Preparation method of cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of polymer material modification technology, and relates to a method for preparing cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy. The method includes 85-92 parts cellulose acetate, 2-6 parts active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, 4-8 parts environmentally friendly plasticizer, 0.3-1.2 parts dispersant, and 0.2-0.8 parts antioxidant. The active microcapsules use a mixed extract of rosemary, peppermint, artemisia, and arborvitae leaves as the core material and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as the wall material, with a core-to-wall material weight ratio of 1:1.2-1.8. The rosemary and other traditional Chinese medicines are washed, dried, and pulverized according to a specified ratio, then extracted by low-temperature ultrasonication, concentrated, and dried to obtain the extract. This extract is then made into microcapsules, blended with the raw materials, melt-extruded, granulated, and shaped. This invention enables the composite material to possess both the excellent properties of cellulose acetate and the functions of traditional Chinese medicine, with long-lasting function and stable processing performance, making it suitable for large-scale production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of polymer material modification technology, and relates to a method for preparing cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine effects. Background Technology

[0002] Cellulose acetate is a bio-based polymer material made from natural cellulose through an acetylation reaction. It has advantages such as being non-toxic and environmentally friendly, having good gloss, excellent mechanical toughness, being easy to process and mold, and having a warm and smooth feel. It is widely used in jewelry, eyeglass frames, tableware, textile accessories and other fields, especially in products that come into close contact with human skin, such as hair clips and accessories.

[0003] Pure cellulose acetate materials possess only basic structural and decorative properties, offering limited functionality. Furthermore, they are prone to bacterial growth during long-term use, posing risks of sensitization and unpleasant odors when applied close to the skin. Additionally, ordinary cellulose acetate materials lack functional added value, leading to severe product homogenization in the market. Existing technologies for modifying cellulose acetate primarily focus on optimizing mechanical and heat resistance properties, with few solutions combining natural Chinese herbal active ingredients with cellulose acetate substrates.

[0004] Some existing technologies attempt to load functional ingredients onto the surface of cellulose acetate products through surface coating, soaking, etc., but there are problems such as functional ingredients being easy to fall off, short duration of effect, and coating layer destroying the original luster and texture of the material. In addition, when Chinese herbal extracts are added directly without encapsulation, the active ingredients of Chinese herbal medicines are easily decomposed and ineffective during the high-temperature melting process of cellulose acetate processing, which cannot achieve long-term function. At the same time, it will damage the processing fluidity and mechanical properties of cellulose acetate, resulting in the finished product being prone to cracking and deformation.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technological gap, this invention provides a modified cellulose acetate composite material containing active components of traditional Chinese medicine. By microencapsulating the active components of traditional Chinese medicine, they are uniformly blended with the cellulose acetate substrate. Without compromising the original properties of the substrate, the material is endowed with long-lasting herbal fragrance release, mild antibacterial properties, and hypoallergenic and skin-friendly functions, thus filling the technological gap in functional and healthy cellulose acetate materials. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention addresses the technical challenges of existing cellulose acetate materials, such as limited functionality, difficulty in directly adding and blending with active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine, easy decomposition at high temperatures, and easy detachment of surface-loaded functional components. It provides a method for preparing cellulose acetate composite fibers with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy, enabling the composite material to combine the excellent properties of cellulose acetate with the functions of traditional Chinese medicine, while maintaining long-lasting function, stable processing performance, and suitability for large-scale production.

[0007] The technical solution adopted in this invention is a method for preparing cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy, comprising, by weight, 85-92 parts of cellulose acetate, 2-6 parts of active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, 4-8 parts of environmentally friendly plasticizer, 0.3-1.2 parts of dispersant, and 0.2-0.8 parts of antioxidant; wherein the active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine use a mixed extract of rosemary, peppermint, artemisia argyi, and arborvitae leaves as the core material and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as the wall material, with a weight ratio of core material to wall material of 1:1.2-1.8.

