Graded Cellulose Fibrous Structures for Bulk and Absorbency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers desire improved bulk, absorbency, and softness in sanitary tissue products like paper towels without negatively impacting stiffness, flexibility, or opacity, while existing technologies compromise these properties to achieve greater bulk or absorbency.
Innovation Solution
Articles comprising fibrous structures with varying cellulose content throughout their thickness, ranging from 0% to 100% by weight, including mixtures of filaments and fibers, maintain bulk and absorbency without affecting softness and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cellulose content is increased to improve absorbency, then absorbency is improved, but softness and flexibility are negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient structure where the first portion (0-40% cellulose) provides softness and flexibility, the second portion (40-95% cellulose) provides intermediate properties, and the third portion (95-100% cellulose) provides maximum absorbency. This spatial variation in cellulose content allows each region to optimize for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between absorbency and softness/flexibility.
2Quantity of substance
If cellulose content is increased to improve absorbency, then absorbency is improved, but strength is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The gradient cellulose distribution places high-strength, low-cellulose material in the first portion (0-40%) that provides structural integrity, while concentrating high-cellulose content (95-100%) in the third portion that provides absorbency. This spatial separation allows the structure to maintain strength while achieving high absorbency.
3Volume of moving object
If bulk is increased to improve roll bulk and sheet bulk, then bulk is improved, but opacity is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality by concentrating high-cellulose content (95-100%) in the third portion which provides bulk while being positioned to minimize its impact on overall opacity. The first and second portions with lower cellulose content (0-40% and 40-95%) provide optical continuity, thereby maintaining opacity while achieving improved bulk through the gradient structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Articles, such as sanitary tissue products, including fibrous structures, and more particularly articles including fibrous structures having a plurality of fibrous elements wherein the article exhibits differential cellulose content throughout the thickness of the article and methods for making same are provided.