Friable Microcapsules for Textile Surface Adherence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for maintaining beneficial microflora on surfaces, such as textiles, require frequent re-treatment and may lead to resistance issues with chemical antimicrobials, and existing encapsulation techniques do not effectively provide extended release of microorganisms without altering the surface texture.
Innovation Solution
The use of friable microcapsules with a polymer shell containing beneficial microorganisms, designed to rupture under external pressure or shear forces during use, ensuring prolonged release and adherence to surfaces without the need for additional adhesives, utilizing aminoplast polymers and reactive functional groups for bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beneficial bacteria are deposited onto surfaces from cleaning solutions, then pathogenic bacteria are replaced and a stable microflora is established, but frequent re-treatment is required to maintain the beneficial microflora
Solution Approach 1:
The microorganisms are encapsulated in advance with a coating that provides controlled release over time. The capsule shell is designed to degrade gradually, releasing microorganisms continuously without requiring frequent re-application, thus performing the maintenance action in advance and automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The encapsulated microorganisms provide self-sustaining release mechanisms where the capsule structure itself controls the release rate through degradation or environmental triggers. The system serves itself by automatically releasing microorganisms as the capsule degrades, eliminating the need for external intervention or frequent re-treatment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical antibiotics and disinfectants are used to control pathogenic bacteria, then organism count is reduced, but resistance to chemical agents develops over time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using harmful chemical agents that create resistance, the invention employs beneficial microorganisms that naturally compete with and displace pathogenic bacteria through biological mechanisms such as resource competition and production of bacteriocins. This converts the approach from harmful chemical control to beneficial biological control, eliminating resistance development while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The encapsulation coating acts as an intermediary that protects the beneficial microorganisms during storage and application, then gradually releases them to establish a stable microflora. The coating mediates between the need for microorganism protection and the need for controlled release, enabling long-term effectiveness without chemical resistance issues.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If microorganisms are encapsulated to increase viability and provide extended release, then re-treatment frequency is reduced, but the texture of fabric surfaces may be altered
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule shells are designed as thin, flexible coatings that conform to fabric surfaces without creating significant texture changes. The shell material and thickness are optimized to provide sufficient protection and controlled release while remaining imperceptible to touch, thus extending release duration without altering fabric hand or drape.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule properties such as size, shell thickness, and material composition are carefully controlled within specific ranges to achieve the desired balance between extended release and minimal texture impact. By adjusting these parameters, the system provides prolonged microorganism release while maintaining fabric surface characteristics close to the original untreated state.
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
This approach maintains a stable beneficial microflora on surfaces for extended periods, reducing the frequency of re-treatment and minimizing surface texture alterations, while effectively preventing pathogenic colonization and odor issues.
Implementation Method 1
the microcapsules adapted for delivery of a liquid onto said textile by rupture under the action of direct external pressure and/or shear forces during conventional use of said textile
Implementation Method 2
the microcapsules adapted for delivery of a liquid onto said textile by rupture under the action of direct external pressure and/or shear forces during conventional use of said textile
Implementation Method 3
utilizing aminoplast polymers and reactive functional groups for bonding
Data Source
AI summary
Microcapsules for delivery of a liquid onto a surface such as a hard surface or a textile, such as mattress ticking, are disclosed. The microcapsules have a shell with an outer face and an inner face, the inner face encapsulating the liquid, and the liquid contains a microorganism such as a beneficial microorganism in a dormant state. The outer face of the microcapsules may comprise reactive functional groups whereby the outer face is chemically bondable, for instance covalently bondable to said surface. The microcapsules provide a beneficial microflora on said surface by rupture of the capsules deposited onto said surface to release the microorganism onto said surface. This may reduce or obviate the need for chemical antimicrobial agents to clean said surface. For surfaces which are fabrics or textiles, rupture and release may occur during use of the fabric or textile.