[0008] As a further aspect of the present invention, its preparation method is as follows: S1: Preparation of active extracts from traditional Chinese medicine Weigh rosemary, peppermint, mugwort, and arborvitae leaves in a weight ratio of 3:2:1.5:1. Wash, dry, and pulverize them. Add 75% medical ethanol and perform low-temperature ultrasonic extraction at a temperature of 30-35°C, an ultrasonic power of 250-300W, and an extraction time of 50-60 minutes. After filtration, concentrate under reduced pressure, dry, and grind to obtain the active extract powder of traditional Chinese medicine. Pass the powder through a 200-mesh sieve for later use.

[0009] S2: Preparation of active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was dissolved in deionized water to prepare a wall material solution with a mass concentration of 8%–12%. The above-mentioned active extract powder of traditional Chinese medicine was added to the wall material solution and dispersed by high-speed shearing for 30–40 min. Microcapsules were prepared by spray drying, with the inlet air temperature controlled at 120–140℃ and the outlet air temperature at 60–70℃, to obtain active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine with a particle size of 5–10 μm. The wall material encapsulates the core material to avoid the decomposition of active ingredients during subsequent high-temperature processing.

[0010] S3: Raw material blending pretreatment According to the formula by weight, add cellulose acetate, active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, environmentally friendly plasticizer, dispersant, and antioxidant into a high-speed mixer and mix at room temperature for 15-20 minutes at a stirring speed of 800-1000 r / min to ensure that all components are fully mixed and homogeneous, thus obtaining a mixture.

[0011] S4: Melt extrusion granulation The mixture is added to a twin-screw extruder, and the temperature of each section of the extruder is controlled at 145-165℃ and the screw speed is 200-250 r / min. After melt blending, the mixture is extruded, drawn into strands, cooled, and pelletized to obtain modified cellulose acetate composite material particles.

[0012] S5: Tableting / Forming The composite material particles are added to the molding equipment, the molding temperature is controlled at 150-160℃, and the material is pressed into sheets or directly injection molded to obtain the finished product of modified cellulose acetate composite material containing active components of traditional Chinese medicine.

[0013] The beneficial effects of this invention are: 1. Performance synergy, unique functionality This invention uses microencapsulation technology to stably introduce the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine into cellulose acetate substrate, forming a uniformly blended composite material. It retains the original luster, good mechanical toughness, non-toxicity, environmental friendliness, and easy processing characteristics of cellulose acetate, while also endowing the material with the functions of long-lasting herbal aroma release, mild antibacterial properties, and hypoallergenic skin-friendly properties. The herbal aroma can be released continuously for 6 to 24 months, and it is non-irritating and non-allergenic when used close to the skin.

[0014] 2. Strong processing stability By encapsulating the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine with wall material, the thermal decomposition of the active ingredients during high-temperature melting and processing is effectively avoided, ensuring the functional stability of the material. At the same time, the compatibility of components is optimized by dispersant, without affecting the processing flowability of cellulose acetate. The finished product is free from cracking, deformation, and spots, and its appearance and mechanical properties are comparable to those of pure cellulose acetate material.

[0015] 3. Environmentally friendly and safe, with a wide range of applications. The entire process uses environmentally friendly additives, contains no toxic or harmful substances, and meets food contact grade material standards. It can be widely used in various products such as hair accessories, eyeglass frames, tableware, and personal accessories, greatly enhancing the added value of cellulose acetate materials and solving the problem of product homogenization in the industry.

[0016] 4. Process adaptable to large-scale production The preparation process is compatible with the traditional cellulose acetate processing technology, requiring no additional large-scale specialized equipment. The process parameters are controllable, making it suitable for industrial mass production. The production cost increase is less than 15%, giving it extremely high industrialization value. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining the invention and are not intended to limit the invention; that is, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of the invention, and not all embodiments.

