Fiber orientation material and method for manufacturing same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fiber-oriented materials produced by electrospinning have low tensile strength in all directions due to random fiber deposition, and mechanical alignment only increases strength in one direction, limiting their multi-directional applications.

Innovation Solution

A method involving electrospinning followed by a close-adhesion process to align and fuse fibers in multiple directions, creating regions with oriented fibers in different directions, thereby enhancing tensile strength across various angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If fibers are deposited randomly using electrospinning, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the tensile strength is low in all directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of deposition processVSAvoidtensile strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the fiber deposition process into multiple stages with different electrode configurations. First, fibers are deposited with initial electrode arrangement; then electrodes are repositioned and fibers are deposited again in a different orientation. This segmentation allows simple electrospinning to produce multi-directional fiber alignment, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and tensile strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic repositioning of electrodes during the deposition process. The electrode arrangement is changed periodically (first arrangement, then second arrangement) to create fibers oriented in different directions. This periodic action transforms simple random deposition into a controlled multi-directional alignment process, improving tensile strength while maintaining electrospinning simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Strength

If fibers are mechanically pulled in one direction to align them, then the tensile strength increases in that direction, but the tensile strength in other directions remains low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensile strength in fiber directionVSAvoidmulti-directional strength
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fiber alignment process into multiple independent deposition steps with different electrode orientations. Instead of mechanically pulling fibers in a single direction, the process creates separate fiber layers oriented in different directions through controlled electrode repositioning. This segmentation enables multi-directional strength while avoiding the limitation of single-direction mechanical alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional mechanical pulling to multi-dimensional electrode repositioning. By changing the electrode arrangement in different spatial dimensions and orientations, the process creates fiber networks with alignment in multiple directions simultaneously. This dimensional approach resolves the contradiction between directional strength and multi-directional adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If only single-direction fiber alignment is implemented, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the material cannot meet requirements for multi-directional mechanical strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplexity of alignment processVSAvoidmulti-directional mechanical performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic electrode repositioning during the deposition process to achieve multi-directional fiber alignment. The electrode arrangement is changed periodically between different configurations, creating fibers oriented in different directions. This periodic action increases reliability for multi-directional mechanical performance while keeping the overall process complexity manageable through systematic repetition of electrospinning steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters of the electrospinning process, specifically the electrode arrangement and configuration, to control fiber orientation. By adjusting these parameters between different deposition stages, the process creates multi-directional fiber alignment. This parameter change approach achieves reliable multi-directional strength without requiring complex mechanical alignment equipment, resolving the contradiction between process simplicity and material reliability.

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 method significantly increases tensile strength in multiple directions, making the material suitable for industrial and medical applications requiring mechanical strength, such as three-dimensional tissue culture.

Implementation Method 1

a fine fiber is formed by electrospinning and a deposited body is made by depositing the fiber that is formed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrospinning: Electrohydrodynamics

Implementation Method 2

a close-adhesion process is performed on the deposited body, thereby aligning the fibers and fusing the fibers to each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectClose-adhesion:

Data Source

PatentEP3581692B1Fiber orientation material and method for manufacturing same
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP3581692B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3581692B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3581692B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

For a fiber-oriented material according to an embodiment, a fiber that is included in the fiber-oriented material is in a closely-adhered state, and a tensile strength has maxima in two or more tensile directions at angles in a range not less than 0° but less than 180° between the tensile directions and a line passing through a center of the fiber-oriented material.