Sheath-Core Polyester Fiber for Water Membranes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional polyethylene terephthalate fibers used in water treatment filters leach heavy metals like antimony when stagnant, posing a risk to drinking water quality, and alternative titanium-based catalysts result in poor thermal stability and color issues.
Innovation Solution
Development of a sheath-core conjugated fiber with a polyester resin sheath and core, optimized through specific esterification and polycondensation reactions, including isophthalic and terephthalic acids, and a diol component, to enhance bonding strength, color transparency, and reduce heavy metal elution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antimony-based polymerization catalyst is used in polyethylene terephthalate fiber production, then the fiber has good thermal stability and color properties, but heavy metals leach out when stagnant in water, posing health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful antimony-based catalyst from the polyester resin composition entirely, replacing it with a metal-free catalytic system. This extraction of the harmful element eliminates heavy metal leaching while maintaining production efficiency through alternative catalysts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing specific additives (citric acid, vitamin E, hindered phenol compounds) and adjusting the molar ratios of dicarboxylic acids (20-40 mol% isophthalic acid, 60-80 mol% terephthalic acid). These parameter changes improve thermal stability and prevent degradation without requiring antimony catalysts.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If titanium compounds are used as polymerization catalysts instead of antimony compounds, then toxicity problems are reduced and cost is decreased, but the polyester resin develops yellow color and poor thermal stability with high acetaldehyde production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts titanium compounds and other metal-based catalysts from the system, replacing them with organic metal-free catalysts. This eliminates the toxicity and coloration problems associated with titanium while avoiding the thermal stability issues through careful selection of organic catalytic agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces organic compounds (citric acid, vitamin E, hindered phenols) as intermediary substances that facilitate the polymerization process and stabilize the resin without the harmful effects of metal catalysts. These intermediaries act as catalysts and stabilizers simultaneously, preventing both yellowing and thermal degradation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional polyester resin is used in non-woven fabric for water filters, then the fabric provides good filtration properties, but heavy metals leach into drinking water when the filter is stagnant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition of the polyester resin by incorporating 20-40 mol% isophthalic acid and 60-80 mol% terephthalic acid, along with specific additives. These compositional changes maintain the filtration performance of the non-woven fabric while eliminating heavy metal leaching through metal-free catalysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polyester resin system combining multiple components (dicarboxylic acids, diols, citric acid, vitamin E, hindered phenols) that work synergistically. This composite material provides both filtration functionality and safety by eliminating heavy metals while maintaining structural integrity and filtering properties.
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 a water treatment separation membrane with excellent bonding strength, reduced heavy metal leaching, and improved thermal stability, ensuring safer and more effective filtration while maintaining color transparency.
Implementation Method 1
a polycondensation product obtained by ester reaction and polycondensation reaction of an acid component; and a diol component
Implementation Method 2
a polycondensation product obtained by ester reaction and polycondensation reaction of an acid component; and a diol component
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sheath-core conjugated fiber for a supporter of a water treatment separation membrane, the fiber being harmless to the human body without the elution of heavy metals and having excellent color transparency and strength, a supporter comprising the same for a water treatment separation membrane, a water treatment separation membrane comprising the same, and a filter module comprising the same.