Filaments comprising an active agent nonwoven webs and methods for making same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filaments and fibers typically have a higher content of filament-forming materials compared to active agents, which limits the release of active agents during intended use, and there is a need for filaments with a higher percentage of active agents than filament-forming materials to optimize delivery and compatibility with incompatible agents.
Innovation Solution
Developing filaments with less than 65% filament-forming materials and greater than 35% active agents by weight on a dry basis, allowing for the release of active agents when exposed to conditions of intended use, and using a spinning process with a filament-forming composition that includes polar solvents like water to achieve this composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If filaments contain higher content of filament-forming materials compared to active agents, then the filament structure is maintained, but the release of active agents during intended use is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by inverting the conventional composition ratio, formulating filaments with greater than 35% active agents and less than 65% filament-forming materials on a dry basis. This reverses the traditional parameter setting where filament-forming materials dominated the composition, enabling both high active agent content and maintained filament structure through optimized parameter selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by creating a novel formulation where active agents constitute the majority phase (>35% by weight) rather than being minor additives. This composite approach allows the active agent-rich formulation to maintain filament morphology while enabling enhanced release properties, effectively treating the active agent as a structural component rather than merely an additive.
2Productivity
If filaments contain higher percentage of active agents than filament-forming materials, then the delivery of active agents is optimized, but the compatibility with certain agents becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water-soluble polymers as intermediary substances that facilitate the incorporation and stabilization of incompatible active agents within the filament matrix. These polymers act as mediators that enable compatibility between otherwise incompatible components, allowing high concentrations of diverse active agents to be formulated together while maintaining filament structure and enabling controlled release.
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 filaments effectively release active agents when exposed to conditions of intended use, optimizing delivery and enabling the incorporation of normally incompatible agents, while maintaining a filament structure and minimizing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a spinning process with a filament-forming composition that includes polar solvents like water to achieve this composition
Implementation Method 2
one or more active agents are releasable from the filament when exposed to conditions of intended use
Data Source
AI summary
Filaments that contain a filament-forming material and an additive, nonwoven webs, and methods for making such filaments are provided.