Cellulose Fiber-Inorganic Particle Composite for High Surface Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for modifying cellulose fibers with inorganic particles do not effectively cover 15% or more of the fiber's surface with metal salts of silicic acid, barium, aluminum, titanium, copper, or zinc, limiting their applications in areas like fire resistance, opacity, and radiation shielding.

Innovation Solution

Development of complexes where 15% or more of the cellulose fiber surface is covered with inorganic particles, specifically metal salts of silicic acid, barium, or metal particles containing titanium, copper, or zinc, with average primary particle sizes of 1 µm or less, and a weight ratio of cellulose fiber to inorganic particles ranging from 5/95 to 95/5, enhancing properties such as fire resistance and radiation shielding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If inorganic particles are precipitated on cellulose fiber surface using conventional methods, then the fiber surface is modified, but the coverage area is less than 15% of the fiber surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage area of inorganic particles on fiber surfaceVSAvoideffectiveness of surface modification
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter of inorganic particles to 1 µm or less, and controls the weight ratio of cellulose fiber to inorganic particles within 95/5 to 5/95. These parameter changes enable sufficient coverage of 15% or more of the fiber surface while maintaining effective surface modification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system consisting of cellulose fibers combined with specific inorganic particles (metal salts of silicic acid, barium, aluminum or metal particles containing titanium, copper, zinc). This composite structure achieves both high surface coverage and effective modification properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If inorganic particles with larger size are used, then the handling ease is improved, but the surface coverage and uniformity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling ease of inorganic particlesVSAvoiduniformity of particle distribution on fiber surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the particle size parameter to 1 µm or less, which is small enough to achieve uniform distribution and high surface coverage, yet large enough to maintain reasonable handling characteristics. The weight ratio control (95/5 to 5/95) further ensures uniform particle distribution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 complexes achieve enhanced fire resistance, opacity, and radiation shielding properties while maintaining ease of handling due to dehydration, and exhibit improved ash retention and uniform dispersion of inorganic particles, offering broader applications in materials like papers and composites.

Implementation Method 1

a technique for precipitating inorganic particles on a cellulose fiber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentEP3358073B1Compound material of cellulose fibers and inorganic particles
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 NIPPON PAPER IND CO LTD
  • EP3358073B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3358073B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3358073B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

The present invention aims to provide cellulose fibers covered by inorganic particles on the fiber surface. According to the present invention, complexes of a cellulose fiber and inorganic particles wherein 15 % or more of the surface of the cellulose fiber is covered by the inorganic particles can be obtained.