[0018] Example 1 Rosemary, peppermint, mugwort, and arborvitae leaves, free from impurities and mold, were selected in a weight ratio of 3:2:1.5:1. They were first repeatedly rinsed with clean water to remove surface impurities, then dried in a constant temperature device at 60–70°C until the moisture content was below 5%. After drying, the powder was pulverized and mixed evenly. 8–10 times the weight of 75% medical ethanol was added to the mixed powder, and the mixture was placed in a low-temperature ultrasonic extraction device. Extraction was carried out continuously for 50–60 minutes at 30–35°C and 250–300W. After extraction, the solid residue was removed by filtration. The clarified extract was concentrated under reduced pressure to recover the ethanol. After concentration, the extract was vacuum dried until solidified. The solidified extract was then ground and passed through a 200-mesh sieve to obtain the active herbal extract powder, which was then sealed for later use. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was slowly added to deionized water and stirred until completely dissolved to prepare an 8% wall material solution. The prepared powdered active extract of traditional Chinese medicine was added, and the solution was dispersed by high-speed shearing for 30–40 minutes to form a stable suspension. Subsequently, spray drying was performed, controlling the inlet air temperature at 120–140℃ and the outlet air temperature at 60–70℃. Active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine with a particle size of 5–10 μm (core material to wall material weight ratio 1:1.2) were screened and sealed for storage. 88 parts of cellulose acetate (acetylation degree 55%–60%), 3 parts of active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, 6 parts of tributyl citrate, 0.6 parts of glyceryl stearate, and 0.4 parts of vitamin E were accurately weighed according to the formula and placed together in a high-speed mixer. The speed was adjusted to 800 r / min, and the mixture was mixed at room temperature for 15–20 minutes until all components were homogeneous. The mixture is added to a twin-screw extruder, and the temperature of each section is controlled at 145-160℃ and the screw speed is 200r / min. After melt blending, the mixture is extruded, drawn into strands, cooled, and pelletized to obtain modified cellulose acetate composite material granules. Finally, the granules are placed into molding equipment and pressed or injection molded at 150-160℃. The finished product has a smooth surface, good toughness, herbal aroma that lasts for 8 months, antibacterial rate of 86%, and no reaction in skin irritation test.

[0019] Example 2 The preparation process of the active extract of traditional Chinese medicine is completely consistent with that in Example 1. The same specifications of traditional Chinese medicine raw materials are selected, and after rinsing, drying, pulverizing, low-temperature ultrasonic extraction, filtration, concentration, drying, grinding, and sieving, qualified active extract powder of traditional Chinese medicine is obtained and sealed for later use. In the preparation of active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is dissolved in deionized water to prepare a 10% wall material solution. The remaining operations (adding extract powder, high-speed shear dispersion, spray drying, and sieving) are the same as in Example 1. The weight ratio of core material to wall material is controlled at 1:1.5, and microcapsules with a particle size of 5-10 μm are screened and sealed for storage. 90 parts of cellulose acetate, 4 parts of active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, 5 parts of tributyl citrate, 0.8 parts of glyceryl stearate, and 0.3 parts of vitamin E are weighed according to the formula and placed in a high-speed mixer. The speed is adjusted to 900 r / min, and the mixture is mixed at room temperature for 15-20 min until the components are uniform. The mixture is fed into a twin-screw extruder, with the temperature of each section controlled at 150–165℃ and the screw speed at 230 r / min. After melt extrusion and granulation, it is molded at 150–160℃. The finished product has stable performance, uniform release of herbal aroma that lasts for 12 months, a 90% antibacterial rate, no cracking during processing, and excellent gloss.

