Biorepulsive Polyester Polymers for Microbe-Repulsive Textile Finishing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antimicrobial substances used in textiles to prevent microbial colonization often harm the environment and promote resistance in microorganisms, as they either kill or inhibit growth, rather than preventing adhesion, and are not biodegradable.
Innovation Solution
The use of copolymers containing dicarboxylic acid units, alkylene glycol units, and polyalkylene glycol units linked via ester bonds to prevent microbial colonization on textiles by reducing adhesion without harming microorganisms, using polymers such as ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate in detergents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biocidal or biostatically acting substances are used to prevent microbial colonization, then microbial growth is inhibited or killed, but the substances harm the environment and promote resistance in microorganisms
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using substances that kill or inhibit microorganisms (biocidal/biostatic approach), the invention inverts the approach by using substances that prevent adhesion (biorepulsive). The polyester polymer creates a surface that microorganisms cannot attach to, thereby preventing colonization without harming the microorganisms or the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The polyester polymer acts as an intermediary substance between the textile surface and microorganisms. It modifies the surface properties to create a biorepulsive effect, preventing direct contact and adhesion between microorganisms and the textile, thereby solving the contradiction between effectiveness and environmental harm.
2Reliability
If conventional antimicrobial substances are used, then microbial adhesion is prevented, but the substances are not biodegradable and harm sewage treatment processes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the antimicrobial substance by using polyester polymers with specific molecular weights (200-500,000 g/mol) and compositions (dicarboxylic acid units, alkylene glycol units, polyalkylene glycol units). These parameter changes make the substance biodegradable while maintaining its biorepulsive effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The biodegradable polyester polymer can be broken down by microorganisms in the environment, allowing it to be discarded without long-term environmental harm. The polymer structure enables it to be metabolized by microorganisms, converting it back to basic components that do not harm sewage treatment processes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If polyester polymers are used to prevent microbial adhesion, then biorepulsion is achieved without harming microorganisms, but the polymer must have specific molecular weight and composition requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention defines specific parameter ranges for the polyester polymer (molecular weight 200-500,000 g/mol, specific monomer compositions) to achieve optimal biorepulsive效果. By establishing these parameter ranges, the invention balances the complexity of polymer specifications with the need for effective and environmentally friendly microbial adhesion prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
Antimicrobial action in the use of washing compositions was to be improved. This was achieved essentially through the use of polymers containing dicarboxylic acid units, alkylene glycol units and polyalkylene glycol units joined to one another via ester bonds.