Leather Dyeing With Solid Particles for Low-Water Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating animal substrates, such as skins and leather, require large quantities of water, leading to excessive chemical usage and environmental pollution, with limited advances in efficiency and substrate properties over the past 75 years.
Innovation Solution
A method involving agitation of a moistened animal substrate with an aqueous treatment formulation and solid particulate material in a sealed apparatus, which reduces water usage and enhances mechanical action for deeper penetration and uniform treatment, using polymeric or non-polymeric particles with specific size and density ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If large quantities of water are used to treat animal substrates, then the substrate can be effectively cleaned and chemically modified, but excessive amounts of polluting effluents are produced and water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state and composition parameters of the treatment medium by replacing liquid water with solid polymeric particles. This fundamental parameter change eliminates the need for large volumes of water while maintaining effective treatment capabilities, directly reducing water consumption and polluting effluents
Solution Approach 2:
Polymeric particles serve as an intermediary medium between the treatment formulation and the animal substrate. These particles carry the chemical formulation and transfer it to the substrate surface through mechanical agitation, enabling effective treatment without requiring excessive water as a carrier
2Quantity of substance
If large volumes of water are used in treatment processes, then chemical modification can be performed effectively, but the amount of chemicals required increases commensurately
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the medium from liquid water to solid polymeric particles, the invention reduces the total volume of treatment formulation needed. This parameter change directly reduces chemical usage while maintaining effective treatment, thereby reducing environmental damage from chemical effluents
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric particles deliver chemicals locally to the substrate surface through direct contact and mechanical agitation. This localized delivery mechanism improves chemical efficiency and reduces the total amount of chemicals required compared to conventional water-based methods where chemicals are dispersed throughout large volumes of water
3Productivity
If only low levels of mechanical action are used to avoid damaging the animal substrate, then the substrate integrity is maintained, but long process times are necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The polymeric particles act as a gentle intermediary that transfers mechanical energy to the substrate without causing damage. The particles' soft, flexible nature allows them to agitate and promote penetration while protecting the substrate from mechanical damage, enabling longer process times without compromising integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic mechanical agitation through rotation and tumbling of the substrate with the polymeric particles. This dynamic action enhances penetration and treatment efficiency while the flexible polymeric particles adapt to substrate contours, providing gentle yet effective mechanical action that balances productivity and substrate protection
Data Source
Figure 1~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
The invention discloses a method for treating an animal substrate comprising: agitating the moistened animal substrate with an aqueous treatment formulation and a solid particulate material in a sealed apparatus, wherein the aqueous treatment formulation comprises at least one colourant. There is also disclosed an animal substrate obtained by the method and finished leather goods obtained by the method.