Multi-Component Polymer Fibre Composition for Staged Biodegradation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biodegradable polymer fibres exhibit a poorly controllable relationship between their service life and degradation time, making it difficult to tailor their degradation behavior for specific end uses and compatibility with existing post-processing methods.

Innovation Solution

A multi-component polymer fibre composed of two components, where one component has an additive to enhance biodegradability and the other does not, or vice versa, allowing for controlled degradation by varying the additives and polymers used, with specific methods to determine biodegradability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If biodegradable additives are incorporated into polymer fibres, then biological degradability is improved, but control over the relationship between service life and degradation time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiological degradabilityVSAvoidcontrol over degradation timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fibre is divided into multiple components with different degradation characteristics. Component A contains biodegradable additives and degrades first, while component B is more resistant and maintains structural integrity longer, enabling staged degradation and precise control over service life versus degradation time relationship

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the fibre composite have different degradation rates. The component A regions with biodegradable additives provide localized degradation zones that occur at controlled rates, while component B regions maintain stability, allowing tailoring of overall degradation behavior to match specific service life requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If multiple spinnerets are charged simultaneously in a multiple spinning process, then productivity is improved, but uniformity of additive distribution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction speedVSAvoidadditive distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple spinnerets are combined into a single multiple spinning system that processes component A and component B simultaneously through separate extrusion channels. This merging approach maintains high productivity while ensuring uniform additive distribution by controlling the mixing and co-extrusion of components before fibre formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 fibre's degradation can be tailored for different environments and uses, ensuring rapid or staged degradation as needed, enhancing compatibility with existing processing methods and providing controlled disposal options.

Implementation Method 1

the component A additionally has at least one additive A which increases the biological degradability of the multi-component fibre and the component B does not have an additive B which increases the biological degradability of the multi-component fibre

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS20250283252A1Biologically Degradable MULTI-COMPONENT POLYMER FIBRES

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 INDORAMA VENTURES PUBLIC CO LTD

AI summary

The invention relates to a biologically degradable multi-component polymer fibre, in particular bi-component fibres, with advantageous physical properties, to a process for its production, as well as to its use.