Fast-Wetting Coform Fibrous Structures with Polymer Chain Disruption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Coform fibrous structures, used in absorbent products like paper towels, exhibit hydrophobicity due to thermoplastic filaments, leading to temporary hydrophilicity that is not durable and requires impractical elevated heat and humidity for hydrophilic modifiers to bloom, resulting in inadequate water absorption performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a polymer chain disrupter, such as Vistamaxx, into thermoplastic filaments of coform fibrous structures, along with a hydrophilic modifier, allows for immediate and durable hydrophilicity without the need for elevated heat and humidity, by disrupting the polymer matrix to facilitate modifier migration to the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surface hydrophilic modifiers are applied to coform fibrous structures, then immediate hydrophilicity is achieved, but the hydrophilicity is not durable and washes off after minimal water exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophilic modifier is incorporated into the polymer melt composition before the thermoplastic filaments are formed, so that the modifier is already present within the filament structure during manufacturing. This preliminary incorporation ensures that the modifier will bloom to the surface over time without requiring subsequent surface treatment steps, and provides durable hydrophilicity that persists through washing and use.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer matrix acts as an intermediary vehicle that transports the hydrophilic modifier from the interior of the filament to the surface. The modifier is embedded within the polymer melt during filament formation, and the polymer structure facilitates controlled migration (bloom) of the modifier to the filament surface, where it provides the desired hydrophilic properties in a durable manner.
2Reliability
If hydrophilic modifiers are included in the polymer melt composition, then durable hydrophilicity is achieved, but immediate hydrophilicity is not exhibited without elevated heat and humidity treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophilic modifier is incorporated into the polymer melt composition before the thermoplastic filaments are formed, so that the modifier is already present within the filament structure during manufacturing. This preliminary incorporation ensures that the modifier will bloom to the surface over time without requiring subsequent surface treatment steps, and provides durable hydrophilicity that persists through washing and use.
Solution Approach 2:
The coform fibrous structure performs self-service by automatically blooming the hydrophilic modifier from the interior of the filaments to the surface over time, without requiring external intervention such as elevated heat and humidity treatment or additional surface processing steps. The structure itself facilitates the migration and distribution of the modifier to achieve the desired hydrophilic properties.
3Strength
If coform fibrous structures are made with thermoplastic filaments, then structural integrity is improved, but hydrophilicity is reduced due to hydrophobic nature of thermoplastic filaments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite material system by incorporating a hydrophilic modifier into the thermoplastic polymer melt composition. This results in thermoplastic filaments that maintain the structural integrity of the thermoplastic material while simultaneously acquiring hydrophilic properties from the modifier. The composite filament structure combines the mechanical strength of thermoplastic polymers with the water-attracting properties of hydrophilic modifiers, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and water absorption 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 coform fibrous structures achieve immediate and durable hydrophilicity, ensuring effective water absorption within 30 days or less without additional processing, enhancing the performance of absorbent articles like paper towels.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a polymer chain disrupter, such as Vistamaxx, into thermoplastic filaments of coform fibrous structures, along with a hydrophilic modifier, allows for immediate and durable hydrophilicity without the need for elevated heat and humidity, by disrupting the polymer matrix to facilitate modifier migration to the surface
Implementation Method 2
The ability of absorbent products, for example sanitary tissue products such as paper towels to absorb water is a critical feature for consumers of absorbent products
Data Source
AI summary
Fast-wetting (hydrophilic) coform fibrous structures, more particularly fast-wetting composite fibrous structures, for example dry fast-wetting composite fibrous structures, employing a wet-laid fibrous structure such as a paper web, and a coform fibrous structure, multi-ply fibrous structures, for example multi-ply sanitary tissue products such as multi-ply absorbent products for example multi-ply paper towel products, employing one or more fast-wetting composite fibrous structures, and methods for making same.