Bicomponent Fiber Additive Concentration Strategy

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of additives in bicomponent fibers for spunbonded nonwovens can interfere with the production process and pose health and environmental risks, especially when exceeding certain concentration limits, while also requiring higher amounts to achieve desired effects.

Innovation Solution

Concentrating additives in one component of the bicomponent fiber, such as antioxidants, UV stabilizers, and flame retardants, within specific mass fractions, reduces the overall amount needed and improves the synergy between fiber components, enhancing mechanical properties and reducing environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additives are added to improve fiber properties, then the desired effect (e.g., flame retardance, UV stabilization) is achieved, but the production process is interfered with and health/environmental risks increase when concentration limits are exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber property improvementVSAvoidproduction interference and health/environmental risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating additives in one specific component (either core or sheath) rather than distributing them uniformly throughout the bicomponent fiber. This localized placement allows the additive to achieve its desired effect in the specific region where it is most needed, while minimizing the total amount of additive required and reducing potential harmful effects in other regions of the fiber and environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If higher amounts of additives are used to achieve desired effects, then the effectiveness is improved, but production interference and health/environmental risks worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadditive effectivenessVSAvoidproduction interference and environmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By placing the additive locally in one component, the patent achieves high effectiveness in the target region without requiring high overall concentrations. The additive is concentrated where it provides maximum benefit, allowing lower total amounts to be used while maintaining or improving effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If additives are evenly distributed in both components, then uniform protection is achieved, but the amount of additive required increases and environmental impact worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform protectionVSAvoidadditive amount and environmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces uniform distribution with localized concentration, placing the additive in only one component. This approach achieves effective protection in the critical region while significantly reducing the total quantity of additive required compared to uniform distribution throughout both components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the additive from the system of both components and concentrates it in only one component. This extraction approach eliminates the need for additive in the other component, reducing total additive quantity while maintaining protective effectiveness where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2826895B1Bicomponent fibre for manufacturing spun non-woven fabrics
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 EWALD DORKEN AG
  • EP2826895B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2826895B1 patent drawingFigure 5~11
  • EP2826895B1 patent drawingFigure 12~16

AI summary

The invention relates to a bicomponent fiber (1), in particular for the production of spunbond nonwovens (4), comprising a first component (2) and a second component (3), wherein the first component (2) is a first polymer and the second component is a second polymer. According to the invention, the first component (2) includes an additive, the mass fraction of which is smaller in the second component (3) than in the first component (2).