Excrement Disposal Sheet Composition to Limit Surface Diffusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Animal excrement disposal sheets face challenges in allowing repeated excretions due to unknown excretion locations and excessive diffusion of excrement, as existing technologies do not effectively inhibit diffusion on the surface, limiting their reuse and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a hydrophobizing agent with a higher affinity to hydrophilic fibers than water absorbent resins in the absorbent layer, which mildly hydrophobizes the fibers while maintaining the absorption properties of the resins, reducing excrement diffusion and enabling multiple uses of the sheet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrophilic fiber is used to capture excrement by absorbing and diffusing water, then water absorption capacity is improved, but excrement diffusion area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the absorbent layer by selectively hydrophobizing the hydrophilic fiber surface while maintaining the bulk hydrophilic properties. This local modification creates zones with different absorption characteristics, allowing water to be absorbed quickly while limiting diffusion spread.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface energy parameter of the hydrophilic fiber by applying a hydrophobizing agent, transforming it from highly hydrophilic to mildly hydrophobic. This parameter change affects the wettability and capillary action, reducing excessive water diffusion while preserving absorption capacity.
2Area of stationary object
If hydrophobic treatment is applied to inhibit excrement diffusion, then excrement diffusion area is reduced, but water absorption rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial hydrophobic treatment rather than complete hydrophobization. By using a hydrophobizing agent with higher affinity to hydrophilic fiber than to water absorbent resin, and controlling the treatment conditions, it achieves mild hydrophobization that is sufficient to reduce diffusion but not so strong as to prevent initial water absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophobizing agent acts as an intermediary substance that modifies the fiber surface properties. It creates a balanced interface that allows controlled water interaction - permitting initial absorption while preventing excessive diffusion, thus mediating between the need for absorption and the need for containment.
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 solution effectively reduces the diffusion area of excrement, allowing for repeated use of the sheet by inhibiting excrement diffusion, thereby extending its usage duration and reducing the need for frequent replacements, thus enhancing cost efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the absorbent layer further includes a hydrophobizing agent that hydrophobizes the hydrophilic fiber
Data Source
AI summary
An animal excrement disposal sheet that can reduce an area of excrement diffusing on a surface of the sheet. The animal excretion disposal sheet includes a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent layer disposed between the top sheet and the back surface sheet that includes a water absorbent resin and a hydrophilic fiber, in which the absorbent layer further includes a hydrophobizing agent having a higher affinity to the hydrophilic fiber than to the water absorbent resin.