Skin care fabric
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional skin care fabrics made of cellulose are prone to tearing in wet conditions, leading to the washout of active agents and the shedding of loose fibers, making them unsuitable for moist environments and single-use applications.
Innovation Solution
A warp-knitted skin care fabric comprising at least 80% by weight of split microfibers with diameters less than 50 micrometers, made from a mixture of polyamide and polyester, treated with an alkaline solution to create a parallel structure with capillary and abrasive effects, and loaded with active agents, featuring a mechanically roughened and cut surface for enhanced water absorbency and reduced fiber shedding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cellulose fabric is used for skin care, then the fabric is inexpensive and soft, but it tears easily in wet conditions and sheds loose fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite fabric structure combining cellulose base fabric with polyamide-polyester microfiber overlay. This composite construction provides the softness and low cost of cellulose while adding the strength and wet durability of synthetic microfibers, preventing tearing and fiber shedding in moist environments
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric employs a porous microfiber overlay with controlled porosity that allows fluid penetration while maintaining structural integrity. The porous structure prevents tearing by distributing mechanical stress across the microfiber network, while the interstices enable active agent delivery without compromising fabric strength
2Quantity of substance
If microfibers are split to create capillary effect, then water absorbency improves, but fabric structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The microfibers are segmented into finer filaments through controlled splitting, creating capillary channels that enhance water absorbency. This segmentation increases the surface area and capillary action without requiring complex fabric construction, as the splitting occurs at the fiber level within the existing woven structure
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric structure parameters are optimized by controlling the degree of microfiber splitting and the size distribution of resulting filaments. By adjusting these parameters, the fabric achieves enhanced water absorbency through capillary effects while maintaining a relatively simple woven construction, balancing performance with structural complexity
3Quantity of substance
If fabric surface is mechanically roughened and cut, then water absorbency and abrasive effect improve, but fiber shedding may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical roughening and cutting treatment is applied selectively to create localized abrasive zones on the fabric surface while maintaining overall fiber integrity. This local modification enhances water absorbency and exfoliation effectiveness in specific areas without causing widespread fiber shedding across the entire fabric
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harmful effect of mechanical treatment causing fiber damage is converted into a beneficial abrasive effect for skin exfoliation. The controlled roughening and cutting creates sharp filament edges that provide gentle abrasion for removing dead skin cells while the underlying fabric structure remains intact to prevent excessive fiber shedding
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 fabric achieves improved water absorbency, preventing agent washout and fiber shedding, while maintaining a firm grip and soft feel, suitable for single-use applications, including normal and wounded skin, with enhanced fluid storage and pharmaceutical delivery capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a parallel structure having a capillary effect
Implementation Method 2
an abrasive effect
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A skin care fabric for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic use includes at least 80% by weight of microfibers whose fibers have a diameter of less than 50 microns and are a mixture of polyamide and polyester, wherein the fabric has been subjected to a splitting process by a alkaline solution treatment, splitting each microfiber producing fine fibers closely packed in a parallel structure having a capillary effect and an abrasive effect. The fabric has a surface weight of less than 180 g/m2 and is loaded with medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic active agents. The fabric is a warp-knitted fabric having a first surface on one opposite side and a second surface on the other opposite side, wherein the first surface is mechanically roughened and cut making it fluffy and yet short-haired compact in order to leave as few loose fibers as possible on the skin during use and resulting in a further surface enlargement of the fabric structure, having a water absorbency of at least four times the surface weight of the fabric.