Lyocell Cellulose Molding With Retained Foreign Substances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing cellulose products, such as viscose and lyocell fibers, face challenges in efficiently and flexibly incorporating foreign substances to provide additional functionalities, often requiring complex and resource-intensive processes to minimize their presence.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves partially retaining specific foreign substances in the cellulose molded body during production, adjusting their concentration to achieve desired functions, and omitting certain removal steps like bleaching, allowing for a simpler and more sustainable manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If foreign substances are completely removed from the starting material, then the purity of the cellulose product is improved, but additional functions provided by foreign substances are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of cellulose productVSAvoidadditional functions of foreign substances
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selectively retaining specific foreign substances (such as elastane, dyes, or other functional additives) while removing others. This allows different regions or components of the final product to have different properties - the cellulose base provides structural integrity while retained foreign substances provide localized functions like elasticity, color, or special performance characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite materials by intentionally combining cellulose with selected foreign substances in the starting material. The resulting regenerated cellulose product is not a pure substance but a composite where the foreign substances are integrated into the matrix, providing synergistic effects that combine the benefits of both cellulose and the retained additives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If complex removal processes are used to eliminate foreign substances, then the purity of the cellulose product is improved, but the complexity and resource consumption of the manufacturing process increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of cellulose productVSAvoidcomplexity of manufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by not removing foreign substances but rather selectively retaining them. Instead of applying complex removal processes to eliminate all non-cellulose components, the method embraces the presence of certain foreign substances, turning a potential problem (contamination) into a solution (functional enhancement).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies extraction in reverse - rather than extracting foreign substances from the starting material, it extracts only the unwanted portions while deliberately keeping the functional foreign substances. This selective extraction approach simplifies the process by avoiding the need for multiple complex removal steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If foreign substances are retained in the cellulose product, then additional functions are provided, but the purity of the cellulose product decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadditional functions of foreign substancesVSAvoidpurity of cellulose product
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the concentration and type of foreign substances retained in the starting material. By adjusting these parameters, the final product achieves an optimal balance between purity and functionality, where the foreign substances are present in amounts sufficient to provide desired functions but not so high as to compromise the cellulose product quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If resource-intensive removal processes are applied, then the purity of the cellulose product is improved, but resource consumption and waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of cellulose productVSAvoidresource consumption and waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts what is traditionally viewed as harmful (foreign substances as contaminants) into beneficial components. By retaining foreign substances that provide functional advantages, the process eliminates the need for resource-intensive removal operations, thereby reducing both resource consumption and waste generation while maintaining or enhancing product quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Enables the production of cellulose products with enhanced functionalities, such as elasticity, mechanical robustness, and color retention, while reducing resource consumption and waste, by intentionally incorporating foreign substances like elastane and dyes, thereby expanding the range of recyclable starting materials.

Implementation Method 1

a solvent for dissolving at least a part of the cellulose of the starting material in the solvent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

extruding the spinning mass to the formed body and subsequent precipitation in a spinning bath

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentEP3511447B1Functionalization of foreign substances in lyocell method
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 LENZING AG
  • EP3511447B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3511447B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3511447B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A process for producing a regenerated cellulosic molded body (102), wherein the process comprises feeding (52) a starting material (110) comprising cellulose and at least one foreign substance, transferring at least a part of the starting material (110) with at least a part of the at least one foreign substance into a spinning mass which additionally contains a solvent (116) for dissolving (54) at least a part of the cellulose of the starting material (110) in the solvent (116), and extruding (70) the spinning mass to form the molded body (102) and subsequent precipitation (56) in a spinning bath (191), whereby the molded body (102) is obtained, wherein the molded body (102) comprises cellulose and at least a part of the at least one foreign substance.