Electrospinning Membrane Protective Vent with Plasma Coating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional membranes used for protective vents, such as PTFE and ePTFE, have issues with mechanical stability, lifespan, air permeability, and contain harmful residues like PFAAs, lacking nanoscaled protective coatings and exhibiting unevenness, which hinders their effectiveness in preventing harmful substances like allergens and pathogens.
Innovation Solution
A protective vent comprising a carrier layer and an electrospinning membrane with a multilayer, three-dimensionally cross-linked structure, featuring nanofibers or microfibers, and a plasma coating for enhanced barrier properties against liquids, oils, and pathogens, while maintaining high air and water vapor permeability, and being free from halogens and PFAAs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional PTFE or ePTFE membranes are used for protective vents, then water and oil repellency are achieved, but mechanical stability and lifespan are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a porous substrate (providing mechanical stability) with a plasma-coated layer (providing water and oil repellency). This composite structure integrates the strengths of different materials: the substrate offers structural support while the plasma coating delivers the protective barrier properties, resolving the contradiction between mechanical stability and harmful factor resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the surface properties of the substrate through plasma treatment. The plasma process alters the surface chemistry and morphology at the nanoscale, creating a hydrophobic and oleophobic surface without compromising the bulk mechanical properties of the substrate. This allows the material to maintain strength while gaining water and oil repellency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional membranes are used, then water repellency is provided, but air permeability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous materials by using a porous substrate as the base structure. The porous architecture allows air to pass through freely while the plasma-coated surface provides water and oil repellency. The pore structure is maintained open, ensuring high air permeability while the surface coating prevents liquid penetration, thus resolving the contradiction between water repellency and air permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the properties of different regions of the material. The bulk substrate maintains porosity for air flow, while the surface layer (through plasma treatment) provides water and oil repellency. This spatial differentiation of properties allows the material to simultaneously achieve high air permeability and effective water protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If PTFE membranes are used, then water repellency is achieved, but harmful residues like PFAAs are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by removing harmful substances from the system. Instead of using PTFE membranes that contain PFAA residues, the patent extracts the essential function (water repellency) and achieves it through plasma treatment of a different substrate material. This eliminates the harmful chemical residues while maintaining the protective water-repellent function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a more sustainable approach by using materials that do not require harmful chemicals like PFOA in their production or application. The plasma treatment process is environmentally friendly and does not leave persistent harmful residues, making the protective vent safer for human health and the environment while maintaining effective water repellency.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional membranes are used, then basic filtration is provided, but nanoscaled protective coating is missing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dimensionality change principle by transitioning from conventional micrometer-scale surface treatments to nanoscale plasma coatings. The plasma treatment creates a nanoscale modified surface layer that provides enhanced protective properties. This nanoscale dimensionality improvement allows for more effective barrier properties against pathogens and contaminants while maintaining breathability, thus resolving the contradiction between filtration capability and protective reliability.
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 provides a robust, durable, and highly effective barrier against pathogens and contaminants, with improved air and water vapor permeability, and a high water column pressure, ensuring protection against harmful substances without compromising air flow or introducing harmful chemicals.
Implementation Method 1
an electrospinning membrane (12), which is arranged on the at least one carrier layer (11), wherein the electrospinning membrane (12) is formed from fibers lying one above the other, forming a porous structure
Implementation Method 2
The membrane and/or the carrier layer (11) can be coated with a coating material, which is applied in particular by the plasma deposition method
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7
Figure 8
AI summary
The invention relates to a composite for a protective vent with at least one carrier layer and an electrospinning membrane, which is arranged on the at least one carrier layer, wherein the electrospinning membrane consists of superimposed fibers lying one above the other, forming a porous structure, whereby the porous structure is designed, whereby the carrier layer comprises a monofilament fabric, a plasma coating is applied both to the electrospinning membrane and to the monofilament fabric of the at least one carrier layer and a bonding is provided that connects the carrier layer and the membrane. Furthermore, the invention relates to an according method for producing the inventive protective vent.