Water-Soluble Primer Layer for Coating Stability and Recyclability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional film-paper composites used in bag and sack production suffer from line breakage during folding, leading to a lower quality appearance and recyclability issues due to the use of ecologically problematic chemicals.

Innovation Solution

A purely fiber-based paper with a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol primer layer applied to the surface, which prevents line breakage and enhances recyclability by forming a mechanical interface for further layer application, while being environmentally friendly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a film-paper composite is used to prevent coating break during folding, then the protective function and coating stability are improved, but the recyclability deteriorates due to ecologically problematic chemicals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating stabilityVSAvoidrecyclability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the plastic film layer from the composite structure, extracting the harmful component while retaining the paper substrate. The coating stability function is transferred to a water-soluble primer layer applied directly to the paper, eliminating the need for non-recyclable film materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical properties of the primer layer from water-insoluble (in conventional composites) to water-soluble. This parameter change enables the primer to be removed during recycling processes, improving recyclability while maintaining coating stability through the water-soluble polymer matrix.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If a thick coating is applied to achieve high print quality, then the print quality is improved, but the tendency for coating break during folding increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprint qualityVSAvoidcoating stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a multi-layer composite structure consisting of paper substrate, water-soluble primer layer, and pigment coating. The primer layer acts as a flexible bonding interface that accommodates folding stresses, preventing coating break while maintaining print quality through proper adhesion and surface properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The water-soluble primer layer serves as an intermediary between the paper substrate and the pigment coating. It provides a flexible intermediate layer that absorbs mechanical stresses during folding, preventing direct stress transmission to the brittle pigment coating and thus preventing coating break.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a water-soluble primer layer is applied to improve recyclability, then the environmental compatibility is improved, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental compatibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the primer layer application and coating application into a single integrated process step. The water-soluble polymer solution is applied along with or immediately followed by the pigment coating, allowing both layers to be deposited simultaneously and dried together, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process despite the additional functional layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 water-soluble primer layer stabilizes the coating, prevents line breakage, and ensures high recyclability of the paper and end products, maintaining a visually desirable appearance and improving the shelf life of packaged goods.

Implementation Method 1

A water-soluble primer layer, in particular a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol primer layer, is applied to the coating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP4382665A1Replacing a film/paper composite with a pure fibre based paper
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 COVERIS FLEXIBLES GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4382665A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4382665A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4382665A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Paper, in particular purely fiber-based paper, the surface of which has a coating on one or both sides, characterized in that a water-soluble primer layer is applied to the coating.