Hydroxyl Polymer Fiber Structure With High Pore Volume for Wet Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydroxyl polymer fiber fibrous structures tend to collapse when exposed to liquids, such as water, due to a decrease in caliper in the z-direction, which is not desirable for applications requiring stability in wet conditions.
Innovation Solution
Development of hydroxyl polymer fiber fibrous structures with a total pore volume of greater than 20 μm to 500 μm, incorporating non-naturally occurring hydroxyl polymer fibers and solid additives, which maintain or increase their height when subjected to a liquid, and processes for making these structures by combining fibers and additives in specific configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydroxyl polymer fiber fibrous structures are used, then they are easy to manufacture, but they collapse when subjected to liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines hydroxyl polymer fibers with hydrophilic particles to create a composite fibrous structure. This composite approach allows the structure to maintain structural stability in liquid while retaining manufacturability, as the hydrophilic particles modify the interaction with liquid without fundamentally changing the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a porous fibrous structure with controlled pore volume (greater than 3.75 mL/g) and specific pore size distribution (20-500 μm). This porous structure prevents collapse in liquid by maintaining void space that resists compression, while the porosity is achieved through standard web formation processes
2Reliability
If the fibrous structure has high pore volume to prevent collapse, then it maintains stability in liquid, but it requires specific pore volume distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for pore volume (greater than 3.75 mL/g) and pore size distribution (20-500 μm) to achieve collapse resistance. These parameter changes are controlled through the selection of fiber properties, bonding methods, and hydrophilic particle characteristics during manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the pore volume and pore size distribution are measured and used to adjust manufacturing parameters. This ensures consistent production of fibrous structures with the required pore characteristics for collapse resistance
3Reliability
If solid additives are incorporated to enhance stability, then the fibrous structure resists collapse, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydrophilic particles as intermediary elements between the hydroxyl polymer fibers and the liquid environment. These particles modify the liquid-fiber interaction to prevent collapse, adding functional complexity without requiring fundamental changes to the fibrous structure itself
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophilic particles are distributed throughout the fibrous structure to provide localized modification of liquid interaction. This local quality enhancement allows the structure to resist collapse at critical points without requiring complete structural redesign
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 resulting fibrous structures exhibit enhanced stability and maintain or increase their height when exposed to liquids, preventing collapse and improving performance in wet environments.
Implementation Method 1
the fibrous structure exhibits a total pore volume of pores in the range of greater than 20 μm to 500 μm of greater than 3.75 mm3/mg dry fibrous structure mass
Data Source
AI summary
Hydroxyl polymer fiber fibrous structures and processes for making same are provided. More particularly, hydroxyl polymer fiber fibrous structures comprising a non-naturally occurring hydroxyl polymer fiber wherein the fibrous structure exhibits a total pore volume of pores in the range of greater than 20 μm to 500 μm of greater than 3.75 mm3/mg of dry fibrous structure mass, and/or fibrous structures comprising a hydroxyl polymer fiber and a solid additive are provided.