Macroalgae Fiber Tissue Webs for Softness and Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tissue products face a challenge in balancing softness and durability, as increasing one property often adversely affects the other, and there is a need for alternative fibers that can enhance strength without compromising softness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating macroalgae fibers, particularly in the non-fabric contacting layer of a multi-layered tissue web, in modest amounts such as less than 5% by weight, to improve tensile strength without significantly increasing stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fiber length is reduced to increase softness, then surface softness is improved, but tensile strength and durability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a multi-layered tissue web structure where different layers have different fiber compositions. The inner layers contain shorter hardwood fibers for softness, while the outer layers contain longer softwood fibers for strength. This allows each layer to optimize for its specific function - the inner layers provide surface softness while the outer layers provide tensile strength and durability.
2Strength
If long fibers are used to increase tensile strength, then durability is improved, but surface softness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tissue web into multiple layers with different fiber compositions. The outer layers are made with long softwood fibers to provide high tensile strength and durability, while the inner layers use shorter hardwood fibers for softness. This segmentation allows the product to achieve both high strength and softness by distributing different fiber types to different functional zones within the product structure.
3Ease of operation
If hardwood fibers are used to increase softness, then surface softness is improved, but tensile strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining two different types of wood fibers - hardwood fibers and softwood fibers - in a multi-layered structure. Each fiber type contributes its advantageous properties: hardwood fibers provide softness and comfort, while softwood fibers provide tensile strength and durability. The composite structure allows the final product to exhibit both softness and high strength simultaneously.
4Strength
If softwood fibers are used to increase tensile strength, then durability is improved, but surface softness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by strategically placing long softwood fibers in the outer layers of the tissue web where tensile strength is most needed, while using shorter hardwood fibers in the inner layers where softness is the primary requirement. This localized fiber assignment ensures that each region of the product optimizes for its specific function - the outer layers provide structural strength while the inner layers provide surface comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides tissue webs, and products incorporating the same, where the webs comprise macroalgae fibers. More specifically the disclosure provides soft and durable tissue webs comprising at least about 1 percent macroalgae fiber by weight of the web. In the tissue webs of the present disclosure, macroalgae fibers may preferably replace high average fiber length wood fibers, which increase the strength and durability of the web without negatively affecting stiffness.