Embossed Nonwoven Sheet for Sterile Package Peel Performance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fibrous nonwoven sheet structures used in sterilized packages often experience fiber tear when opened, potentially contaminating the sterile environment, and lack superior peel performance, which is crucial in health-related settings.
Innovation Solution
A gas-permeable fibrous nonwoven sheet structure with a pre-bonded embossed impression pattern and a polymeric tie layer, which forms a sealed package with enhanced peel performance and low fiber tear, ensuring a clean and aseptic presentation without additional coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full surface bonded hard structure nonwoven sheet is used, then moisture vapor transmission rate and hydrostatic head values increase, but fiber tear occurs during peeling that may contaminate the sterile environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a point-bonded structure instead of full surface bonding. This concentrates the bonding function at specific points (bond spots) while leaving other areas as unbonded regions, thereby maintaining the necessary seal integrity while preserving fiber flexibility and reducing fiber tear during peeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonding surface is segmented into discrete bond spots rather than continuous full surface bonding. This segmentation allows the sheet to maintain structural integrity at bonding points while preserving fiber continuity and flexibility in unbonded areas, reducing the likelihood of fiber tear during package opening.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a point bonded soft structure nonwoven sheet is used, then fiber tear during peeling is reduced, but moisture vapor transmission rate and hydrostatic head values decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameters including bond spot size (0.5-5 mm diameter), bond spot density (10-1000 spots per square inch), and bonding strength to achieve the desired balance. By carefully controlling these parameters, the sheet maintains sufficient barrier performance while minimizing fiber tear through optimized point bonding characteristics.
3Strength
If the nonwoven sheet surface is smooth, then sealing to the package is effective, but peel performance is poor and fiber tear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet surface exhibits local quality variation with bonded regions providing seal strength and unbonded regions providing peelability. The bonded areas create strong adhesion to the package while unbonded areas allow clean peeling without fiber tear, optimizing both sealing and opening performance.
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 embossed nonwoven sheet structure provides improved seal strength and peel performance, reducing fiber tear by up to 73% and maintaining the sterility of the package contents during opening, even when compared to non-embossed materials.
Implementation Method 1
the enclosed interior environment being formed by sealing an area of contact between the first surface of the nonwoven sheet structure and the package structure, the sealed area of contact being formed by the polymeric tie layer
Implementation Method 2
the first surface of the nonwoven sheet structure is pre-bonded with an embossed impression pattern at least within the sealed area of contact
Implementation Method 3
The sterilizing gas is able to penetrate the package through the fibrous nonwoven sheets to sterilize the enclosed interior of the package
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
This invention relates to a package for providing an enclosed interior environment capable of being sterilized and a gas permeable fibrous nonwoven sheet structure useful in such structure, wherein the nonwoven sheet structure has at least one surface having a pre-sealed, embossed impression pattern; and a particle barrier penetration of below 10%, a Gurley Hill Porosity of 40 seconds or less, and a moisture vapor transport rate of 3500 g/m2/day or greater.