Nicotine Pouch Packaging Material Composite Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging materials for nicotine pouches suffer from non-uniform airtightness and lack of strength, which can lead to bursting during manufacturing or use, and do not provide a soft feel for smokers.

Innovation Solution

A packaging material comprising a blend of cellulose fibers (40-80 wt%) and thermoplastic material fibers (20-60 wt%), which is prepared using a dispersion method followed by dehydration and drying, to achieve uniform airtightness and tensile strength while providing a soft feel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the spun-lacing method is used to manufacture packaging material, then the material can be produced with non-woven fabric structure, but the airtightness becomes non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing methodVSAvoidairtightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material structure consisting of a base layer made from crumpled fibers and a top layer made from flat fibers. This composite structure allows the top layer to provide uniform airtightness while the base layer maintains the non-woven fabric structure, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the packaging material is made thinner to provide a soft feel, then the comfort for smokers improves, but the strength to prevent bursting decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoft feelVSAvoidbursting resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using two different fiber types in specific layers: crumpled fibers in the base layer for bulk and flat fibers in the top layer for softness. This allows the material to be thin and soft where it contacts the user while maintaining overall structural strength through the composite structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The composite structure of crumpled and flat fibers creates a material that is both thin and strong. The flat fibers provide a smooth, soft surface for comfort, while the crumpled fiber base provides structural integrity and bursting resistance, resolving the contradiction between soft feel and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If more thermoplastic material is added to improve sealing strength, then the tensile strength increases, but the soft feel deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing strengthVSAvoidsoft feel
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent concentrates the thermoplastic material in the top layer where it is needed for sealing strength, while the base layer uses crumpled fibers that provide softness. This localized distribution allows high sealing strength without compromising the overall soft feel of the material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The composite structure allows thermoplastic fibers to be integrated in controlled amounts primarily in the top layer, providing sealing strength where needed while the crumpled fiber base layer maintains the soft, comfortable feel, resolving the contradiction between sealing strength and softness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 proposed packaging material ensures uniform airtightness, excellent tensile and sealing strength, and a soft feel, preventing bursting and filler leakage while providing a comfortable user experience.

Implementation Method 1

forming a material of a packaging material by spraying moisture such that fibers are tangled, and drying

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermoplastic melting and bonding: Melting

Data Source

PatentUS20250072488A1Packaging material for nicotine pouch, nicotine pouch including the same, and method of preparing the same
Publication Date: 2025.03.06 KT&G CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a packaging material for a nicotine pouch, the packaging material including a cellulose fiber, and a thermoplastic material fiber, wherein a content of the cellulose fiber is 40 to 80 wt % with respect to a total weight of the packaging material for the nicotine pouch, and a content of the thermoplastic material fiber is 20 to 60 wt % with respect to the total weight of the packaging material for the nicotine pouch.