Semi-synthetic regenerated fiber based on succulent cellulose with surface application of a biopolymer-based microencapsulation with adaptive release of active agents.

Abstract

Semi-synthetic textile material, comprehensive - a regenerated fiber fabric based on cellulose, - wherein the cellulose is derived from plant-based raw material sources, characterized in that - the plant-based raw material sources include Aloe Vera and / or bamboo, - the regenerated fiber fabric should be completely biodegradable, - cellulose is extracted from rapidly regenerating plants.

Description

[0001] State of the art: It is known that semi-synthetic cellulose-based textile fibers such as viscose, modal, and lyocell are produced on an industrial scale. These technologies are essentially based on wood-based cellulose and require chemically intensive processes that cause significant environmental pollution. In particular, the use of carbon disulfide (CS2) in viscose production results in a significant release of toxic emissions into the air and water. Despite improvements in the lyocell process, significant ecological drawbacks remain, namely high water and energy consumption and dependence on primary forestry raw materials. Textile solutions based on alternative, rapidly renewable plant sources such as bamboo or aloe vera are not yet widely used industrially. Existing systems either exhibit insufficient material quality or lack sufficient environmental impact.There is therefore a significant shortage of semi-synthetic textile materials made from fully renewable, biodegradable raw material sources. Currently, functional properties in textiles are predominantly achieved through subsequent chemical finishing. Thermoregulating effects are typically achieved by applying phase-change materials, while antimicrobial effects are implemented through impregnation with biocidal agents such as silver ions or triclosan. These methods have serious ecological drawbacks: biocidal substances are released into the environment during washing and wear, promote the development of resistant microorganisms, and are increasingly subject to regulatory restrictions (e.g., the REACH Regulation, the EU Biocidal Products Regulation). Furthermore, chemical functionalizations have only a limited lifespan, leading to frequent re-finishing and thus additional resource strain.Microencapsulation technologies are used for the controlled release of active ingredients onto textiles. The current state of the art almost exclusively comprises synthetic polymer systems, such as melamine-formaldehyde resins, polyurethanes, or polyacrylates. These materials are not biodegradable, lead to the formation of microplastics, and are also subject to stricter legal regulations (e.g., the planned EU regulation to restrict intentionally added microplastics). Biopolymer-based microencapsulations, such as those based on chitosan or alginates, are currently predominantly at the research level; industrial establishment has not yet been achieved due to insufficient mechanical stability and processability. Furthermore, the release of active ingredients in conventional systems occurs predominantly passively and indiscriminately, for example, through mechanical abrasion or diffusion.Stimulus-responsive release mechanisms, which react to external stimuli such as changes in temperature, humidity, or pH, are being researched but are hardly available for industrial application. This results in significant inefficiencies: active ingredients are released uncontrollably, efficacy drops rapidly, and the burden on the environment and users increases.

[0002] In summary, the state of the art shows significant shortcomings in several key aspects: • There is a lack of sustainable, rapidly renewable raw material solutions for semi-synthetic fibers. • There is a lack of permanently functionalized textile materials containing environmentally safe substances. • Existing microencapsulation systems are based almost exclusively on non-degradable polymers and contribute to global microplastic pollution. • Adaptive, controlled release mechanisms are not present in commercially available textile applications.

[0003] Overall, there is a structural discrepancy between the ecological, regulatory and functional requirements for modern textile materials and the currently available technological solutions.

[0004] Underlying problem: Current technology has not yet produced a satisfactory solution for a textile material that is both made from fully renewable and biodegradable raw materials and features a permanently effective, environmentally sound functionalization. A key problem is that currently available regenerated fibers rely on environmentally damaging manufacturing processes and primarily utilize limited raw material sources such as wood. These manufacturing processes not only cause significant environmental pollution but also conflict with the growing demands for sustainable resource use. Furthermore, conventional finishing processes that impart functional properties such as thermoregulation or antimicrobial effects to textiles often rely on persistent, non-biodegradable substances.These contribute significantly to environmental pollution, particularly through the formation of microplastics and the emission of biocides, which are released into the environment during washing and wear. Another problem is the limited durability of existing functionalizations. These lose their effectiveness relatively quickly because they do not allow for targeted, adaptive release of the functional agents, further reducing the sustainability and efficiency of the textiles. Furthermore, biopolymer-based microencapsulation systems, which could serve as an environmentally friendly solution for controlled drug release in textiles, are not yet sufficiently developed in terms of stability and precise release control. These systems currently do not meet the stringent requirements for industrial textile applications, especially regarding mechanical strength and wash resistance.Consequently, there is a concrete need for a technological solution based on rapidly renewable and biodegradable raw materials, integrating a stable, biodegradable microencapsulation technology, and simultaneously enabling adaptively controlled, stimulus-responsive release of functional agents. Such a solution would have to ensure both ecological sustainability and fully meet the requirements for industrial functionality, such as wash resistance and mechanical strength.

