Composite Material from Textile and Polyethylene Waste

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing processes for producing composite materials from textile waste and thermoplastic binders struggle with variability in textile composition, requiring meticulous sorting and preparation, which is inefficient and environmentally unfriendly.

Innovation Solution

A process that comminutes textile waste and polyethylene film waste into specific size fractions, separates metal and unwanted plastics, and then mixes and extrudes the materials at controlled temperatures and pressures, without the need for meticulous sorting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If textile waste is meticulously sorted and prepared before processing, then the physical-chemical properties of the composite material can be controlled, but the process complexity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol of composite material propertiesVSAvoidsorting and preparation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of textile waste from intact fabric to comminuted fragments (reducing size to 0-15mm), which fundamentally alters how the material behaves during processing. This parameter change enables direct mixing with thermoplastic binder without meticulous sorting, as the comminuted state uniformizes the material characteristics regardless of original fiber composition variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary comminution of textile waste into small fragments (0-15mm) before mixing with the thermoplastic binder. This preliminary action prepares the material in advance, eliminating the need for subsequent meticulous sorting and preparation steps while maintaining consistent composite material properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If textile waste is comminuted into smaller fragments, then mixing with thermoplastic binder becomes easier and more uniform, but the energy consumption and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing process easeVSAvoidenergy consumption for comminution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments textile waste into small fragments (0-15mm) through comminution, which dramatically improves mixing ease with thermoplastic binder. The segmented state allows uniform distribution of fibers throughout the matrix without requiring excessive energy for further processing or meticulous manual sorting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the textile waste stream is not sorted, then processing speed and productivity increase, but the variability in composite material properties increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidconsistency of composite properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of textile waste from intact fabric to comminuted fragments (reducing size to 0-15mm), which fundamentally alters how the material behaves during processing. This parameter change enables direct mixing with thermoplastic binder without meticulous sorting, as the comminuted state uniformizes the material characteristics regardless of original fiber composition variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If thermoplastic binder is mixed with comminuted textile waste, then composite material production becomes more efficient, but the control over fiber distribution and homogenization becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidfiber distribution control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of textile waste from intact fabric to comminuted fragments (reducing size to 0-15mm), which fundamentally alters how the material behaves during processing. This parameter change enables direct mixing with thermoplastic binder without meticulous sorting, as the comminuted state uniformizes the material characteristics regardless of original fiber composition variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 process produces composite materials with desired physical-chemical properties while reducing the environmental impact by minimizing CO2 emissions and eliminating the need for extensive waste preparation.

Implementation Method 1

heating the mixture until the thermoplastic material has melted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

heating the mixture until the thermoplastic material has melted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

the mixture is heated until the thermoplastic material has melted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS12269192B2Process for the production of a composite material from textile waste and polyethylene film waste
Publication Date: 2025.04.08 VIVE TEXTILE RECYCLING SPOLKA Z O O

AI summary

The invention relates to a process for the production of a composite material from textile waste and polyethylene film waste, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) comminuting the textile waste into the fraction up to 15 mm in size, b) comminuting the polyethylene film into the fraction up to 15 mm in size, c) separating metal parts from the comminuted textiles, d) separating metal parts and unwanted plastics from the comminuted film, e) further comminuting the textiles into the fraction up to 5 mm in size, f) mixing the comminuted textiles with the comminuted film, said textiles constituting 10-50% of the mixture, g) plasticizing, homogenizing and extruding the obtained mixture in an extruder at the temperature of 170-240° C. and under the pressure of 8-15 MPa.