Hydroentangled Moist Wipe Composition for Strength and Dispersibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flushable moist wipes often take too long to break down in sanitation systems, risking blockages and requiring either reduced in-use strength or costly materials to achieve timely dispersal.
Innovation Solution
A nonwoven tissue web composed of 10-30% regenerated fibers and 70-90% natural fibers, hydroentangled to achieve a geometric mean tensile strength of at least 250 grams per inch and rapid dispersibility, without the need for costly binders or nets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If known flushable moist wipes use thermoplastically bonded bi-component fibers to increase in-use strength, then the in-use strength is improved, but the dispersibility in sanitation systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the bonding mechanism from thermoplastic bonding to hydroentanglement, and adjusts the fiber composition parameters (70-90% natural fibers, 10-30% regenerated fibers) to achieve the desired balance between strength and dispersibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces thermoplastic bonding (thermal/chemical process) with hydroentanglement (mechanical water jet process) to bond fibers, eliminating the dispersibility issues caused by thermoplastic materials while maintaining adequate strength
2Strength
If known flushable moist wipes add triggerable salt-sensitive binder to increase in-use strength, then the in-use strength is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive natural fibers (70-90%) combined with hydroentanglement bonding to achieve adequate strength without requiring expensive specialty binders, making the product both cost-effective and environmentally friendly
Solution Approach 2:
The hydroentanglement process uses water jets to bond fibers during manufacturing, creating self-bonding structure without requiring additional chemical binders or salts, thereby reducing material costs
3Strength
If known flushable moist wipes incorporate high quantity of synthetic fibers to increase in-use strength, then the in-use strength is improved, but the dispersibility and cost deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite fiber structure combining natural fibers (70-90%) with regenerated fibers (10-30%), leveraging the biodegradability and dispersibility of natural fibers while using regenerated fibers to enhance strength properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the fiber composition parameters by using predominantly natural fibers instead of synthetic fibers, and controls the ratio of regenerated to natural fibers to optimize both strength and dispersibility
4Strength
If known flushable moist wipes use net structure to improve in-use strength, then the in-use strength is improved, but the dispersibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the net component entirely from the wipe structure, relying solely on hydroentangled fiber mat to provide both strength and dispersibility, eliminating the source of the problem
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 solution provides sufficient in-use strength for consumer needs, rapid dispersibility to prevent sanitation system issues, and cost-effectiveness, while avoiding the use of expensive synthetic fibers or binders.
Implementation Method 1
The regenerated fibers and the natural fibers are hydroentangled such that the web has a geometric mean tensile strength of at least 250 grams per inch
Data Source
AI summary
A dispersible moist wipe generally comprises a nonwoven tissue web having regenerated fibers in an amount of about 10 to about 30 percent by weight and natural fibers in an amount of about 70 to about 90 percent by weight. The regenerated fibers and the natural fibers are hydroentangled such that the web has a geometric mean tensile strength of at least 250 grams per inch and a slosh-box break-up time of less than 155 minutes.