Electrostatic Anti-Pathogenic Fabric to Reduce Disposable Filter Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective fabrics against pathogens are either disposable and wasteful or complex and expensive, lacking a reusable solution that can effectively remove contaminants from the environment while preventing their transmission to the user.
Innovation Solution
A novel anti-pathogenic fabric with interwoven hemp and synthetic fibers, coated with a photocatalytic layer and copper naphthenate particles, creates an electric field to charge and capture pathogens, preventing them from reaching the wearer, and can be integrated into wearable devices like face masks for reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable protective fabrics are used to filter pathogens, then pathogen protection is provided, but material waste increases and reuse is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by treating the fabric with a corona discharge process that imparts a permanent electrostatic charge to the fibers. This changes the electrical parameter of the fabric, enabling it to actively attract and capture charged pathogen particles. The fabric transitions from a passive barrier to an active capture system, allowing reuse while maintaining pathogen protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical filtration system (physical blocking of particles through fabric layers) with an electrostatic capture system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical resistance and particle size filtration, the fabric uses electrostatic forces to attract and hold charged pathogen particles, enhancing protection while allowing the fabric to be reused after washing.
2Loss of substance
If reusable cloth fabrics are used, then material waste is reduced, but additional disposable filter material is required to be effective against particle transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the fabric universally functional by integrating multiple capabilities into a single material layer. The corona-treated fabric simultaneously provides mechanical filtration, electrostatic pathogen capture, and washability/reusability. This eliminates the need for separate disposable filter layers, as the treated fabric itself performs all protective functions across multiple uses.
3Reliability
If ultraviolet lights or irradiation devices are used to impart charge on mesh, then pathogen removal is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the charging function from complex external UV irradiation devices and integrates it directly into the fabric itself through corona treatment. The fabric becomes self-charged during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate UV lighting systems, power supplies, and control mechanisms. This simplifies the overall device to just the treated fabric, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining pathogen removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The corona-treated fabric becomes self-service by maintaining its electrostatic charge permanently through the treatment process. The fabric automatically generates and maintains the electric field needed for pathogen capture without requiring external power sources, UV devices, or active components. The fabric serves itself by providing continuous pathogen removal functionality through its inherent electrostatic properties.
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 fabric effectively captures and deactivates pathogens, reducing waste and manufacturing complexity, while being safe and durable for multiple uses, demonstrating enhanced effectiveness in preventing respiratory tract contamination.
Implementation Method 1
The copper naphthenate particles and the photocatalytic layer are configured to impart an electrical charge onto the pathogenic particles translating in the direction toward the surrounding environment-facing side of the wearable device
Implementation Method 2
The second fiber layer and the first fiber layer are configured to capture the electrically charged pathogenic particles to prevent the electrically charged pathogenic particles from traversing beyond the first fiber layer
Data Source
AI summary
An active force electric field anti-pathogenic fabric is used to remove pathogens from an environment surrounding the fabric. The fabric can be woven into daily clothing items, personal protective equipment, or other clothing items typically worn by a user. The fabric includes a current-carrying mesh that is coated with active materials used to remove pathogens from the air. As such, the fabric operates as an anti-pathogenic material that is used to remove harmful particles from an area surrounding a user. Accordingly, microorganisms, smoke particles, industrial pollutants, odor molecules, allergens are structurally disassociated into harmless protein fragments and natural molecules when encountering the purifying agents in the fabric.