Microfilament Sheet for Surface-Sensitive Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technical packaging materials fail to provide adequate protection against mechanical stress and contamination for surface-sensitive components during transportation, leading to damage and high costs, while existing solutions like adhesive films are impractical for complex or heavy components, and nonwovens suffer from limited reuse and recyclability.

Innovation Solution

A microfilament sheet with a surface layer of melt-spun composite filaments having a pie or hollow-pie structure, split and solidified using fluid jets, offering high resistance to abrasion and pilling, and potentially integrated into a multi-layer material for enhanced durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive film is applied to protect surfaces, then protection against damage is improved, but time consumption increases and the film is unsuitable for heavy components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against damageVSAvoidtime consumption for applying and removing film
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable protective covering made from soft, flexible material that is applied to components and then discarded after use. This eliminates the time-consuming process of applying and removing adhesive films, as the covering is simply placed on the component and thrown away after providing protection during transport and handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If adhesive film is used for protection, then surface damage risk is reduced, but the film is punctured by heavy components striking obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against damageVSAvoidfilm strength against puncture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible protective covering made from soft, puncture-resistant material that can accommodate heavy components without puncturing. The material's flexibility and thickness provide both protection and durability, unlike thin adhesive films that are easily punctured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Strength

If coarse-fibered fabrics are used for packaging, then protection against mechanical stress is improved, but broken fibers cause paint defects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against mechanical stressVSAvoidpaint defects from broken fibers
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fiber diameter parameter by using ultrafine fibers (microfilament) instead of coarse fibers. This parameter change allows the material to provide mechanical protection while preventing fiber breakage that would cause paint defects, as the ultrafine fibers are too small to create visible defects on painted surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If PVC coating is applied to fabric, then ease of cleaning is improved, but paint solvents cannot evaporate completely causing circular stains

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidcircular stains from trapped solvents
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a breathable protective covering made from flexible material with porous structure that allows paint solvents to evaporate through it. This eliminates the problem of trapped solvents causing circular stains, while the material remains easy to clean and maintain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

5Object-affected harmful factors

If polyolefin-based nonwovens are used, then scratch and soiling protection is improved, but mechanical strength and abrasion resistance are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescratch and soiling protectionVSAvoidmechanical strength and abrasion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite protective covering combining ultrafine fibers with binding agents to create a material that provides both scratch and soiling protection plus enhanced mechanical strength and abrasion resistance. The composite structure allows the material to be both protective and durable for repeated use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

6Object-affected harmful factors

If microfilament nonwovens with medium titer are used, then gentleness on scratch-sensitive surfaces is improved, but resistance to pilling and abrasion is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegentleness on scratch-sensitive surfacesVSAvoidresistance to pilling and abrasion
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fiber titer parameter by using ultrafine fibers (lower than medium titer) that are even finer and softer on scratch-sensitive surfaces. Despite the finer diameter, the binding agent and composite structure provide enhanced resistance to pilling and abrasion, creating a material that is both gentle and durable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 microfilament sheet provides excellent protection against surface stress and contamination, enabling repeated use and reducing material waste, with improved pilling and abrasion resistance, making it suitable for surface-sensitive objects like painted components and food items.

Implementation Method 1

split and solidified by means of fluid jets, in particular water jets, at least partially into elementary filaments

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid jet splitting:

Data Source

PatentEP3287555B1Technical packaging material
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 CARL FREUDENBERG KG

AI summary

The invention relates to the use of a microfilament sheet comprising at least one layer A, which includes a fiber component in the form of microfilaments laid down as a nonwoven and solidified by fluid jets, with an average titer of less than 0.15 dtex, in the form of melt-spun microfilaments laid down as a nonwoven, and/or in the form of composite filaments that are at least partially split and solidified by fluid jet to form elementary filaments with an average titer of less than 0.15 dtex, as a technical packaging material. The invention further relates to a microfilament composite sheet comprising such a microfilament sheet, and to a method for its production.