[0020] Example 3 The preparation of the active extract of traditional Chinese medicine was consistent with that in Example 1, ensuring no difference in raw material specifications, operating steps, and parameters. After preparation, it was sealed and stored for later use. For the preparation of the active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was prepared into a 12% wall material solution. Subsequent operations, including adding the active extract powder of traditional Chinese medicine, high-speed shear dispersion, spray drying, and sieving, were the same as in Example 1. The weight ratio of core material to wall material was controlled at 1:1.8. Microcapsules with a particle size of 5–10 μm were screened and sealed for storage. According to the formula, 86 parts of cellulose acetate, 5 parts of active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, 7 parts of tributyl citrate, 1.0 part of glyceryl stearate, and 0.5 parts of vitamin E were weighed and placed in a high-speed mixer. The speed was adjusted to 1000 r / min, and the mixture was mixed at room temperature for 15–20 min until all components were fully integrated. The mixture was fed into a twin-screw extruder, with the temperature of each section controlled at 150–165℃ and the screw speed at 250 r / min. After melt extrusion granulation, molding was completed at 150–160℃. The finished product has a rich and long-lasting herbal aroma that can be released for up to 18 months. It has a 92% antibacterial rate and meets the standards for mechanical properties, making it suitable for making products that come into close contact with the skin, such as intimate apparel.

[0021] In summary, the cellulose acetate composite fibers with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy prepared by the method of this invention can achieve long-term stable loading of active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine while retaining the original excellent luster, toughness and processing performance of cellulose acetate. The herbal aroma can be continuously released for 8 to 18 months, the antibacterial rate reaches 86% to 92%, and there is no skin irritation or cracking during processing, which meets the usage requirements of various products such as hair accessories, personal accessories, and eyeglass frames. Among them, with the increase of the amount of active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, the adjustment of the ratio of core material and wall material and the optimization of processing parameters, the durability of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and the antibacterial effect of the composite material are gradually improved. According to the functional requirements of different products, the corresponding formulation and process parameters of the embodiment can be selected for large-scale production to achieve precise matching between product function and application scenario.

[0022] The above description is merely an example and illustration of the structure of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications or additions to the specific embodiments described, or use similar methods to replace them, as long as they do not deviate from the structure of the invention or exceed the scope defined in the claims, all of which should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for preparing cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy, characterized in that, By weight, it comprises 85-92 parts cellulose acetate, 2-6 parts active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, 4-8 parts environmentally friendly plasticizer, 0.3-1.2 parts dispersant, and 0.2-0.8 parts antioxidant; the active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine use a mixed extract of rosemary, peppermint, artemisia argyi, and arborvitae leaves as the core material and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as the wall material, with a weight ratio of core material to wall material of 1:1.2-1.

8.

2. The preparation method of the cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The environmentally friendly plasticizer is tributyl citrate, the dispersant is glyceryl stearate, and the antioxidant is vitamin E.

3. The method for preparing cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy according to claim 1, characterized in that, The particle size of the active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine is 5-10 μm.

4. The method for preparing cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy according to claim 1, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Weigh rosemary, peppermint, mugwort, and arborvitae leaves in a weight ratio of 3:2:1.5:1, and extract, concentrate, and dry them at a low temperature of 30-35℃ using ultrasonic extraction to obtain a powder of active extract of traditional Chinese medicine. S2: Mix the active extract powder of traditional Chinese medicine with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution, and then spray dry to obtain active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine. The inlet air temperature is 120-140℃ and the outlet air temperature is 60-70℃. S3: Mix cellulose acetate, active microcapsules of traditional Chinese medicine, environmentally friendly plasticizer, dispersant, and antioxidant at room temperature and high speed for 15-20 minutes, with a stirring speed of 800-1000 r / min; S4: The mixture is melted and granulated by a twin-screw extruder at an extrusion temperature of 145-165℃ and a screw speed of 200-250 r / min. After cooling and pelletizing, the composite material is formed into a finished product.

5. The method for preparing cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy according to claim 4, characterized in that, The ultrasonic extraction power in S1 is 250-300W, and the extraction time is 50-60min.

6. The method for preparing cellulose acetate composite fiber with traditional Chinese medicine efficacy according to claim 4, characterized in that, The molding temperature in S4 is controlled at 150-160℃.