Fiber Treatment Ester Composition for Stable High-Speed Spinning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fiber treatment agents fail to provide a lubricating component with a low melting point, good heat resistance, and stable emulsion properties, leading to issues such as fiber breakage and reduced lubricating performance during high-speed spinning.

Innovation Solution

An ester compound represented by the formula R1-O-((EO)l-(PO)m)-(EO)n-CO-R2, where R1 is a hydrocarbon group and R2 is an alkyl or alkenyl group, is used as a fiber treatment agent, with specific molecular structure and reaction steps to achieve a low melting point and improved emulsion stability, allowing for uniform coating and easy handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional lubricating components (paraffin hydrocarbons, oleyl oleate, etc.) are used, then lubricating performance is provided, but heat resistance is poor causing decomposition and fuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat resistanceVSAvoiddecomposition and fuming
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the lubricating component by using ester compounds with specific molecular weight ranges (500-2000) and specific structural formulas, transforming the molecular characteristics to achieve both low melting point and high heat resistance simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite molecular structure combining ester groups with specific hydrocarbon chains and alkylene oxide adducts, integrating multiple functional groups into one molecule to achieve contradictory properties of low melting point and high heat resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If emulsifying components (surfactants) are added to achieve uniform coating, then emulsion stability is improved, but fiber breakage occurs due to hydrolytic thickening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemulsion stabilityVSAvoidfiber strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the separate emulsifying component (surfactant) from the formulation, achieving emulsion stability through the intrinsic properties of the ester compound itself, thereby avoiding the harmful hydrolytic thickening effect on fibers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The ester compound serves dual functions as both lubricating component and emulsifying agent, with its molecular structure providing both lubrication and emulsion stability without requiring additional surfactants that would harm fiber strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If lubricating components with high melting point are used, then heat resistance is improved, but lubricating performance and handling property deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat resistanceVSAvoidhandling property
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent precisely controls the melting point parameter of the lubricating component by selecting ester compounds with specific molecular weights (500-2000) and structures, achieving optimal balance between heat resistance and handling properties at ambient temperature

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ester compound provides a fiber treatment agent with enhanced lubricating performance, heat resistance, and emulsion stability, facilitating the fiber production process by maintaining a liquid state at ambient temperature and preventing separation during scouring and washing.

Implementation Method 1

an aqueous fiber treatment agent is required to have enough stability in an emulsion state for uniform attachment of a lubricating component on fibers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

a fiber treatment agent containing a lubricating component having a high melting point reduces lubricating performance, stability, and/or handling property. There is thus a demand for a fiber treatment agent containing a lubricating component having a low melting point and being in the liquid state at an ambient temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP2653606B1Fiber-treating agent
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 KAO CORP

AI summary

The present invention discloses a fiber treatment agent containing an ester compound represented by the formula (1):         R1-O-((EO)l-(PO)m)-(EO)n-CO-R2     (1) wherein, R1 represents a hydrocarbon group containing 8 to 24 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkyl, alkenyl or cycloalkyl group having 7 to 23 carbon atoms; EO represents an ethyleneoxy group; PO represents a propyleneoxy group; l and n each represent an average reacted mole number of ethyleneoxy groups, 1 ranging from 0 to 15 and n ranging from 1 to 20; m represents an average reacted mole number of propyleneoxy groups, ranging from 0.5 to 20; and ((EO)l-(PO)m) and (EO)n are arranged in block in this order, while (EO)l and (PO)m in ((EO)l-(PO)m) may be arranged at random or in block.