Electrospun Polymer Fibers With Bleaching Actives for Controlled Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for polymer electrospun fibers that include functional actives for enhanced cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting properties, suitable for various cleaning applications and implements.
Innovation Solution
The development of polymer electrospun fibers formed from one or more polymers, including at least partially water-soluble or alcohol-soluble polymers, mixed with functional actives such as bleaching agents, which are processed through electrospinning to create fibers with controlled properties for use in cleaning implements like sponges, wipes, and mop heads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If functional actives are included in electrospun fibers, then cleaning and sanitizing efficacy is improved, but fiber manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines functional actives (cleaning agents, sanitizers, disinfectants) directly into the polymer solution before electrospinning, merging multiple functions into a single fiber structure. This allows the fibers to simultaneously provide structural integrity and cleaning/sanitizing/disinfecting functionality, resolving the contradiction by integrating rather than adding separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite electrospun fibers containing both polymer matrix and functional actives. The composite structure allows the fibers to exhibit both mechanical properties from the polymer and functional properties from the embedded actives, achieving enhanced cleaning efficacy while maintaining a relatively simple single-step manufacturing process.
2Area of moving object
If porous structure is created in electrospun fibers, then surface area is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the electrospinning process (voltage, flow rate, collector distance, solution concentration) to control pore formation and size. By optimizing these parameters, the process naturally produces porous structures with appropriate surface area without requiring post-processing or complex precision control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrospinning process itself self-organizes to create porous structures through the interaction of electrostatic forces, solvent evaporation, and polymer solidification. The porous morphology emerges automatically from the physics of the electrospinning process rather than requiring precise external control, resolving the contradiction between high surface area and manufacturing precision requirements.
3Reliability
If functional actives are embedded in fibers, then sanitizing and disinfecting properties are improved, but fiber stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds functional actives within the porous polymer matrix of electrospun fibers. The porous structure provides high surface area for active release while the polymer matrix provides stability and controlled release kinetics. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the functional actives to be stabilized within the fiber structure while still maintaining their sanitizing and disinfecting properties through controlled release.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent distributes functional actives throughout the fiber matrix rather than concentrating them in specific locations. This uniform distribution ensures that sanitizing and disinfecting properties are maintained throughout the fiber while the polymer matrix provides stable encapsulation. The local polymer environment stabilizes the functional actives while allowing gradual release when needed.
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 fibers provide improved cleaning efficacy with controlled release of functional actives, maintaining integrity and delivering effective sanitization and disinfection without dilution, suitable for diverse cleaning applications.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the polymer solution to an electric field to form nanofibers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention comprises a method of forming functionally active fibers and substrates comprising functionally active fibers. The method includes forming a mixture of at least one poly vinyl polymer and at least one bleaching active. The mixture is then injected at a controlled flow rate into an electric field to cause the mixture to at least partially form fine fibers that have an average diameter of less than about 1000 nanometers.