Fibrous Structure Balancing Softness Strength Absorbency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fibrous structures comprising three or more different fibrous elements face challenges in balancing consumer demands for simultaneous enhancements in softness, strength, and absorbency, as achieving greater softness often requires sacrificing strength and vice versa, and greater wet strength typically results in reduced absorbency.
Innovation Solution
A fibrous structure comprising a mixture of three or more different fibrous elements, including non-thermoplastic, biodegradable, and thermoplastic components, with specific ratios of length to diameter, designed to provide enhanced performance and properties such as increased strength and absorbency while maintaining softness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the fibrous structure is made softer to meet consumer demand for softness, then softness is improved, but strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining three or more different fibrous elements (cellulose fibers, rayon fibers, and spandex fibers) into a single nonwoven fabric structure. Each fiber type contributes different properties: cellulose provides bulk and softness, rayon enhances absorbency and softness, and spandex provides elasticity and strength. This composite approach allows the fabric to achieve superior softness while maintaining adequate strength through the synergistic combination of different material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating a heterogeneous distribution of different fiber types within the nonwoven fabric rather than using a uniform composition. The random arrangement of cellulose, rayon, and spandex fibers ensures that different regions of the fabric have varying local properties, with some areas providing softness and others providing strength, thereby achieving overall balance between these contradictory properties.
2Quantity of substance
If the fibrous structure is made more absorbent to meet consumer demand for absorbency, then absorbency is improved, but wet strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials to resolve the absorbency-wet strength contradiction by incorporating three fiber types with complementary properties. Cellulose fibers provide high absorbency due to their hydrophilic nature, while spandex fibers contribute wet strength and structural integrity. The rayon fibers add both absorbency and softness. This composite structure allows the fabric to absorb significant moisture while maintaining adequate wet strength through the reinforcing effect of spandex and the interlocking network of all three fiber types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the proportion and physical characteristics of each fiber type in the composite. By adjusting the ratio of cellulose, rayon, and spandex fibers, as well as controlling fiber length, diameter, and crimp parameters, the fabric achieves optimal balance between absorbency and wet strength. The specific parameter ranges specified in the patent enable tuning of the fabric properties to meet both contradictory requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Fibrous structures containing a mixture of three or more different fibrous elements (filaments and/or fibers) are provided.