Cellulose Ester Polymer Films for Absorbent Article Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, face issues with body exudates leaking due to gaps between the article and the wearer's body, as existing stretchable materials do not provide a sufficient seal.

Innovation Solution

A polymer composition incorporating 0.1% to 25% cellulose ester additives, such as cellulose propionate or acetate phthalate, with polyurethanes or polyurethaneureas, which can be formulated into fibers or films, providing anti-tack properties without compromising gluing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If stretchable materials are incorporated to provide seal and fit, then the seal capability is improved, but the tackiness increases which compromises adhesion properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal capabilityVSAvoidtackiness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful tackiness property from the stretchable material by incorporating cellulose ester additives that specifically reduce surface tack while preserving the elastic sealing function. The cellulose ester is taken out as a separate functional component that counteracts the unwanted adhesive property.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the stretchable material by adding cellulose ester at specific concentrations (0.1-25% by weight), which modifies the surface properties to reduce tackiness while maintaining the bulk elastic properties needed for sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If cellulose ester additive is incorporated to reduce tackiness, then the adhesion is maintained or improved, but the composition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetackiness reductionVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cellulose ester additive serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reduces surface tackiness, maintains adhesion properties, and preserves the elastic sealing capability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate additives for each property, simplifying the overall composition despite the added component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2625222B1Polymer compositions including cellulose ester
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 THE LYCRA CO UK LTD

AI summary

Included are polymer compositions including a polymer and about 0.1% to 25% by weight of a cellulose additive. The polymer composition is in the form of a film and the cellulose additive may be a cellulose ester such as cellulose acetate butyrate.