Cellulosic Wiper Microfiber Composition for Low-Solution Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-efficiency wipers for cleaning surfaces are difficult and expensive to produce, and they are not readily recyclable, while also requiring excessive cleaning solutions and potentially irritating skin due to residue left behind.
Innovation Solution
A disposable cellulosic wiper made with pulp-derived papermaking fibers and up to 75% fibrillated regenerated cellulose microfiber, which provides a high scattering coefficient and relative wicking ratio, effectively removing residue with reduced cleaning solution usage and enhancing skin safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermoplastic fibers are used to make high efficiency wipers, then cleaning performance is improved, but production cost increases and recyclability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from thermoplastic fibers to cellulosic fibers (wood pulp), fundamentally altering the chemical composition and physical properties of the wiper. This enables the wiper to achieve high cleaning efficiency through fibrillation while being producible on conventional papermaking equipment, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and production cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable cellulosic wipers made from inexpensive wood pulp fibers that can be discarded after single use. This eliminates the need for expensive, reusable thermoplastic wipers while maintaining high cleaning performance through the disposable nature of the product, addressing both cost and performance requirements
2Reliability
If thermoplastic fibers are used to make high efficiency wipers, then cleaning performance is improved, but environmental sustainability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition from non-biodegradable thermoplastic fibers to biodegradable cellulosic fibers. This fundamental material substitution maintains high cleaning performance through fibrillation while enabling the wiper to decompose naturally after disposal, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and environmental sustainability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the typically harmful aspect of disposable products (waste generation) into a benefit by using biodegradable cellulosic materials. The wiper's disposable nature, which would normally create environmental harm, becomes environmentally beneficial because the cellulosic fibers decompose naturally, transforming waste into a benign organic material
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional wipers are used, then production cost is reduced, but residue removal capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cellulosic fibers through fibrillation, breaking them into finer, more numerous individual fibers. This segmentation increases the surface area and number of contact points with the cleaning surface, enabling effective residue removal while using inexpensive cellulosic material, thus resolving the contradiction between production cost and residue removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a porous structure through fibrillation of cellulosic fibers, generating a network of fine pores and channels. This porous structure increases the wiper's ability to trap and remove particles and residue from surfaces while maintaining low production cost, addressing the contradiction between cost and cleaning effectiveness
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 wiper efficiently removes micro-particles and residue from surfaces with reduced cleaning solution usage, is economically produced on conventional equipment, and can be recycled, offering improved cleaning performance and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
The wiper efficiently removes micro-particles and residue from surfaces
Implementation Method 2
fibrillated regenerated cellulose microfiber having a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml
Data Source
AI summary
A disposable cellulosic wiper includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and a percentage by weight of regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers having a number average diameter of less than about 2 microns and a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 mil. The microfibers are selected and present in amounts such that the wiper exhibits a capillary pressure at 10% saturation by extrusion porosimetry of at least twice that of a like sheet prepared without regenerated independent cellulose microfibers.