Binder with Phase-Change Polyhydric Alcohol for Static Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for preventing paper misfeeds due to static electricity, such as adding antistatic agents in wet slurry processes, require energy-intensive drying and are not suitable for dry processes, and fail to consistently maintain paper alignment and quality.

Innovation Solution

A binder comprising resin and polyhydric alcohol, which is solid at room temperature but melts when heated, is used to create sheets with reduced static electricity and improved paper strength, allowing for effective prevention of misfeeds in both wet and dry processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If antistatic agent is added to size press chemicals in wet slurry process, then static electricity is suppressed, but drying process is required which consumes large amount of energy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatic electricityVSAvoiddrying energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state parameter of the polyhydric alcohol from solid at room temperature to liquid at processing temperature. This allows the antistatic agent to be applied in liquid form without requiring subsequent drying, as it remains effective in liquid state and can be incorporated into the coating layer without water removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes phase transition of polyhydric alcohol (solid at room temperature → liquid at processing temperature) to enable application without drying. The material melts during the coating process and remains liquid in the final product, eliminating the need for energy-intensive drying operations while maintaining antistatic functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Object-affected harmful factors

If antistatic agent is added to size press chemicals, then static electricity is suppressed, but relatively large amount of water is used requiring large dryer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatic electricityVSAvoiddryer size

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical state parameter of the polyhydric alcohol from solid at room temperature to liquid at processing temperature. This allows the antistatic agent to be applied in liquid form without requiring subsequent drying, as it remains effective in liquid state and can be incorporated into the coating layer without water removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes phase transition of polyhydric alcohol (solid at room temperature → liquid at processing temperature) to enable application without drying. The material melts during the coating process and remains liquid in the final product, eliminating the need for energy-intensive drying operations and large dryer equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

3Strength

If resin and polyhydric alcohol are mixed in binder, then fiber binding is achieved, but phase separation may occur affecting distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepaper strengthVSAvoidbinder homogeneity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the temperature parameter during processing to control the phase state of polyhydric alcohol. By heating above its melting point during application and maintaining it in liquid state, the binder achieves homogeneous distribution. The phase separation that occurs upon cooling is controlled and results in desirable performance characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes phase transition of polyhydric alcohol to control its distribution and functionality. The material transitions from solid to liquid during processing for homogeneous mixing, then transitions back to solid upon cooling for stable distribution in the final product, achieving both homogeneity during application and stability in the finished sheet

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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 binder effectively reduces sheet resistance, enhances paper strength and durability, and prevents static electricity, ensuring reliable paper alignment and quality without the need for energy-intensive drying processes.

Implementation Method 1

polyhydric alcohol that is a solid at room temperature and changes to liquid phase when heated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

a binder for binding fiber and making a sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS10900175B2Binder, sheet manufacturing apparatus, sheet manufacturing method, and sheet

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Provided are a binder useful for making sheets processed to effectively prevent misfeeds, a sheet manufacturing apparatus capable of desirably manufacturing sheets processed to effectively prevent misfeeds, a sheet manufacturing method, and a sheet processed to effectively prevent misfeeds. The binder for binding fiber to make sheets includes resin; and polyhydric alcohol that is a solid at room temperature and changes to liquid phase when heated. The content of polyhydric alcohol to 100 parts by weight resin is greater than or equal to 0.1 parts by weight and less than or equal to 20 parts by weight polyhydric alcohol.