Modified collagen fiber, and preparation method and application

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Waterborne resins have poor water vapor permeability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability, and are prone to degradation and yellowing when exposed to light, limiting their applications, and existing methods struggle to simultaneously improve these properties in composite materials.

Innovation Solution

A modified collagen fiber is prepared by reacting collagen fibers with plant tannin in a pH-controlled environment, which enhances mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, aging resistance, and flame resistance through multi-point hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic bonding, without the need for a cross-linking agent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If fillers such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, montmorillonite, kaolin, nano-silicon dioxide, cellulose, lignin, and dopamine are added to waterborne resins to improve mechanical properties and thermal stability, then mechanical strength and thermal stability are improved, but water vapor permeability deteriorates and development cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical propertiesVSAvoidwater vapor permeability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses collagen fiber as a natural filler in waterborne resin composite materials. Collagen fiber is a biodegradable natural polymer that provides both mechanical reinforcement and maintains water vapor permeability due to its fibrous structure and hydrophilic properties, resolving the contradiction between strength improvement and water vapor transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the surface properties of collagen fiber through treatment with plant tannin and other methods to optimize its compatibility with waterborne resin, thereby improving mechanical properties while preserving the natural water vapor permeability characteristics of the fiber structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If fillers are added to improve mechanical properties and thermal stability, then strength and thermal stability are improved, but aging resistance deteriorates due to yellowing and degradation when exposed to light

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical propertiesVSAvoidaging resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs natural collagen fiber from leather shavings as a temporary reinforcement that provides mechanical strength during service but is biodegradable and environmentally friendly, avoiding the long-term degradation and yellowing issues associated with synthetic fillers like carbon nanotubes and graphene.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies surface treatment to collagen fiber using plant tannin to enhance its UV resistance and aging properties, modifying the surface parameters to prevent yellowing and degradation while maintaining the natural fiber's mechanical reinforcement capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If conventional fillers are used to improve mechanical properties, then strength is improved, but flame resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical propertiesVSAvoidflame resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses natural collagen fiber as a filler that inherently provides flame resistance due to its protein-based composition, which charring rather than melting or burning like synthetic polymers, while still delivering mechanical reinforcement to the waterborne resin composite.

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

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 modified collagen fiber composite material exhibits significantly improved tensile strength, water vapor permeability, aging resistance, and flame resistance, extending the service life of waterborne resin-based materials and enhancing their performance in outdoor applications.

Implementation Method 1

the phenolic hydroxyl in the tannin structure undergoes multi-point hydrogen bonding with a peptide chain, hydroxyl, amino, and carboxyl in the collagen fiber structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogen bonding:

Implementation Method 2

the plant tannin first approaches the collagen fiber by hydrophobic bonding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic bonding:

Implementation Method 3

the phenolic hydroxyl can also capture free radicals, which can help improve the aging resistance of a material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFree radical capture:

Data Source

PatentUS11674007B2Modified collagen fiber, and preparation method and application
Publication Date: 2023.06.13 SICHUAN UNIV

AI summary

A modified collagen fiber preparation method and application are provided. The modified collagen fiber is prepared by modifying a collagen fiber with a plant tannin; and a method of the preparation includes: mixing the plant tannin with the collagen fiber in a liquid environment with a pH of 5 to 8 to allow a reaction, and washing and drying a product. In the present disclosure, a plant tannin rich in phenolic hydroxyl can be combined with a collagen fiber in various ways such as multi-point hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic bonding, such that the plant tannin structure is introduced into a natural multi-layer micro/nano-structure of the collagen fiber; and due to a large number of phenolic hydroxyl structures in the plant tannin, the collagen fiber introduced with the plant tannin structure shows improved compatibility with a waterborne resin, and can produce strong hydrogen bonding with polar groups in the waterborne resin.