other nonair mixtures to extend endurance. Treating wounds in a higher pressure oxygen environment to kill anaero- bic bacteria.
Metal active gas (MAG) welding.
10.15.2 Principle 39
Inert atmosphere. Replace a normal environment with an inert one. Add neutral parts
or inert additives to an object or system (see Figure 10.40). Some examples are Inert gases (such as carbon dioxide or argon) are used in welding to prevent oxidation of the material at the weld.
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Figure 10.39 Principle 38: Strong oxidants. Make the process more active.
Figure 10.40 Principle 39: Inert atmosphere. Make process slower and more passive.
Inert materials are added to detergents to make them easier for consumers to measure. (Did you ever wonder why the box says “97 percent inert materials”?) Strong oxidants and inert atmosphere can be considered as a pair of principles. Using them together frequently gives good results. Oxygen is used to generate needed energy and inert gases are used to prevent undesired oxidation. An inventor proposed using a welding device as a fire extinguisher. A device is provided with a simple system that can blast inert gas with high pressure.
A social analogy of inert atmosphere may be indifference and neutrality. In business, negative situations mostly need cooling. Ignore or neutralize negative and destructive actions (if you cannot turn them positive; see Principle 22). Use neutral arbitrators. Here, too, the point is to use the correct approach at the right time.
Another example is metal inert gas (MIG) welding.
10.15.3 Principle 40
Composite materials. Change from uniform to composite (multiple) materials and
systems (see Figure 10.41). Some examples are
Rubber reinforced with woven cords, reinforced concrete, and glass-fiber- reinforced plastics are typical technology examples.
The use of nothing (air or vacuum) as one of the elements of a composite is very typical of TRIZ—no resource is available in all situations. Examples include honeycomb materials (egg crates, aircraft structures), hollow systems (golf clubs, bones), and sponge materials (packaging materials, scuba diving suits.) These combine Principle 31, use of porous material, with Principle 40, use of composite materials.
In business, we can speak of composite structures as well. Multidisciplinary project teams are often more effective than groups representing experts from one field. Multimedia presentations often do better in marketing, teach- N
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Figure 10.41 Principle 40: Composite materials. Change from uniform to com- posite systems.
ing, learning, and entertainment than single-medium performances. Other examples are less tangible but not at all less important. Fanatic commitment to cleanliness is one famous feature of McDonald’s. Consistent preparation of food is another major commitment. These are two principles or values or fibers that tie together a loose organization.
The principle of composite materials or, more generally, composite systems, is a good conclusion for this section on using inventive principles. If you have a system, you can improve the result by combining it with another system. Innovative prin- ciples are also systems. Composite principles often do better than single ones.
More examples are
Combined high risk/low risk investment strategy
Flammable polyurethane coated with fire-resistant Kevlar (e.g., in airplane seat cushions)
Exercise: Think of one example from your personal life or your busi- ness life for each of the principles in this section.
38. Strong oxidants 39. Inert atmosphere 40. Composite
materials
You can make the 40 principles a more effective toolkit and tailor them to your needs and purposes by adding your own examples. Some people find they get the most creative stimulus from examples outside their own field, and others prefer to start with examples that are close to their own field. If you share your examples with others, you will contribute to the continuous development of problem-solving tools.