Processes for making improved cellulose-based materials and containers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cellulose-based containers face challenges in maintaining strength, especially under high relative humidity conditions, and lack recyclability and environmental sustainability.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the treatment of cellulosic fibers with both dry and wet strength chemistry preparations in a paper-making machine to enhance the strength and recyclability of cellulose-based materials, which are then used to manufacture containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If containers are made from conventional cellulosic fibers, then they are environmentally friendly and recyclable, but they lose strength under high relative humidity conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength retention under humidityVSAvoidstrength loss due to water absorbance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies chemical treatments to cellulosic fibers that modify their physical-chemical parameters. Specifically, crosslinking agents and resinous materials are used to change the fiber structure, reducing water absorbance and preventing swelling that leads to strength loss under humid conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates composite cellulosic materials by combining treated fibers with binding agents and resinous materials. These composite structures maintain the environmental benefits of cellulosic fibers while adding moisture resistance through the composite architecture, where the binding agents and resins form a protective matrix around the fibers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If chemical treatments are applied to enhance strength, then strength improvement is achieved, but recyclability and environmental sustainability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength enhancementVSAvoidimpact on recyclability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent is designed to allow for the recovery and recycling of cellulosic fibers even after chemical treatments. The treatment process and container design enable the fibers to be separated and reused, maintaining recyclability. The chemical treatments are applied in a way that does not permanently prevent the fibers from being processed in recycling streams.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 process significantly improves the strength and recyclability of cellulose-based materials, providing a synergistic effect that maintains performance even at high humidity levels and supports environmental sustainability by enabling recycling.

Implementation Method 1

treating cellulosic fibers with i) a dry strength chemistry preparation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

treating cellulosic fibers with ii) a wet strength chemistry preparation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWater resistance: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS11015287B1Processes for making improved cellulose-based materials and containers

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 INT PAPER CO

AI summary

The present disclosure provides processes for making cellulose-based material and containers utilizing the cellulose-based material. More particularly, the present disclosure provides processes to make cellulose-based material comprising strength-enhancing preparations and processes to make improved containers with the strength-enhanced cellulose-based materials.