Polyethylene Oxide Fibrous Elements Balancing Cleaning and Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fibrous elements, particularly those comprising polyacrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol, exhibit cleaning negatives, necessitating the formulation of a fibrous element that mitigates or eliminates these issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating polyethylene oxide with a weight average molecular weight between 10,000 g/mol and 500,000 g/mol into fibrous elements, along with a second polyethylene oxide of at least 500,000 g/mol, to enhance cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polyacrylamide or polyvinyl alcohol is used as the high molecular weight polymer in fibrous elements, then the fibrous element structure is maintained, but cleaning performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical identity parameter of the high molecular weight polymer from polyacrylamide or polyvinyl alcohol to polyethylene oxide, while maintaining the molecular weight parameter (at least 500,000 g/mol) to preserve fibrous element structure stability while eliminating cleaning negatives
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes a different polymer material (polyethylene oxide) that achieves the same structural function without the harmful cleaning effects, effectively replacing a problematic material with a superior alternative
2Object-generated harmful factors
If polyethylene oxide with molecular weight between 10,000-500,000 g/mol is used, then cleaning performance improves, but fibrous element structure stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight parameter of polyethylene oxide to be at least 500,000 g/mol, which balances both cleaning performance improvement and fibrous element structure stability - molecular weights below this threshold improve cleaning but compromise structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite fibrous element comprising multiple components: fibrous element-forming material (e.g., carboxymethyl cellulose), polyethylene oxide (≥500,000 g/mol), and optionally a second polyethylene oxide (10,000-500,000 g/mol) for enhanced cleaning, where each component contributes specific properties to achieve both structural stability and superior cleaning
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Fibrous elements containing one or more fibrous element-forming materials and one or more polyethylene oxides, and methods for making same are provided.