Wood Bioplastic Composite Portion Container for Beverage Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portion containers for beverage starting materials, such as coffee capsules, face challenges in mechanical stability under high temperatures and pressures, environmental impact due to non-recyclable materials, and costly production processes, particularly with biodegradable alternatives like liquid wood or cellulosic powders.
Innovation Solution
A portion container body made from a composition of wood material compounded with bioplastic, where the bioplastic is evenly mixed with wood material and extruded to create a container composition that is at least 80% wood material, providing improved mechanical stability and biodegradability, and produced through injection molding for cost-effectiveness and simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aluminum or aluminum-containing compositions are used for portion containers, then mechanical stability and freshness properties are improved, but production cost increases and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material consisting of thermoplastic starch and wood flour to create a portion container that combines the mechanical stability needed for high-pressure brewing with biodegradability. This composite approach allows achieving aluminum-like performance without the environmental and cost drawbacks of aluminum.
2Ease of manufacture
If petrochemical plastics such as polypropylene are used for portion containers, then production cost is reduced, but environmental impact worsens due to non-recyclability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by using thermoplastic starch instead of petrochemical plastics. This substitution maintains processability and production efficiency while fundamentally improving environmental compatibility through biodegradability.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If biodegradable materials like liquid wood or Arboform are used for portion containers, then environmental impact is improved, but production cost increases and production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a specific formulation of thermoplastic starch with wood flour that provides the necessary mechanical properties locally within the container structure. This allows using simpler, more cost-effective biodegradable materials without requiring complex chemical treatments or additional coating layers.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If cellulosic powder compacts are used for portion containers, then environmental impact is improved, but mechanical stability under high pressure and temperature deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system where thermoplastic starch acts as the binding matrix and wood flour provides structural reinforcement. This composite structure achieves the necessary mechanical strength to withstand high-pressure brewing while maintaining biodegradability.
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 achieves enhanced mechanical stability and biodegradability, reducing production costs and environmental impact while maintaining the ability to withstand high temperatures and pressures, making the container more sustainable and efficient.
Implementation Method 1
a composition, hereinafter also called container composition, from which the container body is made comprises wood material compounded with bioplastic
Implementation Method 2
The container body is made from a composition of wood material compounded with bioplastic, where the bioplastic is evenly mixed with wood material and extruded to create a container composition
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a portion container (1) for storing a starting material, in particular for preparing a beverage from a beverage starting material, by flowing water through the portion container (1), in particular a coffee capsule (5). The portion container (1) has a container body (2) which defines a volume (3) for storing the starting material and is made from a container assembly. Simplified manufacturing of the container body (2) and/or a stable design of the container body (2) are achieved by the container assembly comprising a wood material compounded with a bioplastic.