Crimped Lyocell Filter Material for Improved Biodegradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cellulose acetate cigarette filters take a long time to biodegrade, posing environmental concerns due to their persistence in soil and the toxicity of discarded tobacco products.
Innovation Solution
Developing a lyocell material with crimped lyocell multifilaments that exhibit shape stability of 20% to 60% and are used to create filters with improved biodegradability and manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellulose acetate is used as filter material, then filter performance is maintained, but biodegradability is poor and environmental persistence is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from cellulose acetate to lyocell fiber, which has different biodegradation characteristics. This material substitution maintains the required filter performance while significantly improving biodegradability, resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental persistence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite structure with lyocell fiber as the base material and incorporates metal mesh and adhesive components. This composite approach maintains structural integrity and filter performance while the lyocell component ensures improved biodegradation compared to pure cellulose acetate filters.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If lyocell material is used to replace cellulose acetate, then biodegradability is improved, but shape stability of crimps must be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the crimp shape stability parameter to a specific range (20-60%) for lyocell material. This parameter adjustment ensures that the material maintains sufficient structural stability for filter application while preserving the inherent biodegradability advantage of lyocell over cellulose acetate.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If new lyocell material is developed, then environmental friendliness is improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the filter structure into separate components: lyocell fiber layer, metal mesh layer, and adhesive layers. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the lyocell provides environmental benefits while the metal mesh and adhesive components handle structural requirements, simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The lyocell material serves multiple functions: it provides the filter matrix, ensures biodegradability, and maintains structural stability through controlled crimp formation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process despite the new material requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a lyocell material, and a filter for a smoking article, including the lyocell material, and a smoking article. The lyocell material and the filter for a smoking article, according to the disclosure, may replace conventional cellulose acetate materials and filters for a smoking article that include the same.