Treated Cellulose Feedstock With Controlled Fiber Lengths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing cellulose-based molded bodies face issues with fiber length variability leading to clogging, material loss, and environmental pollution, particularly when using recycled textiles containing both cellulose and synthetic fibers.
Innovation Solution
A method to treat cellulose-containing starting materials, such as used textiles, by presorting, comminuting, and selectively separating fibers to achieve a predetermined fiber length distribution of 0.75 to 2.5 mm, primarily focusing on 0.9 to 1.75 mm, to optimize fiber length for efficient processing and minimize clogging and material loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If long fibers are used in the starting material, then the structural integrity of the molded body is improved, but clogging in pipes and processing equipment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the fiber population into different length categories and selectively removing long fibers (>3.5mm) through classification devices. This segments the fiber length distribution to eliminate the harmful long fibers that cause clogging while preserving shorter fibers that maintain structural integrity without causing processing issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts long fibers from the starting material mixture using classification devices such as air classification or mechanical separators. These devices selectively remove the harmful long fibers (>3.5mm) from the pulp, leaving behind fibers of suitable length for processing while maintaining the overall structural quality of the molded body.
2Productivity
If fibers are shortened to prevent clogging, then processing efficiency is improved, but fiber strength and structural integrity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating fiber length requirements for different fiber populations. Instead of uniformly shortening all fibers, the system selectively manages different length segments: removing only the excessively long fibers (>3.5mm) while preserving fibers in the optimal range (0.5-3.5mm) that provide both processing efficiency and structural integrity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If very short fibers are used, then clogging is prevented, but dehydration becomes difficult due to large surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the fiber length distribution within the range of 0.5-3.5mm. This parameter optimization balances two competing requirements: fibers must be short enough to prevent clogging but long enough to maintain adequate surface area for efficient dehydration. The system achieves this by controlling the fiber length distribution rather than using uniformly very short fibers.
4Ease of manufacture
If fiber length is not controlled, then processing is simpler, but material loss through dust and environmental pollution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing fiber classification and length control at the beginning of the processing sequence, before the pulp enters subsequent manufacturing stages. Classification devices are introduced early to separate and remove long fibers (>3.5mm) from the starting material, preventing material loss and environmental pollution downstream while maintaining relatively simple processing throughout the manufacturing sequence.
Data Source
AI summary
A treated cellulose-comprising starting material and a method for forming a regenerated, cellulosic molded body, produced from a cellulose-comprising starting material which comprises cellulosic fibers, the cellulose-comprising starting material entirely or partially comprises remains from a reusable clothing manufacture or reusable old clothes, the cellulose fibers of the treated cellulose-comprising starting material has a predetermined fiber length distribution having an average length-weighted fiber length in the range 0.75 to 2.5 mm, and an amount of 11% or less of fibers with a length of less than 0.2 mm.