[0005] Problem solution: The subject of this project is a technologically advanced, two-part textile material. This material consists of, firstly, a semi-synthetic regenerated fiber fabric (HRG) and, secondly, a biopolymer-based microencapsulation technology (BMT). The latter, through the controlled release of active agents within the capsule wall, is intended to enable the application of industry-specific finishes across the entire surface. This is designed to facilitate the targeted use of "post-conventional" textile properties such as antimicrobial surface decontamination (medicine), temperature and moisture regulation (clothing industry), and fire resistance (heavy industry). The textile material is intended to be fully biodegradable through the use of naturally regenerated cellulose, which serves as the starting material for both the HRG and the BMT.The invention aims to provide an innovative solution to the aforementioned technical problem by offering a textile material that is both made from fully renewable, biodegradable raw materials and features a functional finish that would be novel in terms of ecological sustainability and industrial performance. In contrast to conventional textile materials based on environmentally harmful manufacturing processes and limited raw material sources, the invention could utilize a semi-synthetic, regenerated cellulose-based fiber derived from rapidly renewable plant resources such as aloe vera and bamboo. These materials would be characterized by a reduced environmental impact, as they would not require harmful chemicals and would be fully biodegradable.To further enhance functionality, the textile material is to be equipped with a biopolymer-based microencapsulation technology that enables the targeted and controlled release of active agents. This microencapsulation could be controlled by an adaptive opening mechanism that responds to external stimuli such as temperature, humidity, or pH value. This would ensure that the released active ingredients only become active when actually needed, for example, to improve the thermoregulatory or antiseptic properties of the material. Compared to currently available technologies, which exhibit undirected and uncontrolled release of active ingredients, the invention would offer significantly more precise and effective control of the release, which could extend the lifespan of the material's functional properties while simultaneously minimizing the amount of substances released.Furthermore, the combination of biodegradable materials and stable microencapsulation technology would offer a solution that could meet the requirements of industrial textile applications without harming the environment. The invention thus aims to address existing shortcomings in the textile industry by providing a product that not only meets ecological standards but also exceeds the requirements for wash resistance, mechanical strength, and functional durability. The targeted integration of functional agents into the textile material could make it possible to combine post-conventional textile properties such as antimicrobial surface decontamination, thermo- and moisture regulation, and fire resistance in an environmentally friendly material.

[0006] Advantages achieved: Compared to the prior art, the invention would offer a number of concrete advantages of both a technical and ecological nature. These advantages would result from the unique combination of environmentally friendly raw materials, a stable biopolymer-based microencapsulation technology, and adaptively controlled drug release. • Sustainability and resource conservation: The use of rapidly renewable and biodegradable raw materials such as aloe vera and bamboo as the basis for the regenerated fiber would reduce the need for environmentally harmful, limited-availability raw materials such as wood. This would lead to less strain on ecosystems and greater sustainability compared to conventional textile materials. Furthermore, the biodegradability of the entire material would make a positive contribution to reducing textile waste and its negative environmental impacts. • Reduction of environmental pollution from microplastics and biocides: The biopolymer-based microencapsulation technology would eliminate the need for persistent, non-biodegradable substances such as microplastics and harmful biocides. By using biodegradable polymers and the controlled release of active agents, the invention would significantly reduce the environmental impact of textiles by preventing the emission of harmful chemicals into soils and water bodies. • Targeted, adaptive release of active ingredients: In contrast to conventional textiles, which retain their functionalities only to a limited and uncontrolled extent throughout the product's lifespan, the invention would enable a targeted and adaptive release of functional agents. This would ensure that active substances such as antimicrobials or thermoregulating agents are released only when actually needed, e.g., in response to changes in temperature or humidity. This would maintain the effectiveness of the functionalization over a longer period without any arbitrary release of active ingredients. • Increased durability and efficiency of functionalization: The targeted, adaptive release of active ingredients would not only improve the durability and effectiveness of the functional properties, but also reduce the need for frequent washing or post-treatments. This would give the textile material a longer lifespan and minimize the need for chemical post-treatments required in conventional finishing processes. • Versatility and adaptability: The invention could be tailored to various industrial applications, such as in medicine (antimicrobial properties), the clothing industry (thermal and moisture regulation), or heavy industry (fire resistance). This versatility would make it possible to adapt the material to different requirements and environments without compromising the fundamental principles of ecological sustainability and functionality. • Optimized wash resistance and mechanical strength: Thanks to biopolymer-based microencapsulation technology and the careful selection of raw materials, the textile material would exhibit higher wash resistance and mechanical strength than conventional functionalized textiles. This would help extend the product's lifespan and reduce the need for frequent replacement or upgrades. • Innovative solution for the textile industry: The invention would offer a novel solution to the challenges of the modern textile industry, particularly with regard to the increasing demands for ecological sustainability, resource conservation, and the minimization of • Environmental impact: By combining biodegradable materials, efficient and controlled release of active ingredients, and stable microencapsulation technology, the invention is intended to represent an advance in the development of sustainable, functionalized textiles.

Claims

[1] Semi-synthetic textile material, comprising - a regenerated fiber fabric based on cellulose, - where the cellulose is derived from plant-based raw material sources, characterized by , that - the plant-based raw material sources include Aloe Vera and / or bamboo, - the regenerated fiber fabric should be completely biodegradable, - cellulose is extracted from rapidly regenerating plants. [2] Textile material according to claim 1, comprising - a microencapsulation technology applied to the surface of the regenerated fiber fabric, - where the microencapsulation technology features a biopolymer-based encapsulation matrix, - wherein functional agents are enclosed within the encapsulation matrix, characterized by , that - the encapsulation matrix has an adaptive opening mechanism, - the opening mechanism controls the release of functional agents depending on environmental stimuli such as temperature, humidity or pH value, - both the encapsulation matrix and the released agents are biodegradable. [3] Textile material according to claim 2, characterized by , that - the microencapsulation technology releases thermoregulating, antiseptic and / or fire-resistant agents. [4] Textile material according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the microencapsulation matrix is ​​formed from a polysaccharide, cellulose, or protein-based biopolymer. [5] Textile material according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the release of the active ingredient is controlled via a temperature-induced swelling reaction of the encapsulation matrix.