Biodegradable Wool Composite Waterproofing via Preliminary Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothing materials used for outdoor and sports garments are not biodegradable, leading to environmental pollution, and existing methods for applying waterproof treatments damage biodegradable membranes, making them unsuitable for large-scale industrial production.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a biodegradable wool fabric treated with a water-repellent polymer at controlled temperatures, coupled with a biodegradable PLA membrane, allowing for the creation of a composite material with improved biodegradability and impermeability, suitable for clothing items, using a lower temperature hot-bonding process to prevent membrane damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional waterproofing treatment is applied at high temperature (160-180°C), then the fabric layer is effectively water-repelled, but the biodegradable membrane is damaged and loses its biodegradability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the preliminary action principle by performing the water-repelling treatment on the fabric layer before coupling it to the biodegradable membrane. This sequence ensures that the high-temperature treatment (160-180°C) is applied only to the fabric, which can withstand such temperatures, while the membrane remains protected from thermal damage and preserves its biodegradability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the waterproofing process into two distinct stages: first treating the fabric layer separately with water-repelling agents at high temperature, then coupling the treated fabric to the membrane at lower temperatures. This segmentation allows each component to be treated under optimal conditions without compromising the other.
2Ease of manufacture
If biodegradable polymers with low melting temperature are used, then biodegradability is improved, but the membrane cannot withstand high-temperature waterproofing treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by completing the water-repelling treatment on the fabric before assembling the membrane. This allows biodegradable polymers with low melting points to be used in the membrane, as they are never exposed to high temperatures that would compromise their biodegradability or structural integrity.
3Strength
If conventional hot-bonding process is used at high temperature, then the fabric and membrane are strongly coupled, but the biodegradable membrane is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by reducing the bonding temperature from conventional high temperatures (160-180°C) to a lower range (below the melting point of the biodegradable polymer). This temperature adjustment maintains adequate bonding strength while preserving the membrane's biodegradability and preventing thermal degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric layer undergoes preliminary water-repelling treatment before bonding, which allows the subsequent low-temperature bonding process to achieve sufficient adhesion without requiring high temperatures that would damage the biodegradable membrane.
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 method produces clothing items with enhanced biodegradability, meeting international standards, and maintains the material's structural integrity and impermeability, while being cost-effective for large-scale industrial production.
Implementation Method 1
a water-repellent treatment, by applying a fluorinate or non-fluorinated polymer
Implementation Method 2
biodegradable polymer material... susceptible to decompose in a natural way, thanks to the action of bacteria or other microorganisms
Implementation Method 3
Breathability is evaluated by measuring the amount of vapor that the membrane can carry
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3B
Figure 4A~5B
AI summary
Method for producing a composite material with biodegradability properties for making clothing items, comprising the steps of: providing a preferably biodegradable first layer of natural material; subjecting said first layer to a water-repellent treatment; providing a second layer of biodegradable polymer material; coupling the first layer, after it has been subjected to the water-repellent treatment, to the second layer, thus obtaining a coupled material. The composite material thus obtained can be used for making clothing items by carrying out the steps of: cutting the coupled material for obtaining the parts of a clothing item to be made; joining the parts of the clothing item together by means of sewing; subjecting the clothing item to finishing in order to make it suitable for sale. The invention further relates to the composite material obtained by said method.