Regenerated Cellulose Fiber Surface Quality via Stretching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Multifilament fibers produced using the viscose process often fail to meet modern textile strength requirements and face difficulties in processing, especially when used as warp material, leading to issues like increased brittleness and surface defects such as lint, which affect their performance and require additional, economically and ecologically unattractive finishing steps.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the addition of solids like flame retardants and controlled stretching in a second bath, optimizing parameters such as stretching ratios and phosphorus content, to improve fiber surface properties and processability, specifically achieving smoother fibers and reduced lint defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If solids (flame retardant) are added to viscose and stretching is performed in the second bath using known process parameters, then fiber strength is improved, but fiber brittleness increases and surface quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber strengthVSAvoidfiber brittleness and surface defects
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the stretching ratio (ε) to be greater than 0.75 and the product of stretching ratio and final withdrawal speed (ε·vend) to be greater than 3600. These specific parameter ranges resolve the contradiction by achieving the desired fiber strength while preventing excessive brittleness and surface defects that would occur with conventional parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the stretching process controllable and adjustable through the defined parameters. The stretching ratio and withdrawal speed can be dynamically optimized based on production requirements, allowing the process to adapt between achieving strength versus minimizing brittleness depending on the specific application needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If stretching is increased to achieve required fiber strength, then fiber strength is improved, but lint defects increase and surface quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiber strengthVSAvoidsurface quality and lint defects
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction through precise parameter changes by defining the stretching ratio ε > 0.75 and the product ε·vend > 3600. These optimized parameters enable achieving the required fiber strength while simultaneously maintaining surface quality and minimizing lint defects, unlike conventional approaches where increased stretching always deteriorates surface quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If additional work steps (finishing and skiving oiling) are performed to improve surface properties, then surface quality is improved, but process complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface propertiesVSAvoidnumber of work steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by optimizing the stretching parameters during the spinning process itself (ε > 0.75 and ε·vend > 3600) to pre-establish good surface properties. This preliminary optimization during spinning eliminates or reduces the need for subsequent finishing and skiving oiling steps, thereby reducing process complexity while maintaining improved surface quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method achieves improved surface quality with reduced lint defects, enhanced strength, and maintains high phosphorus content, allowing for the production of high-quality textile products suitable for protective clothing with minimal additional processing steps.

Implementation Method 1

after the filaments have at least partially coagulated in the spinning bath

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoagulation: Coagulation

Implementation Method 2

there is still a stretching in the Second bath takes place

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical stretching: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP2707526B2Process for the production of regenerated cellulose fibers
Publication Date: 2017.12.27 GLANZSTOFF BOHEMIA
  • EP2707526B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2707526B2 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

In a process for producing regenerated cellulose fibers, in which particles of a flame-retardant solid are incorporated into the fiber, the particles are placed into a mold, the dimension of which in a major axis of the particle is greater than in the two orthogonal minor axes of the particle, and the major axes of the particles in the fiber are aligned in a preferential direction parallel to the spinning direction thereof.