Composite Filter Tip Structure for Low-Cost Biodegradable Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filter tips made of cellulose acetate are costly and impose an economic burden on users, necessitating a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative that maintains effective filtration and adsorption of harmful substances from smoking products.
Innovation Solution
A filter tip comprising a non-woven wire mesh layer and a paper-pulp layer, with entangled plant fibers and polypropylene fibers, and optionally including softened particles and functional carriers, to provide structural stability, hardness, and enhanced filtration capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellulose acetate is used to manufacture filter tips, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining paper pulp layer (plant fibers) and non-woven fabric layer (synthetic fibers) to achieve effective filtration at lower cost. The paper pulp layer provides adsorption capacity while the non-woven fabric layer provides structural support and additional filtration, replacing the need for expensive cellulose acetate while maintaining filtration effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter tip employs different materials in different layers: the paper pulp layer handles adsorption of harmful substances, while the non-woven fabric layer provides mechanical strength and filtration. This localized functional assignment allows each layer to be optimized for its specific purpose using cost-effective materials, achieving overall filtration performance without high manufacturing costs.
2Reliability
If cellulose acetate is used to manufacture filter tips, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure combines biodegradable paper pulp with recyclable non-woven fabric, creating a filter tip that is environmentally friendly while maintaining filtration effectiveness. The paper pulp layer can decompose naturally, reducing environmental pollution compared to pure cellulose acetate.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of paper pulp as a primary material enables the filter tip to be biodegradable and compostable, allowing it to break down naturally after use. This reduces environmental persistence and pollution, addressing the environmental harm caused by traditional cellulose acetate filters that persist in landfills.
3Ease of manufacture
If alternative materials are used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of paper pulp layer and non-woven fabric layer creates a composite structure where the non-woven fabric provides mechanical strength and structural stability, while the paper pulp provides adsorption capacity. This composite approach maintains structural integrity despite using lower-cost materials compared to pure cellulose acetate.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-woven fabric layer is specifically designed to provide mechanical support and structural stability to the filter tip, while the paper pulp layer handles the adsorption function. This localized functional assignment ensures that structural requirements are met by the appropriate material layer, maintaining stability while reducing overall cost.
4Ease of manufacture
If alternative materials are used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but filtration effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-layer composite structure ensures effective filtration by combining the adsorption capabilities of paper pulp with the filtration properties of non-woven fabric. This combination achieves filtration effectiveness comparable to cellulose acetate while using more cost-effective materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The paper pulp layer is optimized for adsorbing harmful substances such as tar and nicotine, while the non-woven fabric layer provides physical filtration barriers. This functional differentiation ensures that each layer contributes to overall filtration effectiveness, maintaining performance while reducing manufacturing costs.
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 new filter tip design offers improved biodegradability, reduced environmental impact, and effective filtration of harmful substances while maintaining user experience and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the plant fibers pass through the mesh holes and entangle with the first fibers
Implementation Method 2
harmful substances and impurities produced during the combustion of the smoking products are absorbed through the filter tips of the smoking products
Implementation Method 3
the filter element material has a liquid absorptive capacity of ≥230%
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a filter tip including a filter element material and a surface layer. The filter element material includes a non-woven wire mesh layer and a paper-pulp layer. The non-woven wire mesh layer includes a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of mesh holes, wherein the first fibers are combined with each other, and each mesh hole is located between the first fibers. The paper pulp layer includes a plurality of plant fibers, a portion of the plant fibers are located on one side of the non-woven wire mesh layer, and a portion of the plant fibers pass through the mesh holes and entangle with the first fibers. The surface layer is wrapped around the periphery of the filter element material.