Cyclodextrin-Polyurethane Foam for Odor Absorption and Water Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for foams that can absorb large quantities of water without losing their foam character, swell to two or more times their original volume, and absorb odors, while also being capable of delivering agents such as pharmaceuticals and antimicrobial agents.
Innovation Solution
A foam composition is created by crosslinking cyclodextrin with a polyurethane prepolymer, allowing for controlled water absorption and odor absorption, with the cyclodextrin being unmodified or modified to enhance reactivity, and the ratio of cyclodextrin to polyurethane prepolymer to water is optimized to form a stable foam structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional foams are used to absorb water, then they can absorb some water, but they lose their foam character and structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system combining cyclodextrin crosslinked with polyurethane prepolymer. This composite structure creates a foam where the cyclodextrin-polyurethane network provides both water absorption capability and structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between absorbing large amounts of water and maintaining foam character.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the foam system by introducing cyclodextrin crosslinking with polyurethane prepolymer. This chemical modification changes the foam's physical properties, enabling it to absorb large quantities of water (up to several hundred percent weight gain) while maintaining structural stability and foam character through the crosslinked network structure.
2Volume of stationary object
If foams are designed to absorb large quantities of water, then they can swell to two or more times original volume, but they may lose structural stability
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclodextrin-polyurethane composite structure provides a dual-functionality system where the crosslinked network maintains structural stability while the cyclodextrin components provide water absorption and swelling capabilities, allowing the foam to reach two or more times original volume without collapsing.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam structure utilizes a porous network created by the cyclodextrin crosslinking with polyurethane prepolymer. This porous structure allows water to be absorbed and volume to increase while the crosslinked network maintains structural integrity, preventing collapse during swelling.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cyclodextrin is crosslinked with polyurethane prepolymer to improve stability, then foam structure is maintained, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The crosslinking process is designed to be self-initiating and self-regulating. When cyclodextrin is mixed with polyurethane prepolymer in the presence of water, the crosslinking reaction occurs automatically without requiring external catalysts, initiators, or complex processing equipment. The reaction proceeds through the inherent chemical reactivity of the components, simplifying manufacturing while achieving stable foam structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The crosslinking reaction is controlled by adjusting simple parameters such as the ratio of cyclodextrin to polyurethane prepolymer to water, and reaction temperature. These parameter adjustments allow optimization of foam structure and crosslinking degree without requiring complex process control systems or multiple processing steps.
4Quantity of substance
If foam composition includes cyclodextrin crosslinked with polyurethane prepolymer, then water absorption and odor absorption are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes optimal ratio ranges for cyclodextrin to polyurethane prepolymer to water that can be easily controlled during manufacturing. By working within these established ranges rather than requiring precise single-point control, the process achieves reliable water and odor absorption performance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and tolerance for normal process variations.
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 resulting foam can absorb significant amounts of water, increasing its weight by up to several hundred percent and maintain its foam structure, while also effectively absorbing odors and delivering incorporated agents, demonstrating improved stability and functionality compared to conventional foams.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclodextrin crosslinked with a polyurethane prepolymer
Implementation Method 2
capable of absorbing relatively large quantities of water
Implementation Method 3
absorb large quantities of water without losing the foam character
Implementation Method 4
The hydrophobic interior cavity allows the cyclodextrins to absorb or form inclusion complexes with, e.g., organic compounds of appropriate size
Implementation Method 5
capable of absorbing water and swelling to two or more times the original volume of the foam
Data Source
AI summary
An odor-absorbing foam composition comprising a cyclodextrin crosslinked with a polyurethane prepolymer. In one embodiment, the foam includes a ratio of the cyclodextrin to the polyurethane prepolymer selected to result in formation of the foam. The odor-absorbing foam may be used in a personal care product or wound care. A process for preparing a foam, including providing a cyclodextrin; providing a polyurethane prepolymer; combining the cyclodextrin with the polyurethane prepolymer; and allowing the polyurethane prepolymer to react with water and crosslink the cyclodextrin to form the foam. A process for preparing an odor-absorbing foam article such as a personal care product, including preparing the foam and applying it or the components thereof to a suitable substrate.