Active agent-containing articles that exhibit consumer acceptable article in-use properties
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fibrous structures containing active agents struggle to maintain structural integrity and flexibility while ensuring sufficient dissolution, often falling apart prematurely during manufacturing, distribution, and use, which affects consumer acceptance.
Innovation Solution
The development of multi-ply fibrous articles with fibrous elements that are mechanically or thermally bonded, featuring a combination of water-soluble materials and active agents, which exhibit enhanced inter-ply and intra-ply peel strength, flexibility, and hand dissolution properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fibrous structures are made with sufficient bond strength to prevent premature separation, then structural integrity is improved, but flexibility and dissolution may be negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer material within a specific range (-50°C to 0°C) and adjusting the weight ratio of polymer to plasticizer (1:0.1 to 1:2). These parameter adjustments optimize the balance between bond strength and flexibility, allowing the fibrous structure to maintain sufficient peel strength while remaining flexible for consumer use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining polymer materials with plasticizers in specific ratios. This composite approach allows the material to exhibit both sufficient bond strength (from the polymer) and flexibility (enhanced by the plasticizer), resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.
2Strength
If fibrous structures are made with sufficient bond strength to prevent premature separation, then structural integrity is improved, but dissolution rate may be negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer within -50°C to 0°C and adjusting the polymer-to-plasticizer weight ratio. These parameters are optimized to ensure the material maintains bond strength during storage and handling while dissolving at the desired rate during consumer use, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and dissolution reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite material system of polymer and plasticizer in controlled ratios enables the fibrous structure to achieve both sufficient peel strength and appropriate dissolution characteristics. The plasticizer modifies the material properties to allow controlled dissolution while maintaining structural integrity before use.
3Ease of operation
If plasticizer content is increased to improve flexibility, then ease of operation is improved, but bond strength may be negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by establishing an optimal range for plasticizer content (weight ratio of polymer to plasticizer from 1:0.1 to 1:2) and controlling the glass transition temperature within -50°C to 0°C. This precise parameter control ensures that flexibility is enhanced without compromising bond strength, as the plasticizer content remains within bounds that maintain sufficient inter-ply bonding.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides fibrous articles that maintain structural integrity and flexibility while ensuring effective dissolution, meeting consumer expectations for performance and usability.
Implementation Method 1
fibrous elements that are mechanically or thermally bonded
Implementation Method 2
fibrous elements that are mechanically or thermally bonded
Implementation Method 3
water-soluble materials and active agents, which exhibit enhanced inter-ply and intra-ply peel strength, flexibility, and hand dissolution properties
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
Active agent-containing articles, for example fibrous structures, that exhibit consumer acceptable article in-use properties, such as article peel strength, flexibility, article dimensions, and/or dissolvability, and methods for making same are provided.