Antibacterial Filter Composition to Maintain Performance After Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air filters, particularly pre-filters in air conditioners, lose antibacterial performance when washed due to the removal of antibacterial coatings.
Innovation Solution
A filter composition comprising a polymer resin and antibacterial additives, including antibacterial metal and metal oxide, is used to form a mesh structure that maintains antibacterial performance even after washing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an antibacterial coating is applied to the pre-filter, then antibacterial performance is improved, but the coating is removed during washing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the antibacterial additive particles with the polymer resin fibers during the filter manufacturing process, merging the antibacterial function into the filter structure itself rather than applying it as a separate coating layer. This integration ensures the antibacterial performance persists through washing cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material by incorporating antibacterial additives (such as silver, zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide particles) into the polymer resin that forms the filter. This composite structure maintains antibacterial activity while withstanding washing, as the additives become part of the filter matrix rather than a removable surface coating.
2Ease of operation
If the filter is washed to remove dust and debris, then cleaning is improved, but antibacterial coating is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The antibacterial additives are merged with the filter media during manufacturing, so that washing removes surface dust while the integrated antibacterial particles remain embedded in the filter structure, maintaining their function after cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The antibacterial additives are incorporated into the filter during the manufacturing process before the filter is put into service. This preliminary integration ensures that subsequent washing operations can clean the filter without compromising the antibacterial function, as the additives are already firmly embedded.
3Reliability
If antibacterial additives are incorporated into the filter material, then antibacterial performance is maintained after washing, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process merges the incorporation of antibacterial additives with the existing filter production workflow. Additives are mixed with polymer resin before fiber formation or bonded to finished fibers, integrating the antibacterial function into standard manufacturing steps rather than requiring separate complex processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts manufacturing parameters such as additive concentration, particle size, and mixing conditions to optimize antibacterial performance while maintaining compatibility with existing filter production processes. These parameter changes allow incorporation of antibacterial functionality without fundamentally altering the manufacturing system.
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 filter ensures excellent antibacterial activity and maintains performance through the incorporation of antibacterial metal and metal oxide within the polymer resin, preventing loss of effectiveness during washing.
Implementation Method 1
an antibacterial additive comprised of antibacterial metal and antibacterial metal oxide
Implementation Method 2
a mesh structure that is formed as a result of melt spinning of the composition including a polymer resin and an antibacterial additive
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an antibacterial composition, a filter using the same, and a home appliance such as an air conditioner comprising the filter. More specifically, the antibacterial composition according to the present disclosure comprises a polymer resin, and an antibacterial additive composed of an antibacterial metal and an antibacterial metal oxide, and thus a filter manufactured therefrom has excellent antibacterial activity and also maintains antibacterial performance even if washed.