Agave Fiber Tissue Reducing Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in producing tissue products that balance softness with strength and durability is exacerbated by the limited supply and high coarseness of alternative fibers to Northern softwood kraft fibers, which results in stiffer and harsher products.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating high yield agave fibers from the genus Agave into tissue products, which can displace a significant portion of the long fiber fraction without compromising strength, durability, bulk, or stiffness, and can even enhance these properties, achieving comparable or better results than traditional wood pulp fiber blends.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If southern softwood kraft fibers are used to replace northern softwood kraft fibers, then cost and supply stability are improved, but product softness deteriorates due to high coarseness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines agave fibers with wood pulp fibers in a blended furnish to achieve both cost stability and product softness. The agave fiber blend (comprising at least about 10% by weight of the furnish) is integrated with wood pulp fibers, where the agave fibers provide softness while the wood pulp maintains strength and durability, resolving the contradiction between supply stability and product softness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite fiber system combining agave fibers (non-wood) with wood pulp fibers to create a tissue product that achieves both economic stability and desired softness. This composite approach allows the benefits of both fiber types to work together, with agave providing softness and wood pulp providing structural integrity.
2Strength
If long fiber wood pulp is used to improve strength and durability, then tensile strength and durability are improved, but tissue softness deteriorates due to stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges agave fibers with long fiber wood pulp in a blended furnish to maintain strength while improving softness. The agave fiber blend is incorporated into the furnish alongside long fiber wood pulp, creating a synergistic effect where both fiber types contribute their desirable properties without the harshness of pure long fiber wood pulp products.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fiber composition parameters by incorporating agave fibers (with specific physical properties including length and coarseness) into the wood pulp furnish. This parameter change in fiber blend composition allows the tissue product to achieve both strength and softness by adjusting the ratio and characteristics of the fiber mixture.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides tissue products comprising agave fibers and methods of producing the same. Preferably the agave fibers are high yield agave pulp fibers, which have demonstrated the ability to replace a substantial portion of the long fiber fraction of the furnish without negatively effecting important tissue product properties such as stiffness, CD Durability and bulk. Thus, the tissue product may comprise greater than about 10 weight percent agave fiber and more preferably greater than about 25 weight percent. Accordingly, in certain embodiments the present disclosure provides a three-layered through-air dried tissue product comprising high-yield agave fibers from the leaves of Agave tequilana, Eucalyptus Hardwood Kraft (EHWK) and Northern Softwood Kraft (NSWK), wherein the high-yield agave fibers comprise 10.0 percent by weight of the tissue product, the product having a CD durability greater than about 18 and sheet bulk greater than about 10 cc/g.