Fibrous Structures with Regionally Varied Solid Additive Concentration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fibrous structures comprising filaments and solid additives, such as fibers, lack regions with different average weight % levels of solid additives, limiting their overall performance and regional performance in delivering specific properties like strength, burst, flexibility, and visual aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A fibrous structure comprising a plurality of filaments and solid additives with two or more regions having different average weight % levels of solid additives, where the solid additives are distributed unevenly to create discrete zones within a continuous network region, allowing for enhanced performance by optimizing the concentration of additives in specific areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If solid additives are uniformly distributed throughout the fibrous structure, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the overall performance and regional performance are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct regions within the fibrous structure with different solid additive concentrations. Specifically, it forms a continuous network region with a first average weight percent of solid additives and discrete zones with a second average weight percent of solid additives, where the two percentages are different. This allows different regions to optimize for different properties (e.g., strength versus absorbency) rather than using a uniform composition throughout the entire structure.
2Quantity of substance
If solid additives are increased in concentration, then absorbency and visual aesthetics are enhanced, but strength and bond density may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fibrous structure into functionally distinct regions: a continuous network region and discrete zones separated by voids. The continuous network region maintains higher filament concentration for strength and bond density, while the discrete zones concentrate solid additives for enhanced absorbency and visual aesthetics. This spatial segmentation allows both high additive concentration and high strength to coexist in different parts of the same structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
Fibrous structures containing solid additives, and more particularly, fibrous structures containing two or more regions that comprise different average weight % levels of solid additives and methods for making same are provided.